Battaash looks a worthy favourite
Battaash won this race on his reappearance in 2020, beating Equilateral by 2¼ lengths, with Glass Slippers and Liberty Beach and further short head and 3½ lengths, respectively, further behind. He susbequently won the King George Stakes at Goodwood and the Nunthorpe Stakes at York, in both cases for the second year running, and sets a high standard. Of course, he is now a 7-year-old and hasn’t been seen in public since August, but that may not stop him from adding to his Group 1 winning tally. [single_affiliate_freespins id=”1685″ ]Glass Slippers warrants consideration
Glass Slippers finished behind Battaash here and at Goodwood last year, but subsequently won the Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh and the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland and was only beaten a neck in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Triomphe. She probably doesn’t want rattling fast ground, but is clearly a hugely talented filly who merits respect, for all that she has work to do to reverse earlier form with Battaash.Winter Power is going the right way
As a 3-year-old filly, Winter Power receives all the allowances and, consequently, doesn’t have that much to find on official figures. She progressed throughout her juvenile campaign, officially improving by 33lb between July and October, and demonstrated her well-being when making all for an impressive 3-length win in the Listed Westow Stakes at York in mid-May. She has yet to win beyond Group 3 level, but comes from a speedy family and remains open to further improvement.Oxted makes first attempt at 5 furlongs
Interestingly, despite being bred to be a sprinter, Oxted has never run, never mind won, over the minimum trip. However, he did win the July Cup, over 6 furlongs, at Newmarket last July and wasn’t beaten far in the British Champions Sprint, over the same distance, at Ascot last October. He was only third, beaten 3½ lengths, behind Starman in the Duke of York Stakes, again over 6 furlongs, at York on his most recent outing in mid-May. However, trainer Roger Teal said that he had been unsuited by the slow early pace and good to soft going, adding that he hadn’t ‘lost any faith at all’ in the 5-year-old. Battaash seems sure to be a tough nut to crack, but Winter Power was visually impressive and clocked a decent time at York and looks a viable alternative at the odds on offer. Trainer Tim Easterby hasn’t saddled a Group 1 winner since 2004, but appears to have bright prospects of doing so here. Selection: Winter Power (6/1 with Bet365) [single_affiliate_freespins id=”1679″ ]Royal Ascot Free Bets
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