15:05
Ascot
Royal Ascot Day 5: Mullins goes big, Fabre’s only runner and the race of the day
Royal Ascot comes to an end on Saturday but we have seven more races to enjoy before the blues sets in. Willie Mullins is always dangerous and he is sending several horses over on Day 5. France’s legendary trainer Andre Fabre is set to have his first runner of this year’s meeting and the race of the day is undoubtedly the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, so we’ve previewed the big event. Take a look at our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
Willie Mullins goes big on Day 5
Willie Mullins is always dangerous when sending runners to Britain, both on the Flat and in the National Hunt sphere, so it’s worth noting that he sends four runners over on Saturday. Breeders’ Cup winner Ethical Diamond runs in the Hardwicke Stakes and has to go under consideration.
Three of his four runners will line up in the Queen Alexandra Stakes and the William Buick-ridden Le Destrier is his most likely winner, according to the betting. Colin Keane will ride Columbus, whilst St James’s Palace Stakes-winning rider Billy Loughnane is on board Mr Hollywood.
Andre Fabre has just one runner this year
Andre Fabre is a legendary trainer and has won countless big races all over the world. It’s a slight surprise that he hasn’t had any runners at Royal Ascot this year but that’s set to change on Saturday. His sole representative will be Sajir in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
This son of Make Believe brings a good level of form to the table and he landed the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last summer. Beaten in a couple of Listed races at the start of this season, he returned to winning ways in a Group 3 at Chantilly last time out and looks capable of going close.
Race of the day
Our big Group 1 on the final day is the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes and there’s lot of international flavour, with runners from Australia, Japan, France and Denmark.
There are a couple of Aussie raiders who are prominent in the betting; Joliestar and Overpass, whilst Japanese trainer Noriyuki Hori has enlisted the services of Ryan Moore for the ride on Satono Reve.
William Haggas’ Lake Forest is the home team’s best hope but the globe-trotting five-year-old is probably better over further. French raider Sajir is interesting, whilst Irish trainer Donnacha O’Brien has booked Pierre-Charles Boudot to ride Greenlands Stakes winner Comanche Brave.
Chris Waller has an excellent track record with training sprinters so Group 1 winner Joliestar gets the nod from us. Time For Sandals (40/1, bet365) won the Commonwealth Cup at this meeting last year and she has the ability to outrun her substantial odds.
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