Royal Ascot Placepot: Saturday June 22

Matt Gardner
22 June 2013

Can Matt Gardner land the Ascot Placepot on Saturday?

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Timeform's Matt Gardner has been tasked with landing the Placepot on the final day of Royal Ascot 2013. It's tricky, but he reckons it's possible with a 54-line permutation...

"I’m on Rex Imperator ante-post for this event and really fancy him to go close; in truth I reckon he could take some stopping racing from the same mark as when bolting up at Windsor last year..."

14:30 - This year's renewal of the Chesham Stakes is full of horses open to plenty of improvement, none more so than Somewhat who created an excellent impression when justifying strong market support on debut at Musselburgh earlier this month. He holds a brace of Group 1 entries, demonstrating the regard in which he is held by connections, and he rates as a major contender. Heading the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings for this race is Master Carpenter, who boasts some strong form and will be suited by this extra furlong, so he also goes in alongside Ihtimal, who ran yesterday's taking Albany Stakes winner Kiyoshi close on debut at Goodwood before performing to a similar level at Newmarket. She is another that will appreciate this stiffer test of stamina and she should be involved.

15:05 - Sir John Hawkwood and Ektihaam are both still progressing and make plenty of appeal in here, particularly the latter who was impressive in a listed race over C&D last time, but we need to save lines somewhere along the way and Mount Athos presents an opportunity to do just that. The six-year-old has done nothing but progress since joining Luca Cumani at the beginning of last year and he showed that he retained plenty of ability when running out an easy winner of the Ormonde Stakes at Chester. This contest clearly demands more and he has to cope with a drop back in trip, but he's not short of speed and boasts plenty of class.

15:45 - Society Rock looks to be the solid option in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, and he is a must for the Placepot. The six-year-old would have gone close to beating Black Caviar (who clearly wasn't at her best) in this race last year but for blowing the start and he returned at the peak of his powers in the Duke Of York Stakes, beating the reopposing Lethal Force. It's also worth including Mince, who has been beaten twice so far this term but still looked to be building up to full fitness at Windsor last time and is likely to be spot on now.

16:25 - My usual Placepot tactic in races of this ilk is to take three and spread them across the track, hoping to negate any potential draw bias, but the trio that I fancy to go well in the Wokingham are all drawn high so we're going to stick with them and hope for the best. I'm on Rex Imperator ante-post for this event and really fancy him to go close; in truth I reckon he could take some stopping racing from the same mark as when bolting up at Windsor last year, and he is certainly capable of producing the sort of performance it usually requires to land this. Timeform colleague Adam Brookes is pretty sweet on Gabriel's Lad and it's easy to see why, with the four-year-old still on an upward curve, so he is also selected alongside Khubala, who improved again to win at Windsor last time and is the type that could be suited by this kind of event.

17:00 - Lahaag was a good second behind First Mohican, who is destined for much better things, at York last time and shapes as though a step up to this trip will suit but the one we're going to side with is Rye House, who hails from the family of Hi Calypso and Warringah and is the type to go on progressing. Clearly it's a risk banking in such a big field but Rye House looks to be the right horse and Ryan Moore is definitely the right jockey, so we are quietly confident.

17:35 - I don't really fancy anything in here, which is a bit disconcerting, so sticking three in the Placepot is a must. The first one to make the cut is Courtesy Call, who developed into a useful stayer for Mark Johnston last season and has taken reasonable well to hurdling for his new yard, winning at Taunton on his most recent outing. Stopped Out has won two of his last three starts over timber and ran well on his Flat debut, finishing second to Bold Sniper at Thirsk, whilst Cul Baire is one of the more unexposed in this field and hails from a top yard, so could have a bit more to offer.

Selections:
14:30 - 11, 15, 20
15:05 - 4
15:45 - 12, 15
16:25 - 20, 21, 24
17:00 - 7
17:35 - 4, 15, 16
= 54 lines

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