The Norfolk Stakes over five furlongs opens Royal Ascot’s Thursday card, and I can’t really work out why Kochek is favourite after not winning last time out in a bunched finish, which usually suggests the runners were closely matched.
Hardly stand-out form, then, and I’m not too excited by Wesley Ward’s Shang Shang Shang against the boys either, as Ward has stated she’s not his number one raiding filly at Royal Ascot this week, and the number one got beaten on Wednesday.
The two I like in this race are both by first-season sire Charm Spirit, who was a multiple Group One winner a few years back.
Richard Hannon’s The Paddocks has been overlooked by the market but won well on debut at Newbury and I think 16/1 is quite the overreaction.
I give him a good chance, however it’s his half-brother CHARMING KID that appeals the most at odds of 9/1, after he showed a good turn of foot to easily win on debut at York.
That was a hands and heels ride by Paul Hanagan and improvement seems very likely for this his second start, while his trainer Richard Fahey seems very optimistic he’s up to this.
With his sire an unknown nobody really knows, but at 9/1 I’m happy to pay to find out.
1pt win Charming Kid @9/1, 14:30 Royal Ascot, Thursday
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