Jamie Spencer looks ahead to Ladies Day at Royal Ascot
Published:It was a frustrating day yesterday to come so close to winning the Prince of Wales on The Grey Gatsby. Obviously everyone was thrilled to see him run back to his very best but if I could have got out 50 yards earlier I would have won. It was a horrible, messy race. The French horse just set a steady pace and from Swinley Bottom all the way to 100 yards out it was stop, start and I was locked in by Western Hymn on my outside. Because they went so steady, a horse like Western Hymn was able to stay on my outside for longer and that cost me. The Grey Gatsby ran a great race but the steady pace did us no favours.
In the 5.00 I ride Carry On Deryck for David Evans. He’s got an outsider’s chance. He ran very well at Chester and Haydock last time. He has some ground to make up on Mutarakez who I thought would be hard to beat. It’s a wide open race so difficult to predict but I think Mutarakez should win and I also like Yorkshire Dales. He’s quite a nice horse. He was keen and had no cover at Newmarket and still won easily.
In the 5.35 I’m on Taper Tantrum for Michael Bell. He’s not guaranteed to stay on pedigree but he runs like he will. Last time out he came home very strongly at Epsom. I thought King Bolete would be tough to beat. He ran well at Newbury and impressed me there.
I like Mizzou in the Ascot Gold Cup but Pat Smullen is very confident about the favourite Forgotten Rules. If he runs I can’t see him being beaten. If they decide not to run because of the ground then Mizzou is the one for me. His dam was third in the St Leger and has plenty of stamina all over his pedigree. He’s a typical late improver for Luca.
In the Ribblesdale I can’t see past Jim Bolger’s filly Pleascach. Curvy is ahead of the rest. Other than Curvy I can’t see any dangers to the favourite.
In the first race I like King of Rooks. He has the experience. He has the form. I can’t really see what’s going to beat him. I see Richard Hughes in the paper likes Log Out Island but he’s only had the one run. It’s a lot harder to win a race like this off just one than the three runs that King Of Rooks has had, so it’s all in Frankie’s favour. It’s the same in the second as that Time Test is a very good horse.
