3 minute read
The bookies and the pundits all say she will.
While she is a double Arc Winner and has come back very nicely in the Eclipse there always has to be a "but" and she is meeting some formidable challengers. 4/7 quote too.
Foremost of these has to be Sir Michael Stoute's Crystal Ocean to be ridden by James Doyle. Quoted at 3/1 this is a race Sir Michael has won before and he is a master at preparing his runners for their selected contests. It's up to the horse now!
Aidan O'Brien saddles Antony van Dyck who will be partnered by Ryan Moore. While they haven't been having a spectacular summer they have still managed to collect a lot of prize money. 8/1 looks value here.
The "roughie" here is the Japanese challenger Cheval Grand. He's by Heart's Cry and has the 2017 Japan Cup in his trophy cabinet plus he was second in the Dubai Sheema this year. He's a real tryer and generally in the top four at the top level. He's owned by former baseball star in the US Major League Kazuhiro Sasaki and if he's at Ascot the baseball fans will be out in force.
Do not forget there has been a heatwave in the UK this week and this can affect horses either in their work or travel.
Earlier in the card the G3 Princess Margaret is for the 2yos over 1200m and has a field of 12.
Godolphin Appleby-Doyle are here with Summer Romance who is 2 wins from 2 starts and looks very talented so she's on evens. Good Vibes is on 8/1 and Dark Lady 11/1 so some sort of combination could be the way to go.