Wednesday’s feature is the Prince of Wales’s Stakes over a mile and a quarter for older horses and there isn’t a better one in training than Aidan O’Brien’s still under-appreciated globetrotter Highland Reel (4.20). The son of Galileo has won Group 1s in England, American and Hong Kong, and looked better than ever in the Coronation Cup last month at Epsom when battling bravely to see off the Godolphin pair of Hawkbill and Frontiersman.
He did everything wrong that day, arriving to the track late, sweating up and was very keen going to post. Despite this, he still bagged a 6th Group 1 and can add to that tally further dropping back in trip. The Ballydoyle charge is officially rated 3lb higher than main market rival Jack Hobbs, who has beaten him in both meetings at the Curragh and Meydan, but remains vulnerable on really quick ground in my opinion.
Prince of Wales’s Stakes prices from BetVictor
Highland Reel 9/4
Jack Hobbs 5/2
Ulysses 7/2
8/1 Bar
Andre Fabre’s filly Usherette looked a potential superstar when justifying favouritism to land the Duke of Cambridge Stakes 12 months ago, and must go close once again under Mikael Barzalona. However, she is another that will likely want a bit more juice in the ground and preference lies instead with Laugh Aloud (3.40) under regular partner James Doyle. I was at Epsom on Derby Day to see her dismantle a good field in the G3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes and, on her preferred sounder surface, is a confident selection to go in again upped in grade.
Fabre’s Le Brivido (2.30) lost his unbeaten record when finishing second in the French Guineas at Chantilly but the form of the race has worked out subsequently and he must go close dropping back in trip for the Jersey Stakes over 7f in the opener. The son of Siyouni failed to stay a mile on soft ground having previously won twice over 6f and today’s trip looks the perfect opportunity to bounce back to winning ways.
Wesley Ward has won the last two renewals of the Queen Mary with subsequent Gp 1 winning fillies Acapulco and Lady Aurelia and I expect him to complete the hat-trick with Happy Like a Place (3.05) for the Coolmore boys and Ryan Moore. The vibes surrounding the Distorted Humour have been incredibly positive and, after making a winning debut earlier in the season across the pond, should prove even better in first-time blinkers.
My shortlist for the Royal Hunt Cup was narrowed down from originally a double-figure list and such is the competitive nature of the mile handicap on the straight course that you could back at least a few, and still be unable to find the frame. Banksea got a typical Jamie Spencer ride to win the Spring Cup at Newbury and should be there or thereabouts again under a penalty. The same can be said about the pair of G K Chesterton and El Vip; who both took advantage of the race being an early-closer to win without being at the mercy of the handicapper thereafter.
Another that has likewise been let-in lightly is Fastnet Tempest (5.00), who followed-up his 7f success at Ascot by getting up late to score last time out at Chester. That success ensured a 5lb penalty to get into the race and, with further improvement likely now stepped up in trip to a mile, he can reward each-way support under Pat Cosgrave.
Favourite backers were sent home happy in the Sandringham Handicap 12 months ago, when Persuasive ensured it was a miserable day for bookmakers, bolting-up for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori. She looked chucked-in on the day and the pair are likely to go close once more with Present Tense once more. The Bated Breath filly is one of three for trainer John Gosden but the market currently favours stablemate Gymnaste under the excellent Josephine Gordon.
Ireland have won the race just once ten years but I can see that record being broken, with Bean Feasa (5.35) getting the nod under Kevin Manning. Jim Bolger’s filly was apparently working sparkling in her work last year as a juvenile, but needed time to fill into her frame and has thrived since returning in the spring. After winning a Gp 3 at Leopardstown she was far from disgraced in the Irish Guineas behind superstar filly Winter and looks the quintessential group horse in a handicap.
Selections
2.30 Le Brivido
3.05 Happy Like a Place
3.40 Laugh Aloud
4.20 Highland Reel
5.00 Fastnet Tempest
5.35 Bean Feasa
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