Love may let you down so take a chance on Armory

Hortzadar to spring Hunt Cup surprise

Prince of Wales’s

4.20 Ascot, 1m2f Group 1

A small but select field will contest Wednesday’s feature, headed by last year’s impressive winner Lord North, who comes here fresh from victory in the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March.

Despite the presence of Love and Armory, he has been antepost favourite throughout the build up to the meeting and that surprises me as his form is nothing to shout home about.

His victor y in this race last year was visually impressive as he produced a potent turn of foot to go from last to first to beat Addeybb, who prefers much softer ground, Barney Roy, who remarkably won three Group 1s away from Britain in 2020, but is probably a cut below Group 1 in this country, and Japan, who was well below par last season.

He was then well beaten in the Juddmonte International and the Champion Stakes, albeit on soft ground, before finishing fourth at the Breeders’ Cup.

His closest rival on ratings in the Dubai Turf was just 116 and the average of the field excluding Lord North was 111, so he is going to have a much bigger task on his hands here.

The horse everyone is excited to see is Love, who was the star three-year-old filly of last season, winning the 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks, each in scintillating style.

Injury ruled her out of a bid to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and a date with destiny at Longchamp in October will no doubt be the plan again for the exciting filly.

With connections working back from Paris, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Aidan O’Brien leaves a bit to work on here.

I remember seeing Japan in the parade ring prior to last year’s race and he had plenty of condition on him, so if you fancy Love, be sure to see how fit she looks before placing your bet.

She’s certainly not a solid proposition so preference is for her stablemate Armory, who has taken some time to become the finished article, but the penny looked like it had finally dropped when he bolted up at Chester last time.

Armory produced some good performances in defeat last season, notably when beaten two lengths by Magical in the Irish Champion Stakes where he actually beat subsequent Arc winner Sottsass, but looks to have improved plenty over the winter and he can have his day in the sun at Group 1 level.

Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Audarya is another intriguing contender. The daughter of Wooten Bassett has improved no end over the past two years and has won three of her last four starts, including two

Group 1 victories.

But for the seven runners, she would be an interesting each-way proposition, but don’t be surprised if she puts up another big performance.

My Oberon and Sangarius are slightly out of their depth at this level and the same could be argued about Desert

Encounter.

However, David Simcock’s evergreen nine-year-old may well be suited by this kind of field and should prefer the better ground.

This could be a messy race and he will be played late so if you can find a firm paying three places, I might be worth taking a chance on him sneaking third at a huge price. 1. ARMORY

2. Love

3. Desert Encounter

Royal Hunt Cup

5.00 Ascot, 1m handicap

SINCE its inauguration in 1980, only three favourites have won this prestigious handicap which may count against the ante-post plunge horse Finest Sound, who looks set to head the market.

It is easy to see why he is favourite, as he boasts plenty of talent, is off a competitive mark and has clearly been laid out for this since his second in the Britannia last year.

He is followed in the betting by the Lincoln one and two in

Haqeeqy and Brunch, but they are 7lb and 4lb higher in the ratings this time so it surely makes sense to back the third from the Lincoln, Hortzadar, who is 1lb lower than when running at Doncaster (although he did have a 5lb claimer).

At the time of writing he is 50-1 which makes no sense given the place in the market of his Lincoln conquerors and he also has the presence of Jamie Spencer on his back, who is the master of the straight mile.

He has a lovely draw (18) for his hold-up style of running as it means he can track whatever group he believes is going best.

Another jockey who has a terrific record over this course and distance is Hayley Turner and she too looks to have a overpriced runner in Revich.

He was another to run well in the Lincoln, finishing sixth despite finding trouble in running, and he followed that up with a good fourth in the

‘If you fancy Love, be sure to see how fit she looks before placing your bet’

Spring Cup at Newbury and again finished fourth at Chester.

He is sporting first-time blinkers in this and he is a big each-way player at another huge price.

Of those towards the head of the market I prefer Matthew

Flinders. He looked a horse going places when winning a

Doncaster handicap last season and he remains well handicapped off a mark of 99.

I am pretty sure he will leave that mark well behind him this season and finish the year as a Pattern horse. 1. HORTZADAR 2. Matthew Flinders 3. Revich