The final day of Royal Ascot is upon us and Sam King returns with three selections in the hope of sending punters home with a smile on their face…
The opening contest on day five looks to feature some classy juveniles and it's hardly surprising to see Pearls And Rubies dominate the market for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore on the back of her debut success at Navan.
However, plenty of firms are paying four places and I'm hoping fellow Irish maiden winner Snellen can provide us with some each-way value.
The daughter of Expert Eye, who landed the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at this meeting back in 2018, created a nice impression when winning on debut at Limerick and Gavin Cromwell has his juveniles in good form this season. Snellen impressed on the clock that day and was hardly asked for maximum urgings under Gary Carroll, who only needed to resort to hands and heels riding for much of the contest. She drifted sharply left-handed when out in front and although some would find that concerning, I'd be happy to take the angle that she'll learn plenty from that experience and could take a sizeable step forward.
She impressed when winning a barrier trial at Naas in a good time and it's fascinating that Gavin Cromwell has saddled just one Royal Ascot runner in his career to date. That was two-year-old filly Quick Suzy, who absolutely bolted in the Queen Mary Stakes here two years ago. Stall thirteen looks like a positive with plenty of pace to aim at on that side of the track and with proven stamina over the seven-furlong trip she looks a cracking each-way bet at the prices.
Selection: Snellen – General 14/1
The Wokingham Stakes is often considered one of the toughest punting contests of the calendar year but so is the Britannia and I did find the winner of that…
Khanjar has been threatening to win a big pot like this for a while now and he produced a really eye-catching run when second at Hamilton last start. William Haggas' lightly-raced four-year-old missed the break on that occasion and kept on nicely in the closing stages to grab the runner-up spot behind one, who simply got first run.
The return to this big field scenario also looks like a major positive and Jim Crowley should get a nice toe into the race from what may prove a favoured draw in stall twenty-four. A strong-travelling type, I love the addition of first-time cheekpieces and I'm expecting a big run back at the scene of his course and distance novice success.
Selection: Khanjar – General 12/1
Our third and final wager of the meeting comes in the Golden Gate Stakes (Handicap) at 5.35. Frankie Dettori has already enjoyed a fine final Royal Ascot on his swansong season riding and Knockbrex can ensure he bows out in the best possible fashion.
The Charlie Johnston-trained contender has run well on three of his four outings to date including when second to unbeaten Queen's Vase winner and ante-post St Leger favourite Gregory at Haydock on his third start.
The unexposed son of Ulysses looked to have his rivals on the stretch on handicap debut at York over twelve furlongs last-time-out but surely did too much up in front and faded late into fourth in the closing stages. The winner that day, Chesspiece, did the form no harm when third in the Queen's Vase and the drop back to 1m2f looks a huge positive.
Frankie Dettori has already proved his worth from the front this week at Royal Ascot and I fully expect the pair to take plenty of catching racing off the same mark back down in distance.
Selection: Knockbrex – General 11/4
