Daily Racing Tips: It's Mary in the Anne for me...

Royal Ascot / Carl Harris / 17 June 2009 / Leave a Comment

Carl Harris has three horses to be on today at Ascot.

Not the best to start to my Ascot week, in fact it was a disaster. I thought Delegator would get up, but Mastercraftsman fought back like only the best horses can. It's onwards and hopefully upwards today.

Don't Tell Mary (4.55) is a filly that I have been waiting to back since witnessing her devastating win in the Hillary Needler at Beverley. She was last two out and showed the turn of foot of a top class two year-old to win emphatically.

On a course like Ascot I expect Tom Dascombe's charge to be closer to the pace and then kick in the turbo to win at pretty decent odds. This is my best bet of the day and I will be going in quite heavy, such was the impact that her win at Beverley had on me.

The big race is the Group One Prince of Wales's Stakes where Tartan Bearer (3.45) is the market leader. This is the horse who was a close second to New Approach in last year's Derby before going on to finish third in the Irish Derby. Sir Michael Stoute then dropped the four year-old in class to a Group 3 which he won on his seasonal reappearance at Sandown, scrambling home to win by a short-head. I am not hugely keen on this race but Tartan Bearer should land the prize.

One horse I am strong on, however, is Lush Lashes, a Group One winner who drops down in class for the Windsor Forest Stakes at 3.05. She was disappointing last time but that was down to the ground and can, as with Delegator, be ignored. She is tough and should have too much class and determination to score a second successive Royal Ascot victory.

The big betting race is the Royal Hunt Cup (4.20) which is a race I have done well in over the years. I could do with a repeat of the 25-1 winner I had last year with Mr Aviator. I think the favourite, Forgotten Voice is too short and I will lay this one. I have backed Lovelace who gets on well with Jamie Spencer and should run well back in handicap company after competing in pattern company. The pair won a Group 2 last year in Germany and Lovelace comes from a stable who usually does well at Royal Ascot. The odds are certainly attractive and I just hope that there are no traffic problems in such a big field.

Wednesday's Royal Ascot Best Bets...
3.05 Lush Lashes - win @ [2.66]
4.20 Lovelace - win and place @ [25.0] & [6.2]
4.55 Don't Tell Mary - win @ [5.7]