JPRacing - Royal Ascot day five 👑 

 It’s the last day of Royal Ascot and it has been a frustrating week for the most part. Yesterday wasn’t all doom and gloom though, as we finished strongly with Coppice winning the Sandringham at 15/2, Unless placing in the same race at 12 EW and the NAP King Of Steel hosing up in the King Edward VII.

Aside from Ascot though, our run of newsletter exclusives landing everyday since June 13 was ended as Rockonmecca was beaten by a neck at Redcar.

Today’s a new day, so let’s go again.

Royal Ascot day four recap

Oisin Murphy finally got off the mark with a win aboard 9/1 outsider Shaquille in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup.

Frankie Dettori keeps firing. He landed a double yesterday, winning the opener with Porta Fortuna and the Sandringham with Coppice.

Ryan Moore is proving a thorn in Dettori’s side though. Another win for him, winning the Duke Of Edinburgh on Okita Soushi for Joseph O’Brien, means he goes into today one ahead of the Italian in the Leading Jockey standings.

Yesterday was also a big day for the O’Brien family. Donnacha landed his maiden Royal Ascot winner thanks to the aforementioned Porta Fortuna and Okita Soushi’s win was also a first for his brother Joseph. Unfortunately, Aidan couldn’t get on the board for a clean sweep.

Royal Ascot day five

Chesham Stakes

Today’s card opens with a Listed 7f race for 2YOs and I’m straight off the bat siding with the favourite Pearls And Rubies (2/1).

She ran on well to win over the minimum trip on debut at Navan by a neck and this longer trip today will definitely suit her.

O’Brien is looking to extend his record in the Chesham to seven and it’s the ideal start for Moore to put some ground between himself and Dettori in the race for the jockeys’ title.

Jersey Stakes

We need a day of favourites after this week and with it being Dettori’s last book of rides at Royal Ascot it’s hard to oppose market leader Covey (5/2).

He’s won his last three races in a row and is coming here for his first crack at a Group race in a particularly weak renewal of the Jersey.

He has the potential to keep improving from what we’ve seen this far and the Gosdens opting for a group race over one of the handicaps could be a vote of confidence.

Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes

The last Group 1 of the meeting, it’s interesting that Highfield Princess (5/1) is set to make her second run of the week after coming second in the King’s Stand on Tuesday.

I sided with her that day and I’m drawn towards her again over this longer trip today. She has fantastic form over 6f as well and could well again if Tuesday didn’t take too much out of her.

It’s hard to know what to expect from joint-favourite Artorius (5/1) from its form Down Under, while Kinross (6/1) is reappearing for the first time since the Breeders’ Cup and Sacred (6/1) could go well for Tom Marquand after scoring well at Lingfield lto.

Hardwicke Stakes

Free Wind (6/5) was napped when she won on reappearance at York lto. That took her career record to 6-8, while she’s won three consecutive Group 2s since September 2021. Should be another win for Dettori as the race for the Leading Jockey title really does look to be going down to the wire.

Wokingham Stakes

A no-bet race for me today, but if I was looking for one at longer odds it would probably be Khanjar (11/1) for Jim Crowley, William Haggas and Shawell.

He won over C&D as a novice in 2021 and was second in a handicap at Hamilton earlier this month. Could be an E/W chance if he still have more to give.

Golden Gates Stakes

Lion Of War (6/1) is a horse I napped when it was third on reappearance back in April and I’ve had an eye on the Charlie Johnson horse ever since.

He’s coming on well from that run a couple of months ago, winning the Edinburg Cup lto at Mussleburgh. This is back to 1m2f but could be a big player under Oisin Murphy.

Queen Alexandra Stakes

Winner of a Maiden and second in the Group 3 Trophy Stakes at Newmarket when tried by Aidan, Dawn Raising had a good season over hurdles recently, winning a novice hurdle at Navan over 2m4f.

He’s got the stamina for this marathon contest and Ryan Moore takes the ride for Joseph O’Brien and JP McManus.

Newsletter exclusive tip

Today’s pick is Rooska (6/4) in the 16:38 at Redcar. He was second over C&D in a maiden lto and should be able to come on from that and go one better today.