Storm Boy will need to take a good step forward
Ascot: Race 1 | Listed Chesham Stakes
I kick off the final day with a nice Justify filly called MOMENTS OF JOY.
She’s one from one having responded well to pressure to win on debut at Leopardstown two weeks ago. She showed a good attitude to battle all the way to the line and should take a good step forward.
Humidity, Treanmor and Venetian Lace were all winners over six furlongs on their first start and have to be respected stepping up in trip.
By Declan Schuster
Closing in on a record-extending 13th trainers’ championship in Hong Kong, John Size is preparing to unleash an imposing team of 11 at Sha Tin’s Group 3 double-header programme on Sunday (22 June) as he bids to increase his buffer at the top of the table.
Size has 63 wins, nine ahead of nearest rival and fellow Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductee David Hayes (54 wins), while Ricky Yiu (49), Caspar Fownes (49) and last season’s champion Francis Lui (46) trail the duo with only eight race meetings left to run in 2024/25.
At The Races's James Flaherty weighs up the credentials of every filly in the feature on day four of Royal Ascot on Friday, live on Sky Sports Racing.
The feature contest on day four of Royal Ascot on Friday sees the fillies take centre stage. The Coronation Stakes at 4.20, live on Sky Sports Racing, often brings together the Classic winners from the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, plus its Irish and French equivalents.
Hollie Doyle
Our ambassador makes a case for her two rides at Royal Ascot on Thursday, live on Sky Sports Racing, and reveals her Gold Cup and Norfolk Stakes verdict.
HOPING CHESS DAD CAN MAKE THE RIGHT MOVES
Talented training duo Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole are experiencing Royal Ascot for the first time and I’m thrilled to be sharing it with them by riding two of their runners on Thursday, live on Sky Sports Racing.
Ascot | Race 1: G3 Albany Stakes
SIGNORA is a nice Frankel filly who finished third on debut in a Group 3 at Naas.
That was a hot enough race for her first career start, and she showed up pretty well. She ran on nicely that day and will have learnt a fair bit so will hopefully take a nice step forward.
Our ambassador runs the rule over her duo of rides on day two of Royal Ascot, live on Sky Sports Racing, and gives her verdict on Wednesday’s feature contests.
LIGHT WEIGHT FAVOURS CONSISTENT SHALLOW
She may be in at the deep end but the consistent SHALLOW can out-run her odds in an open Kensington Palace Stakes (5.35) at Royal Ascot on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports Racing.
Ascot | Race 1: G2 Norfolk Stakes
CHARLES DARWIN is a very good horse. He’s a brother to Blackbeard, who was fourth in the Coventry Stakes as a two-year-old, and already has three runs under his belt, which is a big help coming to a big stage like Royal Ascot.
He won his last two starts pretty comfortably and probably sets the standard.
Ascot | Race 2: King George V Stakes
SERIOUS CONTENDER has been put away since winning at Leopardstown on his reappearance this season and he’s in good shape.
An absolute humdinger of a race awaits in the St James’s Palace Stakes at 4.20 on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports Racing. We have the winners of the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and it’s Irish and French Guineas equivalents all lining up in what is a very worthy contender for the race of the entire week.
The Derby’s loss is the Royal Ascot’s gain with 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court rerouted on account of the rain softened Epsom ground to a track that is unlikely to see anything but the clerk’s watering can by way of moisture between now and Tuesday afternoon.
‘Send your best middle-distance older horses to the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes for your chance to compete for an incredible £1million prize pot!’ That’s about as much marketing as Ascot needs to promote a race of this nature.
Wednesday’s Group 1 showpiece, which is one of the featured contests during Royal Ascot, can be watched live on Sky Sports Racing at 4.20pm. An intriguing nine-strong field will head to post, so let’s take a look at the runners.
