Jim Crowley Royal Ascot Day One blog: 'There's nothing not to like'

Top jockey Jim Crowley is back with another exclusive Coral blog, this time previewing his rides on Day One of Royal Ascot 2024.

My first ride at this year’s Royal meeting is in a very classy renewal of the St James’s Palace Stakes, where we have the winners of three Guineas, plus Henry Longfellow representing Aidan O’Brien, but despite this strong opposition, I really do think my fellow has a great chance.

I think we’ll see a different horse to Newmarket, as he’s come forward hugely from that Guineas run. They went very fast that day, and it turned it into a war of attrition, and my horse just got found out, as it was his first run of the season, whereas the first two home had race fitness on their side.

I respect Notable Speech and Rosallion a lot, but I think we can get a lot closer to them. His second to City Of Troy in last year’s Dewhurst remains a top class run, and this is a properly exciting ride to start the week off with.

I’ve ridden Law Of The Sea a couple of times before, although not when he finished fourth in this race last year, and his trainer, Ian Williams, always does well in these long distance flat races. 

He ran well at Chester two runs ago, but then disappointed at Haydock last time, but hopefully a return to better ground will give him a chance at a big price.

Israr finished second to a very good horse [Passenger] at Chester last time, that one would have been favourite, or very close to it, for the Prince Of Wales’s here on Wednesday if he’d not had a setback, so if my fellow can run to that form, he should take a lot of beating here. 

He’s a proven Group performer dropping down a grade, he’s highest rated in this field, goes on quicker ground, so there’s nothing not to like and I’m really looking forward to it.

This half-brother to Baaeed was very progressive last season, but so far it’s not happened for him this year. He’ll have the cheek pieces on for the first time here, which will hopefully sharpen him up, and he stays this 1m 6f trip well. He’s got the ability and is capable of winning a race like this, he just needs to put it all in.

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