TwinSpires.com Blog

PT Fornatale's Twinspires.com Royal Ascot Preview (FRIDAY

The week is flying along. . .at least we got a couple winners home and the rain didn't dampen another great day's racing. Let's have a look at Friday's wagering opportunites.

King Edward Stakes (10:05 a.m.)

I did a video here but just to reiterate, the tip is #10 NATHANIEL. He fits and his last is better than it looks. The winner was unlucky not to win the Derby and this guy didn't seem to handle the course nor the ground well. Even with Zoffany's big run the other day, Nathaniel is still the horse who has gotten closest to FRANKEL at the line. The other one here for saver/exacta purposes is #7 GLENCADAM GOLD. Showed he stays on well last time and his previous two were uneven runs that were better than they look on the page. Click the video for much more info.


Coronation Stakes (10:45 a.m.)

Another vid here. I'm intrigued by #6 IMMORTAL VERSE, the French raider. She had no chance in the French Guineas two back in a race that unfolded at a glacial pace. Her last race was visually impressive on soft-ish ground where she stormed home the last two furlongs in about 22 seconds despite what seemed a moderate (or even slow) pace. The pace ought to be faster here that what she's seen but it's possible that will help her. I'll also likely save with the favorite, #13 TOGETHER, who was second in both the English and Irish Guineas and maybe made the front too quick in each. Again, click the video for much more info.

Wolferton Handicap (11:25)
#11 LOST IN THE MOMENT is quite a quirky individual but when he's talented and very good when he's in the mood. He closed very well last time at Chester, a track that front runners track (indeed, the winner and third there were up with pace). He loves soft ground so these conditions suit him. #15 Green Destiny the one to beat but unlikely to show any value at the windows, though a small saver exacta is probably not the worst idea you'll hear from a pundit this meeting.

Queen's Vase (12:00 p.m.)
#8 NAMIBIAN looks good on form and speed ratings and goes out for a trainer, Mark Johnston, who gets his horses to stay long distances (via interval training method). Johnston has a great record in this race, plus he gets the assistance of Silvestre de Sousa for the first time, a positive. He's won on soft and is a big strong sort who could grind them out.