The Mandarin’s Royal Ascot Racecard for Saturday 22nd June 2024

The Mandarin’s Royal Ascot Racecard for Saturday 22nd June

Chesham Stakes (Listed) 2.30
Bedtime Story
Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle runners are getting better through this week, and with Ryan Moore overtaking Frankie Dettori’s winners total, this combination is hard to ignore. They can get things off to a great start on Saturday too, if Bedtime Story can replicate her run in a Leopardstown maiden earlier this month. Wayne Lordan seemed to have plenty left in the tank going through the line, and now Ryan Moore takes up the reins on this Frankel filly. Charlie Appleby’s Frankel colt, Age Of Gold overcame a tardy start to score in good fashion at Yarmouth on his debut run, and this pair look likely to fight it out. For the each-way angle, Motawahij looks one to note, but Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore to score with Bedtime Story

Hardwick Stakes (Group 2) 3.05
Middle Earth
John & Thady Gosden will be hoping that Middle Earth continues to progess to take this Group 2 contest. This Roaring Lion colt signed off last season with a Listed win here, serving it up to Chesspiece, and returned to action this year with a hard fought win at Newbury in the Aston Park Stakes. Of course, there’s sure to be plenty of support for last year’s St Leger winner, Continuous, who went on to finish a fine fifth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but this is his first run this term, which does ask a question. French raider Goliath is an interesting outsider if the race is run to his strengths, but Middle Earth looks the one to follow

Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) 3.45
Mill Stream (nap)
The feature can go to Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Mill Stream, who lines up here having taken the Duke Of York Clipper Stakes last time out. It was a cracking renewal for that Group 2, where the re-opposing Shouldvebeenaring looked to have it sewn up inside the final furlong, but under the Buick drive, Mill Stream just got there. Kinross is getting to the veteran stage now for a sprinter, but can never be discounted, though this is the Kingman gelding’s first run this year, so the hat-trick seeking Shartash may be the main threat now with Archie Watson in the Wathnan Racing silks. Tim Easterby’s Art Power is a tempting each-way pick, but Mill Stream should prevail

Jersey Stakes (Group 3) 4.25
Haatem (nb)
Richard Hannon holds the key to this Group 3 with Haatem, who is taken to confirm placings with River Tiber from the Irish 1,000 Guineas. To be fair to River Tiber, he was outstanding at two, and the Guineas race was his first run of this season, and he’s also in receipt of 3lbs from Haatem, so they should be very close. The well bred Kikkuli offers super each-way value with the drop to 7 furlongs a plus, but Haatem gets the nudge for the win

Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap) 5.05
Unequal Love
The chance is taken on William Haggas’s Unequal Love for this hot handicap. This Dutch Art filly won a Listed contest at Newmarket on her first run of this term, before a solid fifth in the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes at The Curragh. She drops back into handicap company here from a decent mark and should be on the premises. Archie Watson’s Albasheer won’t be far away, and the burgeoning Wathnan Racing squad have picked up Dark Trooper who has course and distance form. This completes the shortlist, but Unequal Love is tempting at bigger odds

Golden Gates Stakes (Handicap) 5.40
Old Faithful
Two hat-trick seeking three year olds can battle this one out, with ready preference for Aidan O’Brien’s Old Faithful over Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Primo Lara. The step up to 10 furlongs has been just the ticket for Old Faithful, scoring at Naas and Navan, the latter of those with more under the bonnet in the final furlong, Ryan Moore just coaxing him on under hands and heels. Primo Lara has been shooting up the weights with his last two wins, but might not be in the grip of the Handicapper yet, and is the each-way selection, but Old Faithful to get the hat-trick

Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions Race) 6.15
Queenstown
In the longest race on the British Flat Racing Calendar, Queenstown can round off a brilliant week for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. Although there’s sure to be plenty of support for last year’s winner, Dawn Rising, Queenstown’s latest run, where he briefly got upsides of Kyprios in the Saval Beg at Leopardstown now looks like well franked form, after that rival bagged the Gold Cup on Thursday. That’s the second time this year that Queenstown has chased home Kyprios, so now gets the stage to himself. Queenstown is better at four, and can take the closer for the unstoppable combination of Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore

The Mandarin