It is all about speed on the fifth and final day of Royal Ascot 2024. At least until the last race, that is.
The feature race is the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (3.45), for older sprinters over six furlongs. The big handicap, the Wokingham Stakes (5.05), is over the same trip. Only right at the end do we get to the stayers, with the Queen Alexandra Stakes over a marathon 2m5½f.
The first race is at 2.30 and our expert has picked out the best bets at Royal Ascot on Saturday.
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Saturday’s tips
3.05 Royal Ascot – Middle Earth
Last year’s St Leger winner Continuous is the main attraction in the Hardwicke Stakes. It is his first run since he was fifth in the Arc, though, and it seems likely that the main focus of his 2024 campaign will be the autumn.
That suggests he will come on for the run and the horse to take advantage is likely to be Middle Earth. He ran in the Leger, but he sweated up and did not do himself justice. That run aside, he has been relentlessly progressive.
Middle Earth won the Melrose Handicap at York, essentially the Ebor for three-year-olds, and landed a 1m6f Listed race here on his final start of 2023. He returned with another career-best to win at Newbury and can progress further from the run.
It would not take much improvement from Middle Earth to bring him up to Continuous’ level. If the favourite needs to run up to his very best to make a winning return to action, he may be found wanting.
3.45 Royal Ascot – Mitbaahy
Last year in this race, Jamie Spencer worked miracles on a Charlie Hills-trained, Fitri Hay-owned sprinter who had previously looked more of a five-furlong horse.
It would be remarkable if he could repeat the trick, but it could happen. With Mitbaahy, he is working with better material than he was with Khaadem 12 months ago.
Mitbaahy has just joined Hills at the start of this season. He showed a bit more stamina on his final run for Roger Varian and last time he won a Group 2 in Ireland over this six-furlong trip. Runner-up that day was Regional, who filled the same position in a Group 1 here on Tuesday.
Mitbaahy has room to progress further and, although the draw has not been too kind, he has horses to follow just a couple of stalls away. He and Spencer can team up for a rare double.
5.05 Royal Ascot – Dark Trooper
Last summer, Dark Trooper went on a rampage at Ascot. He won here twice and ended up going off 4-1 for a Group 3 over the same course and distance as the Wokingham.
Since then he has joined the Qatar-based trainer Alban Di Mieulle. He did not catch light in Qatar, but on returning to Europe, Dark Trooper picked up where he left off. He came from the rear in a race where all the other contenders had raced on the speed.
Not only did Dark Trooper win, but he stretched clear by over two-lengths and looked like he could have done it even easier if needed. He looks like a Group-horse now and can land this top handicap over a course and distance that he is known to love.
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