Jim Crowley: “He’s the most exciting horse I’ve ever sat on”

Coral ambassador Jim Crowley previews his rides on day one of Royal Ascot 2022, including Baaeed in the Queen Anne Stakes.

Ascot 2.30 – Baaeed

The most important week of the Flat season begins with the Queen Anne Stakes, and for me of course, that means Baaeed.  I know they are all very happy with him at home, I haven’t sat on him since Newbury but that’s not unusual, Michael Hills rides him in a lot of his work at home, and he’s very happy with him.

We beat some of these – Real World, Chindit, Sir Busker – in the Lockinge last time, and Order Of Australia was behind us in the Moulin last year, so on form he has the beating of these rivals.

I am glad it’s the first race of the meeting, not on Saturday, as I won’t be waiting long for it, but I’ve got so much confidence in this horse, I can drop him out, go forward on him, whatever, he’s straightforward to ride. There are only seven runners, so it should be a good, clean race, and in that case, he should clearly take a lot of beating.

As an unbeaten colt, he’s getting compared to Frankel, although he’s got a way to go to match that star right now. He is however, the most exciting horse I’ve sat on for sure, and that includes Baataash.

Ascot 3.05 – Royal Scotsman

I was really impressed with this fellow at Goodwood last time, and the form of that win has been franked since, so this is a lovely ride in what is always a top two-year-old race. He wasn’t unfancied first time up, but just ran a little bit green at Ascot, that was down to inexperience only, and he came forward plenty for that run.

We’re drawn one, and it’s never ideal being drawn on the wing at Ascot, but on the plus side we’ve got some nice horses close to us, Bradsell in stall two for example, so hopefully we’ve got horses to race with. I’m hopeful he can run a big race.

Ascot 5.35 – Majestic Dawn

I’ve another nice ride for the Coles in the Wolferton. I wouldn’t say we got a freebie on this fellow at Goodwood last time, as he went a good pace, I don’t think the other jockeys could believe how fast we were travelling, but it may not be so easy to get a lead here.

However, he’s a former Cambridgeshire winner, who was only beaten half a length by the Prince Of Wales’s favourite, Bay Bridge, at Newmarket last year, so he’s a classy horse for sure. He likes to be ridden prominently, so that’s what I’ll do, and I think he’s another with a nice chance.

Ascot 6.10 – On To Victory

On To Victory is a reserve for the Copper Horse Stakes, and I don’t think he’ll get in, but if he does, he’s some decent form to his name – including a second to Hukum last year – and he’s drawn well in stall three.

Another positive is his trainer’s [Alan King] excellent record at this meeting, but if he doesn’t get in here, he is also in a race on Friday.

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