Day Five Royal Ascot Preview - 20/06/20

The first race on the final day at Royal Ascot is the Silver Wokingham Handicap over six furlongs and with over 20 runners heading to post we have two selections.

The first is the William Haggas trained Aplomb, who is a very unexposed four year old that made a very encouraging return over five furlongs at Newmarket last week.

Tom Marquand takes the ride and with him just kicking into gear and it being a weak race overall he looks one of the more likelier types to go well.

Another fancy of ours in the consolation contest is the Richard Hannon trained Embour who looks a big price and could certainly sneak into the extra places on offer.

The five year old is mounted by Thore Hammer Hansen who takes five pounds off and he has already landed a winner at the meeting this week.

Embour has raced twice this season and finished just outside the frame on both occasions but should give a good account of himself.

The Group Two Queen Mary Stakes kicks off the big races throughout the day and again with plenty of fillies heading to post we have two of interest.

More Beautiful for Aidan O'Brien is very hard to look past having been a very impressive winner on debut in a five furlong contest at Naas.

Hopefully the ground will dry out before the race with that win coming in very quick conditions but with not much rain forecasted she looks the one to beat.

At a much bigger price in the same contest is the Denis Hogan trained Grammata who was a 33/1 second on debut last week at the Curragh.

She showed plenty of ability that day just coming home in behind the Jessica Harrington trained Dickiedooda and getting the booking of Oisin Murphy makes her a very appealing each way proposition.

The Coventry Stakes is looked at as one of the best two year old contests across the Ascot meeting having thrown out some superb winners over the years.

Aidan O'Brien has a decent record in this contest winning it nine times overall and we fancy him to win it again with the mightily impressive Admiral Nelson.

The son of Kingman cost a hefty £440,000 as a yearling and on debut at the Curragh went o to score very nicely to suggest he can be a very special youngster for the Ballydoyle team.

The first Group One of the day is the Fillies Coronation Stakes over a mile and the leading mare in this one looks to be the Roger Charlton trained Quadrilateral.

Last season the three year old filly was unbeaten on all three of her starts showing her versatility with ground winning on good and good to soft conditions.

She ended her juvenile career with a Group One success in the bet365 Fillies' Mile and she started this season as favourite in the 1000 Guineas.

She ran slightly below par that day and looked like she needed the run and there are no excuses now with a weaker field.

The main event on the card is the Group One St James's Palace Stakes and we fancy Pinatubo to find his two year old form from last season.

The three year old last season lit up the racing world when landing all six of his contests including the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot and after that landing back to back Group Ones in the National Stakes in Ireland and the Dewhurst at Newmarket.

Having accomplished all this in a short space of time, getting better and better with each run it earned him a two pound higher rating than Frankel at the age of two.

He made his first start as a three year old in the 2000 Guineas and although running a good race to finish third he is much better than that and with a run under his belt should improve.

The Wokingham Handicap as ever sees over 20 runners take to post for the six furlong event and Summerghand for David O'Meara should run a huge race.

The six year old gelding is a seasoned professional hitting the frame in the majority of his races in his career and he made a very pleasing return at Newmarket finishing a good second.

O'Meara's horses are always known for improving massively for their first runs and at 9/1 this gelding looks to have a solid each way chance.

Another that takes the eye in the race for the same stable is Gulliver who is set to be ridden by Ryan Moore which looks a very interesting booking.

The six year old is very versatile when it comes to ground and is entitled to be involved off the back of his 2019 six furlong handicap form.

The final event of the five day Royal Ascot meeting comes in the Queen Alexandra Stakes over a marathon trip and Nate The Great for Andrew Balding looks to have a big chance if taking to the trip.

Andrew Balding is one of the most in form trainers since the start of the season and we are hoping he has got this four year old ready for his furthest trip to date.

The gelding on the peak of his form in Listed and Group company must be respected putting in some smart performances and after a decent seasonal return he should be fit and ready.