Kevin Stott’s William Hill Blog: Hoping to create Maximum Impact at Royal Ascot

Tuesday, Royal Ascot 

My first ride of Royal Ascot is in the Coventry Stakes (3:05pm) and I’m onboard Bucanero Fuerte. He is stepping up in trip from his last run at the Curragh, which is a massive plus, and he is a big, galloping horse. The ground, for him, is an unknown because it was testing when he won and we do think a bit of juice in the ground will suit him but, with the rain about and the watering that has been going on, I’m hoping it will be officially ‘good’, which would be ideal.

He is drawn in 14 and I have no complaints about that. We are towards the middle, and it will be interesting to see how the pace works out if there is a split. The fact we are not on either wing is a positive as it gives us options.

He’s a horse that I really like and it’s not an easy decision to make when there are a few Amo Racing runners in the race, but I feel like he is potentially the one who has got the most potential going forward at this trip currently. He has travelled over well and I’ve been excited to ride this horse ever since I got off him at the Curragh right at the start of the season.

My next ride is in the St James’s Palace Stakes (4:20pm) with Indestructible, who was very impressive in the Craven Stakes at the start of the season. Nothing really went his way in the 2000 Guineas as he was bumped out of the stalls, got in behind horses, and he didn’t love the ground, so he’s much better than that performance.

The fact that the race is a small field is a positive and he is drawn in nine, which wouldn’t worry me too much as we will have time to get to the front without using too much energy. Hopefully, we will be able to avoid any bumps when coming out of the stalls as I would like to ride him positively again. Returning to better ground will be good for him and I think Indestructible has got a massive race in him at Ascot. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets very close.

Then I’m on Fleurman in the Ascot Stakes (5:00pm), who is a horse that did really well over the winter with Olly Murphy. He proved to be effective on the Turf with Ralph Beckett as a three-year-old; Olly said that he just didn’t take to hurdling so that was the reason why they switched him back to the Flat. Since then, he has been a revelation on the All-Weather, but I’m not at all worried about switching back to the Turf.

He ran an absolute stormer on All-Weather Finals Day and the time was exceptional for his race. The step up to two-and-a-half miles can only help him, as he stays very well, and we are drawn in stall six which I’m fairly happy with. We won’t want to be boxed in on that rail but, hopefully, we can manoeuvre away at the correct time. He’s not a horse who likes to be hustled and bustled early on, so it’s just a case of getting him settled and into a nice position.

I think his odds are ridiculous especially due to what he did over the winter; I think he’s got a good chance, and I’m hopeful of a bigger run than his odds suggest.

Day one at Royal Ascot concludes with Raadobarg who goes in the Wolferton Stakes (5:35pm) and the more rain and watering that occurs, the better his chances will be. Ultimately, his best form is on soft and heavy ground and it’s probably going to be too dry to see his absolute best, but he is a horse who is in good form. He has blinkers on for the first time and the form has translated very well from his last run at Ascot with Chindit’s second in the Lockinge since.

The return to 10 furlongs should suit him, but I think the ground is potentially the thing that could stop him from performing at his absolute best.

Wednesday, Royal Ascot

It was a tricky decision, but I’ve chosen to ride Launch in the five-furlong Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes (2.30pm). Her two starts so far have been good, most recently finishing third in a Group 3 at Naas over six furlongs. That day, I felt that – if we’d been racing over five – she would have gone close. We’re back down in trip this time, which should suit her better. We’re drawn on the wing a bit in 27, but close enough to some of the favourites. As dictated by the draw, I’ll be looking to stay on the near side, but it’ll all depend on the pace and where the best horses end up running.

I’m hoping for a bit of luck. This filly has run some massive races in defeat and deserves a good go here.

Then I’m on Sumo Sam in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase (5.35pm) over 1m6f. She’s another filly who’s run well in two Listed races this season over 1m2f, but she’s up in both trip and grade for this, so she’ll have to improve plenty. I think the step up in trip will help her do this, though. She likes to be a front runner, so I’ll be wanting to give her a positive ride, working for a nice, building gallop.

She will have to find more against the colts this time, but I hope she can outrun her odds.

Finally on Wednesday is Maximum Impact in the five-furlong Listed Windsor Castle (6.10pm). He’s now two from two this year, which is really encouraging, and his first race was won in really testing conditions. The best thing about him going into this is that he has course form having won at Ascot over five furlongs in May. He’ll wear a tongue tie for the first time here, which has helped him in his work at home and should aid his improvement.

I’m expecting him to do his best work in the late stages, and he’s another I want to ride positively, sitting behind the leaders. We’re drawn pretty much bang in the middle, so I’ll have to think quickly.

I’m looking for a big run with this colt. I think he’ll be my best chance of a winner on the day, so fingers crossed it all goes well for him.