#RoyalAscot Day 5 Selections

Sunningdale £5 win only 25/1 Skybet money back as cash if 2nd, 3rd or 4th offer – Could only manage 4th in what looked a pretty decent race over 5 furlongs back in April. Not bred to appreciate the sharp sprint distance however and this son of Gleneagles who has an Italian Oaks winner in the bloodline could fare much better upped in trip today. Stable has a strong affiliation with this race with their last two entries finishing 3rd, both were out of Gleneagles and came here off the back of a run over the minimum trip. We have opted for the money back offer with Sky but would make a decent EW bet with 4 places available elsewhere.

Tacarib Bay 0.5pt EW 22/1 5 places Will Hill – Well held in the Guineas this year and will need a career best to play a hand in this race. Went close in a listed handicap on reappearance however from a mark of 103 and this has always been the target we feel for on who has a great profile for exactly this race. A decent looking renewal with plenty of talent but this one seems to have taken the traditional route and is worth a try with his trainer amongst the winners yesterday on the card.

Solid Stone 1pt win only 8/1 – The favourite Hurricane Lane lines up here the absolute one to beat on paper having won 3 group 1’s as a 3yo and finishing 3rd in the Arc. At today’s prices however we are happy to take him on with one from the Sir Michael Stoute yard who has won this race no less than 11 times, most recently back in 2018 with Crystal Ocean. The favourite today will encounter fast ground for the first time and that has to be a slight worry given his breeding. Not a massive negative but a small chink in the armor nonetheless. The selection was pretty impressive in the Huxley up at Chester last time out and should be good enough to give the market leader something to think about.

Dragon Symbol 0.5pt EW 40/1 6 places – Has to enter equations here judged on last years G1 form and given the fact that he is one of the few in here that is at his absolute best on very fast ground. Disqualified and placed 2nd behind Campanelle in last years Commonwealth cup and went on to put in some pretty big efforts thereafter. That was until his last run of the season when very disappointing behind Creative Force. Has switched yards since and has not been in the same form since. That said his latest run was an improved one and the yard could well be getting him back to somewhere near himself and that would be very dangerous given his form here last term. Naval Crown, Garrus and Vadream all look to hold decent EW value at huge odds too judged on previous form.

Commanche Falls 0.5pt EW 40/1 8 places Skybet – Won the Stewards Cup at Goodwood from a 2lb lower mark so is certainly handicapped to go close on his form from last term. Returned in good form too with a good 2nd at Doncaster before disappointing at Epsom last time out when not looking too comfortable on the track. Has a decent draw down the centre of the course and is one that always looks comfortable in these big field handicaps. Loves the quick ground he will encounter here and the booking of David Probert looks to be a good one too with him being 2 from 4 for the yard for a 50% strike.

Honiton 1pt win only 9/2 + Groundbreaker 0.5pt EW 25/1 5 places – Runaway winner of a very ordinary race last time out but placed against some pretty decent rivals previous to that run. Ground looks ideal and is no doubt the pick of the Gosden duo based on Frankie Dettori’s booking here. Groundbreaker looks a sound EW bet for last years winning trainer Andrew Balding who should fare better in this company from what looks a very fair opening mark

Stratum 1pt win only 10/1 W/O Trueshan Will Hill – Won the race last year very comfortably and has been given an outing to put him right before coming here for a second tilt for the Willie Mullins yard who are looking for a 4th win in this contest. We have opted to place the bet without Trueshan as we suspect he could be withdrawn which would cause a sizeable R4 and 10/1 looks generous given he is best price 14/1 with that runner. Also 13/2 is available with Will Hill without Trueshan and Wordsworth if the O Brien runner is giving you nightmares. Market confidence does not seem to be there for the Willie Mullins runner following a poor reappearance but he is a wiley old fox and he would be foolish to ignore here.