The fifth and final day of a fantastic 2024 Royal Ascot is upon us on Saturday and there’s another day of top class action to focus on.
The Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes is the feature race on day five but there’s a good support card too with more Group-race action and some competitive handicaps.
Here, Colm Doyle takes you through his best bets on Saturday at Ascot including a couple of value picks at each-way prices and a big-priced fancy in the feature race.
3.45 Royal Ascot - Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes
A case can be made for quite a few of them in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes and there’s a load of pace in this year’s contest with the likes of Swingalong and Art Power likely to force a strong gallop.
That could play into the strengths of the hold-up performers in the line-up and it’s easy to see a similar scenario to last year when Khaadem came from a long way back to score. He was underestimated in the betting that day going off at 80-1 and the market hasn’t given him much respect this time either with him widely available at 16-1 and bigger.
He’s a class act when everything falls right for him and he’s probably drawn on the right side for this year’s renewal in stall 12. He’s a hostage to fortune in his races but there’s a lot in his favour here, including the quick conditions given that the vast majority of his best form has come with firm somewhere in the going description.
He looks capable of at least hitting the frame all things considered and expect him to leave his reappearance run behind given that he usually needs his first outing of the season.
Stablemate Mitbaahy could be the one to give him most to think about and he gets the vote of Jamie Spencer, the owner’s retained rider.
4.25 Royal Ascot - Jersey Stakes
The Jersey Stakes might be an easier puzzle to solve with River Tiber bidding for another Group-race Royal Ascot success.
He made it three wins from three starts in the Coventry at this meeting last year before two placed efforts at Group 1 level at Deauville and Newmarket.
His return run at the Curragh was full of promise, shaping like he may benefit from the reappearance run and there’s every chance of him getting back on the scoresheet down in class with a shorter trip also in his favour.
Haatem, who was just ahead of him at the Curragh last time, could be his main threat once again, but does have a 3lb penalty to concede today.
5.05 Royal Ascot - Wokingham Stakes
The Wokingham looks as competitive as ever but Richard Hannon’s Mums Tipple might represent a bit of each-way value.
He’s a course and distance winner who went close in this race last year and Epsom wouldn’t have suited his running style when disappointing last time. Down to a good mark, he looks capable of running a big race.
5:40 Royal Ascot - Golden Gates Stakes
A relatively small field for a Royal Ascot handicap here. Hand Of God is a rapid improver for Harry Charlton and won the Esher Cup at Sandown in his comeback in April.
He is only 3lb higher now and likely has been waiting for this target but that Sandown form has taken some knocks and the market has pinpointed his chance quite clearly.
Portsmouth is another progressive sort for Andrew Balding and he's worth supporting. He won over an extended-mile at Epsom on his comeback and has since run two cracking races in defeat over this trip at Goodwood and back at Epsom on Derby day. He was unfortunate to bump into Persica that afternoon, the front two having come well clear of the pack and, on the strength of that effort, there is every reason to believe he can soon defy a mark of 87. Hayley Turner knows Ascot inside out and takes over in the saddle now.
Aidan O'Brien's hat-trick seeking Old Faithful is another for the shortlist but the unexposed William Haggas-trained handicap debutant Approval is second pick after his stylish Windsor novice win over this trip earlier in the month.
6.15 Royal Ascot - Queen Alexandra Stakes
The Queen Alexandra Stakes has the distinction of not only being the final race of Royal Ascot but also the longest Flat race run in Britain and 2m5½f – a thorough examination of stamina to finish things off and, therefore, often a contest targeted by top National Hunt yards.
Tashkan for Brian Ellison and Postileo for Emmet Mullins have claims, though the former lacks a recent run, while last year's winner Dawn Rising is back for more for Joseph O'Brien with William Buick doing the steering.
He had Ryan Moore on his back 12 months ago and perhaps it's notable he jumps ship to partner Queenstown now for Aidan O'Brien.
The Ballydoyle maestro was turned over by son Donnacha in the Coronation Stakes here on Friday but father should see off son this time. Queenstown has twice finished second to Thursday's Gold Cup winner Kyprios in Ireland recently and had Dawn Rising five-lengths behind at Leopardstown last time. He is actually 4lb better off on these terms and if his stamina holds out, he will be hard to topple.
