5f Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (2yo)
It’s quite hard to get away from the claims of Whistlejacket here, but the form of his two races in Ireland is so far inconclusive. He also has to show he can perform on this rapid surface. He might yet answer all those questions, but as a result of his short odds, the market shapes up nicely after him and there are plenty of huge improvers in this field.
AESTERIOUS is one of two entries for Wathnan Racing and although James Doyle has picked Shareholder, who might be the horse to follow in the long term, Aesterious looked a proper sprinter on debut at Bath on quick ground. Whilst the form of that race is nothing special, his action and head carriage particularly over the last couple of furlongs was quite striking. He looked a strong type and his trainer Archie Watson was hugely complementary of this colt. At a cost of nearly £380,000 he’s clearly a horse of significant potential on his second start for the yard and William Buick is aboard to boot.
While it may be foolish to take more than one against the favourite, I can’t help but think MOVING FORCE is massively overpriced. The form of his maiden win is working out really well with the second in that race subsequently running well in a sprint that featured Maw Lam (3rd in the Queen Mary) and Aviation Time (3rd in the Windsor Castle). Moving Force looked very green on his first start and still showed some shades of immaturity last time out when giving 7lbs to the well-fancied Shareholder. He now races off level-weights with him and yet is three times his price. Trained by Richard Fahey, who has had big-priced winners in this race before, he looks one that can put in a bold show with the likely fast pace set to suit.
1pt win Aesterious @8/1, 14:30 Royal Ascot, Thursday
0.5pt win Moving Force @25/1, 14:30 Royal Ascot, Thursday