We deliberately kept our powder dry over the weekend in anticipation of a big week’s punting at Royal Ascot, which kicks off tomorrow in hot summer weather.
As with every year, three Group One races punctuate the Tuesday card, starting with the Queen Anne Stakes in which Richard Fahey’s top-class miler Ribchester, the highest rated horse in Britain, trades a skinny price at even money.
That’s hard to dispute given there looks a distinct lack of Group One form behind him in the market; Lightning Spear is the 6/1 second favourite despite one victory in his last ten starts.
That price is short enough to kill off any each-way value, so, despite the fast ground in his favour, he’s of little interest with virtually no argument for him reversing his four-length defeat by Ribchester in last month’s Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
I’m not going to go through all 15 of Ribchester’s opponents but, like last year, I fancy an American raider for this race.
Last year we tipped Tepin to win at 5/1 and she duly obliged, and AMERICAN PATRIOT looks the pick of the US-raiders this time at a big looking 25/1.
Aged four, he didn’t set the world alight at three but looks to have progressed with age after landing two races from two this year, with the most recent a Grade 1 win at Keeneland – which you can watch below.
He’s not your conventional American-trained miler as he likes to be held up and swoop late, rather than go flat-out from start to finish.
As a result, his winning distances are slim which could disguise his class – a fact supported by him being priced about the same for this as he was ahead of that last win.
Make no mistake, this is a poor renewal of the Queen Anne Stakes – hence the reason 16 are having a go – and beyond Ribchester there aren’t many big threats with Group One form.
He simply looks overpriced on that American form and is unexposed against all the British form lines, while the booking of Frankie Dettori really takes the eye.
0.75pt each-way American Patriot @25/1, 14:30 Ascot, Tuesday (various)
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