Royal Ascot 2019: Top tips and form study for the Coventry Stakes and Queen Mary Stakes
THERE are six two-year-old races during Royal Ascot and, with very little form to go on, they can be a minefield for punters.
With the big meeting just days away, we have put together an in-depth guide to the big two, the Coventry and the Queen Mary, with tips for each contest to save you the time and effort!
Coventry Stakes
Considered the flagship two-year-old race at Royal Ascot, the Coventry has been won by some top-class performers over the years, including Henrythenavigator, Canford Cliffs, Dawn Approach and Caravaggio.
This year's race is typically competitive, with the market headed up by Aidan O'Brien's ARIZONA, who opened his account by eight lengths at the Curragh last month.
The No Nay Never colt is a big old unit with a nice stride and high cruising speed.
He could be anything and is an obvious contender for his powerful connections.
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Sectional-timing fans were raving about VISINARI after his taking debut victory at Newmarket on 8 June.
He blew away a well-backed Godolphin jolly, with the pair a country mile clear of the rest. It will be a quick turnaround if he lines up but he's a good prospect and Mark Johnston has won this race in the past.
THREAT was another who made a winning start at HQ, thrashing three rivals over 5f. The third and fourth have run well but been beaten since and it could be a shock to his system when he lines up against 20+ horses.
Ger Lyons' SISKIN looks a massive contender on the basis of his Marble Hill Stakes win at the Curragh.
He has a bit more experience under his belt than some and the Marble Hill has produced two Coventry winners and a runner-up since 2011.
The speedy son of First Defence has shown a smart turn of foot on both starts to date but he'll also see the 6f out strongly.
Oisin Murphy nominated GUILDSMAN as the ride he is most looking forward to at Ascot and he won't mind if the ground comes up soft judged on his easy debut win at Goodwood.
There is plenty of stamina in his family so if this becomes a grind he will be firmly in the mix for two-year-old maestro Archie Watson.
SUNDAY SOVEREIGN beat the antepost jolly Arizona at the Curragh on 6 May and was snapped up by King Power Racing afterwards.
He breezed home in a small-field event at Tipperary last time out and is another who won't mind testing ground.
VENTURA REBEL has a course win to his name having lowered the colours of US filly Lady Pauline back in May. He looks overpriced.
MOUNT FUJI and FORT MYERS are likely to be down the Ballydoyle pecking order, though that has been no barrier to Coventry success for the likes of War Command and Harbour Master in the past.
The latter in particular was second in a strong-looking race at Newbury behind TEMPLE OF HEAVEN, a live each-way player, and just ahead of Godolphin's WELL OF WISDOM.
Selected Coventry Stakes odds
Arizona 7-2
Visinari 5-1
Threat 7-1
Siskin 8-1
Sunday Sovereign 10-1
Guildsman 12-1
VERDICT:
There is no standout contender this term and you could easily make a case for six or seven of them.
Visinari and Arizona are exciting prospects for the year ahead, while Threat is another who should have a bright future.
Sunday Sovereign has looked good on easy ground, so if the going comes up soft on Tuesday he has a big chance.
I like the form of the Newbury race in which Temple Of Heaven beat Fort Myers and Well Of Wisdom in a thrilling finish.
But the suggestion is SISKIN, who showed a smart turn of foot to beat a good yardstick in the Marble Hill Stakes last time, a race which is often a good pointer for the Coventry.
Queen Mary Stakes
The betting for this Group 2, the key race for juvenile fillies at Ascot, is dominated by Wesley Ward and Godolphin.
The American trainer has a phenomenal record in this contest and has unleashed the likes of Lady Aurelia and Acapulco in the past.
KIMARI is his number one hope, and she left scorch marks on the track when winning on debut at Keeneland.
She was 15 lengths clear at the line and she is bred to get further than 5f, so the stiff finish here shouldn't be an issue.
Ward also has the aptly-named ANNA'S FAST in the line-up, and she bolted up over 4.5f at Keeneland on debut.
She is absolutely rapid, but there would be a doubt about her getting home - I can see her travelling well and falling in a hole inside the final furlong.
Saeed bin Suroor has had a quiet start to the season but he holds a strong hand with FINAL SONG who opened her account in impressive fashion over C&D last month.
The ground was slow that day so the recent rainfall won't be an issue for the daughter of Dark Angel.
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The well-held fourth, fifth and sixth that day have all been beaten since, but her experience of the track could come in handy.
Trainer David Evans will have been delighted to see antepost favourite Chasing Dreams removed from the race due to injury, as she thrashed his GOOD VIBES at Newmarket in the spring.
The wily trainer believes she is the best he has ever trained, and she certainly won in taking fashion in the Marygate at York on her most recent outing.
Charlie Appleby will have been cursing his luck when he found Chasing Dreams lame on Thursday morning, but he has a smart substitute in DIVINE SPIRIT.
She bolted to post on her debut at Windsor but settled beautifully in the race itself. She cruised through the contest under James Doyle and put the race to bed in ready fashion.
She ran some slick sectionals too and this expensive filly, whose dam Shyrl was a close second in the Queen Mary in 2008, is going places.
ICKWORTH is a fascinating contender for Willie McCreery, adding further strength to the Godolphin challenge. She bolted up in a Listed contest last time and she is also proven on slow ground.
At a price, LAMBETH WALK should enter calculations for Archie Watson, and she was worth more than the winning margin of a neck when extending her unbeaten record at Chelmsford.
Selected Queen Mary odds
Kimari 4-1
Final Song 4-1
Good Vibes 6-1
Ickworth 6-1
Anna's Fast 7-1
Divine Spirit 10-1
VERDICT:
You have to respect Wesley Ward's runners, particularly market leader Kimari who thumped her rivals by 15 lengths on debut.
Final Song has course form and Good Vibes is on an upward curve, but DIVINE SPIRIT is very exciting.
Her debut victory at Windsor can be marked up and this expensive filly looks a cracking super-sub for the crocked antepost favourite Chasing Dreams.