Royal Ascot Day 5 Tips – Niall Cronin

Ryan Moore has been finding some traffic congestion in high profile races of late, some of the time it has cost him dearly, on other occasions he has had so much horse underneath him it didn’t make a difference.

He’ll be hoping for a good end to Royal Ascot on Saturday and to secure a sixth leading jockey title at the meeting. He has some book of rides.

Moore v Dettori
The battle to be leading jockey this week is going to come down to Moore and Frankie Dettori and going into the final day the Italian has what he described as his best ride of the week in Magical Memory. The Charlie Hills-trained four-year-old has been quite impressive on his last two outings and is the current 3/1 favourite but he is opposed with Moore’s mount, Twilight Son.

Hills claimed the Champions Sprint on Champions Day at Ascot last October, that was with Muhaarar who had two-lengths to spare over Twilight Son and although the selection has four and a half lengths to make up with Magical Memory from their York meeting, Henry Candy’s charge can be expected to come on for his first run of the season and hopefully reverse that form at 4/1.

It has been a long time between drinks for Henry Candy as his last Royal Ascot winner came all the way back in 1979…

so hopefully Twilight Son will be able to bridge that gap.

Old Ties
Sir Michael Stoute has had to put up with seeing a lot less of Ryan Moore since his association with Coolmore became much more demanding but Moore has been permitted to get off Highland Reel to ride Exosphere and it’s easy to see why.

The well travelled Highland Reel is 10/1 to give Seamie Heffernan a second winner for the week but…

Exosphere is the 9/4 market leader and would look the pick of the days bets.

The four-year-old son of Beat Hollow announced himself as a proper Group 2 performer when winning at Newmarket back in April and beating the likes of Simple Verse and Big Orange which was a race marred by Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs pulling up. There was still some proven performers taking up the minor places and should he at least repeat that level of performance, Exosphere is a confident selection.

Recommended Bets
Exosphere 9/4 – 3.40 Royal Ascot
Twilight Son 4/1 – 4.20 Royal Ascot

*Prices correct at time of publication