Royal Ascot Tips – Mick Kinane’s Preview Of Week’s Big Races

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Prince of Wales Stakes, Wed 4:20pm

Ryan Moore got things spot on from the front when Luxembourg won last time out at the Curragh, beating a good field. There wasn’t a lot in the race, but he rallied on well and he will be tough to beat here. He’s a resilient horse who can be ridden in a number of ways. It will be a fascinating race.

Bay Bridge was a little unlucky in that race last time, but has a big chance here. Adayar is a great horse and will be right there at the finish. It’s a small but high-class field, it’s very hard to call and will be a very fascinating contest with not a lot between them.

Dubai Honour was third in Hong Kong last time out and has had a good campaign in Australia. He’s probably five pounds shy of the top horses and would prefer a little ease in the ground. It’s hard to see him winning this.

Ascot Gold Cup, Thur 4:20pm

Coltrane was very impressive at Ascot earlier in the season, so he looks like a horse on the up, so he’s very entitled to be favourite. The St Leger winner, Eldar Eldarov, was a little disappointing at York last time when second. A lot of his better form is on softer ground, so you may have to question how next week’s ground might suit him.

Subjectivist is an interesting outsider. He won this in 2021 and could upset everything. He had a setback, but once the Johnstons get their horses back in form you have to respect their chances.

Trueshan was very disappointing at Ascot in May of this year. If he finds his best form then he’ll be right there, he’s definitely an interesting price.

Stradavarius was the most recent of great stayers, a bit like Yeats before him. Fans get really attached to the older horses when they continue to race year after year and are successful, so they get a following. A lot of the two and three-year-olds don’t stay around, they go to stud early or get sold. This is a great race because you’re used to seeing some of these popular stayers and see them being successful each year.

Commonwealth Cup, Fri 4:20pm

Little Big Bear is a huge, big and imposing horse. I remember seeing him at the Curragh last year and he is a stunning horse. He bounced back to form at Haydock last time out after the 2,000 Guineas and was very good under Frankie.

I think he could be a star sprinter in the making. If he wins everything before him then there will be some pressure on everyone to cash in on him and send him off to stud duties, but his sire is still very prevalent at the moment so there may not be that pressure just yet and I hope he stays around for at least another year.

Sakheer was ahead of Little Big Bear in the Guineas and didn’t seem to stay. He was an exciting two-year-old and could be the one in this field that troubles Little Big Bear.

Coronation Stakes, Fri 5:00pm

Tahiyra won well in the Guineas on slower ground than what we’ll likely have on Saturday. At that time, Dermot Weld did say he thought she was around two weeks behind on her preparation before Newmarket. She did seem to improve and won the 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh. She’s a hold-up filly that quickens well and I’d pick her as the likely winner.

Meditate has been outdone by the two market-leaders here a couple of times and doesn’t quite get a mile. Ryan Moore has tried to go to the front and slow the field down, but it hasn’t gone her way. I can see him trying to do that again here.

Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, Sat 3:40pm

Artorius won well and was third in this last year. He’s a good sprinter and will be tough to beat.

Wellington is one of Hong Kong’s best sprinters, and they’re not here for the fun of it so it will be an interesting race for him. It will be great for them if they win. Hong Kong is so enthusiastic about their horses and racing and Royal Ascot will be on the World Pool, which creates great interest betting-wise for them to have a runner overseas. They didn’t have many horses for a long time that ran abroad because of Covid.

It’s hard to say that Sacred is on the up and getting better against the hardened sprinters, so this race will be difficult for her.

Ryan Moore always has a big chance of being a leading jockey and he always grabs one or two wins when he teams up with Willie Mullins. If Aiden comes up trumps with a few too, then it will leave him hard to beat.

It’s a tough week. There’s a lot of expectations when you have a lot of rides. It’s a big week for everybody and the world is watching – you have to put on a performance for everybody. It’s the greatest meeting in the world.

It’ll be nice to get an early win, but there’s a long week ahead. Ascot rarely gives you what you want and you’ll have some disappointments throughout the week, every jockey and trainer won’t have things go their way and be unlucky. It will be nice to kick-off the week with a win, but it’s not vital as there is so much ahead.

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