Royal Ascot | Horse Racing Free Tips

Horton Planning First Royal Ascot Raid

James Horton, who made a dazzling start to his training career with a treble at Redcar on Easter Monday, is now focusing his attention on saddling his first runners at Royal Ascot.

A former assistant to Sir Michael Stoute in Newmarket, Horton is now training at John and Jess Dance's Manor House Farm stables in Middleham. He plans to run Sunday's York sprint winner Asjad (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) at the Royal meeting as well as the G2 July S. third Sam Maximus (GB) (Showcasing {GB}).

“The Wokingham is the plan next,” said Horton of 4-year-old Asjad, who was bought from Shadwell at the Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale and has won two of his three starts since joining his stable.

“I think Ascot will suit him, I think he wants a level track. I probably shouldn't have run him at Newmarket, he hated the track and I probably brought him back a bit quick after Redcar. So he'll have a nice bit of time now between York and the Wokingham and that will be plan A.”

The G1 Commonwealth Cup is on the cards for Sam Maximus, who has made just one start for Horton, finishing third in the Listed Carnarvon S. on May 14 at Newbury after being group-placed at two for Tom Dascombe.

“He was only just up to a race when we ran him, he kind of needed a race to bring him forwards,” said Horton, who has now saddled seven winners from his 25 runners to date.

“I thought he ran really well and he just got tired in the last half-furlong, he had a real good blow and I think he should step forward from that.

“He's in the Commonwealth Cup and the two that finished in front of him at Newbury will probably run in it. They were match-fit and we went there half expecting to blow up, so I'd like to think he could get closer to them with another effort and the plan is to run him at Ascot and go from there.”

He added, “The programme for 3-year-old sprinters kind of maps itself out. We'll then see if he can mix it with the best sprinters or maybe have to go back and find a little Listed race somewhere.”

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McGuinness Predicts Improvement from A Case Of You at Royal Ascot

Ado McGuinness is predicting that his star sprinter A Case Of You (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}) will raise his game at Royal Ascot after the dual Group 1 winner was beaten in the Group 2 Greenlands S. at the Curragh on Saturday.

A Case Of You, winner of the Prix de l'Abbaye at Paris Longchamp last season, got his season off to brilliant start when adding to his Group 1 tally when landing the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in March but could only manage third behind Brad The Brief (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) at the Curragh on Guineas weekend.

McGuinness revealed that he afforded his stable star with some down time after Meydan and expects the colt to be seen in a much better light at Royal Ascot, where he could tackle the Platinum Jubilee S over the King's Stand S., provided the ground is not soft.

The trainer said, “I was happy and I think he'll come on for the run. We had to let him down a bit after Dubai and a horse like him always sharpens up for a run.

“He had a penalty to carry, but I think it's more down to the fact he'll improve for the run, which he's proven before. He's sound and 100 per cent, so we're all looking forward to Ascot.”

McGuinness added: “It will probably be the six-furlong race, but we'll keep an eye on the weather and no decision will be made until we know what the weather and the ground is like. If it got very soft, well then we might turn back to five (furlongs).”

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Royal Ascot Next for Irish Guineas Runner-Up New Energy

Sheila Lavery is eyeing a tilt at Royal Ascot for New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), who out-ran his odds of 40-1 to chase home Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Saturday.

New Energy, a £65,000 purchase by Lavery and bloodstock agent Ted Durcan from Ballylinch Stud at the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-up Sale last year, is on course to run in the St James's Palace S. at the royal meeting.

“He's come out of the race really well and our next target will be Ascot, most probably the St James's Palace,” said Lavery on Monday.

“We'll enter him up for the Jersey as well, just in case, but I think that will be our next step. I think he deserves to run in the St James's Palace, that's the best way of putting it.”

Lavery, who sent out Lady Kaya (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) to finish second in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in 2019, added, “We were absolutely thrilled, we always thought he'd be better at Group One pace and he got that at the weekend. I was really thrilled with him.

“It was a beautiful ride from Billy Lee, too. I do think Native Trail was just idling in front and if we'd have got to him he'd have just pulled out more, but we were delighted and it's really exciting.”

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Golden Pal Leads Ward Ascot Workers

Wesley Ward worked five of his Royal Ascot contenders over the Keeneland turf Friday led by GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo). He covered five panels in a bullet 1:02.80 (1/8) (video). Winner of the GII Shakertown S. last out Apr. 9, the bay is being pointed at the G1 King's Stand S. at the Royal meeting June 14.

“I thought he had an unbelievable breeze today,” Ward said. “The turf was soggy, and I love to breeze on a deep, soft turf. They come in and out of the works so good. He broke off 10 lengths in front of a 2-year-old filly, ['TDN Rising Star'] Love Reigns (Ire) (U S Navy Flag)–she's no match for a horse like him at this stage of her career–but she had a target. She had a great work (1:03.60) following the fastest horse in the world. He skipped over it–it was unbelievable. That's what you want to see.”

Love Reigns, owned by Stonestreet Stables, scored a 9 3/4-length victory at Keeneland in her Apr. 29 career debut sprinting on turf. She is scheduled to race in the G2 Queen Mary S. June 15.

Stonestreet also owns G1 Platinum Jubilee S.-bound Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) (1:04) and Palace of Holyroodhouse S. contender Ruthin (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}) (1:04.80) (video). Campanelle is bidding for her third win at Royal Ascot, following triumphs in the Queen Mary in 2020 and G1 Commonwealth Cup in 2021.

Ward's other Royal Ascot worker was Andrew Farm and For the People Racing Stable's No Nay Hudson (Ire) (No Nay Never) (1:06.40), who is headed to the Windsor Castle June 15. No Nay Hudson won his career debut at Keeneland Apr. 28 on the dirt.

On June 8, they have a direct flight from Indianapolis to London Stansted Airport, “and they land and have a 10-minute ride to Chelmsford Racecourse, where they'll stay for three days until they go to Ascot,” Ward said.

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