Friday 19th June 2015 - Royal Ascot Day 4

Trip To Paris won the feature race at Royal Ascot yesterday “Gold Cup” and did us a nice turn at the same time. The horse was highlighted as the 12-1 EW selection and duly won well under a very good ride by Graham Lee.

It was a great win for trainer Ed Dunlop who deserved a big staying race after coming so close many a times with the globetrotting Red Cadeaux. Always positioned in the middle of the pack and travelling well, Graham Lee spotted a gap on the rails in the home straight and had a perfect clear path to get the horse rolling to win going away.

Royal Ascot is turning into the Ryan Moore show at the moment, 8 winners so far with one more required to become the jockey with the most winners ever at the meeting, which looks a cert. It’s helps riding the best horses but there’s no doubt love him or hate him Ryan Moore is the best jockey we’ve seen for a long time on the level.

We had a good day yesterday so I’m keen to keep what we have and finish level at Royal Ascot at worst, one more winner would be lovely but playing with bookies money for the final two days makes sense.

I’ve had two bets, Balios in the 3:05 at 5-1 & Found in the Coronation Stakes 7-4.

I can’t work out why Balios isn’t much shorter price, the horse has pretty much the best form in the race whilst only had the two career starts so you would think there could be more to come. Trained by David Simcock who certainly doesn’t tilt at windmills Balios ran belter on seasonal reappearance over one mile two but was staying on all the way to the line behind Best Of Times.

Today’s extra two furlong looks ideal based on his breeding and I think Balios comes into this race as the form selection alongside Stravagante. The price difference between the two is quite large so for that reason Balios looks good value.

Arguments can be made that the trip could be on the sharp side for Found but with Ryan Moore in the saddle and trainer Aiden O’Brien rarely making mistakes I think she will get away with it in the 4:20.

There was nothing wrong with her second in the Irish Guineas and today’s quick surface will suit. The selection has the beating of Ervedya based on their Longchamp efforts whilst that one requires some dig in the going. It looks a two horse race between the Irish fillies “other one been Lucida” it makes sense to support the top team of Moore & O’Brien at the moment so I’m happy to play at 7-4.