Royal Ascot 2021: Seven horses to follow
Royal Ascot 2021
Horse racing fans will be in their element this month as the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting takes centre stage.
The five-day event gets underway on Tuesday, June 15, and features a host of top-class races throughout the week.
There are eight Group 1 races scheduled, with the Gold Cup on Thursday arguably the most eagerly anticipated of them all.
Read on as we take a closer look at Royal Ascot and pick out seven horses we believe are worth following during the meeting.
Palace Pier – Queen Anne Stakes
It would be a major surprise if the horse racing guide on Wetten.com didn’t make Palace Pier the banker bet at this year’s Royal Ascot.
The 2020 St James’s Palace Stakes winner has been in flying form this season, recording impressive victories at Sandown and Newbury.
John and Thady Gosden’s four-year-old will be a short price to win the Queen Anne Stakes, but it is impossible to back against him.
With jockey Frankie Dettori in the saddle, Palace Pier is strongly fancied to maintain his unbeaten record this season.
🗣 “It was madness again! I started rethinking what it was like in 1996…”
@FrankieDettori relives his FOUR-TIMER on Gold Cup Day in 2019.Is it something about Ascot? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/2RKTCnrl3p
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 10, 2021
Ebro River – Coventry Stakes
Ebro River has improved rapidly since finishing an eye-catching sixth on his debut at Newmarket during April.
He ran out a ready winner at Doncaster the following month, before romping to an impressive victory in the National Stakes at Sandown.
His three-length winning margin could have been more had he not hung badly left, but the bigger field in the Coventry Stakes should cover up his quirks.
Jockey James Doyle spoke in glowing terms about Ebro River after his Sandown success and the step up to six furlongs could bring out even more improvement.
Mostahdaf – St James’ Palace Stakes
The Gosden training tandem could have another star on their hands if Mostahdaf’s recent victory at Sandown is anything to go by.
The son of Frankel went into the race with an unbeaten record and produced a professional performance under jockey Jim Crowley.
Mostahdaf was held up early before being moved to the outside of the field and he swept past his rivals in the manner of a top-class horse.
A brother to the same stable’s Group 1-winning mare Nazeef, the colt looks a good bet to come out on top in the St James’ Palace Stakes.
Mohaafeth – Hampton Court Stakes
Mohaafeth was being talked up as a potential Derby winner after romping away with a Listed race at Newmarket in early May.
However, trainer William Haggas pulled him out of the race due to the rain-softened ground and that decision could be rewarded in the Hampton Court Stakes.
The weather in Berkshire should ensure that Mohaafeth has ideal conditions for the Group Three mile and a quarter race.
The Frankel colt possesses plenty of speed and the slightly shorter ten-furlong trip should be prove to be right up his street.
Stradivarius – Gold Cup
Stradivarius has been the king of the staying division over the past few years and he will bring the house down if the wins a fourth successive Gold Cup next week.
Just three horses have won the Gold Cup more than twice – Sagaro (1975, 1976 and 1977), Yeats (2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009) and Stradivarius (2018, 2019 and 2020).
The seven-year-old won the Sagaro Stakes on his seasonal reappearance and that race should have put the horse spot on for Royal Ascot.
Stradivarius has a turn of foot that most other stayers struggle to match and a place alongside Yeats as a four-time winner of the race awaits.
Hello You – Albany Stakes
Hello You justified her lofty €350,000 price tag with a demolition job at Wolverhampton on her debut and she should run a big race in the Albany Stakes.
Ralph Beckett’s filly travelled smoothly through the race before powering clear inside the final furlong to win without breaking sweat.
The form has since been boosted, with fourth place finisher Sunstrike winning on her next outing at Kempton during early June.
Flotus and Prettiest could prove to be troublesome, but Hello You is likely to be tough to beat with plenty of improvement still to come.
New Science – Chesham Stakes
Trainer Charlie Appleby won the Chesham Stakes with Pinatubo in 2019 and he can repeat the trick with the unbeaten New Science.
Purchased for €260,000 as a yearling, the two-year-old was well backed for his debut at Yarmouth in May and he roared to a comfortable success.
William Buick settled New Science at the head of affairs and the horse produced a devasting turn of foot in the final furlong to pull clear of the field.
Runner-up Reach For The Moon is highly thought of and New Science is undoubtedly one to watch at this year’s Royal Ascot meeting.
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