Stoute to strike with Fremantle – Day 5 Royal Ascot‏ Tips

There looks to be plenty in the favour of Sir Michael Stoute’s talented four year old Sadler’s Wells colt Doctor Fremantle as he steps back up in trip to 1m 4f in Saturday’s Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (3.05pm), a race his trainer has done well in down the years.

His seasonal reappearance did this column a favour bearing the narrowest of wins from Staying On in Chester’s Group 3 Huxley Stakes, a performance full of grit as he could easily have chucked in the towel after being forced wide on the bend.

Stoute had indicated the Coronation Cup would be his likely destination after the Chester win, but patience in choosing this softer target can yield dividends.

Don’t forget his trainer wasn’t afraid to pitch him in against the very best last year, with a Group 3 win at Chester complemented by a fourth in New Approach’s Derby, plus a fourth in the Grand Prix de Paris and a disappointing show in the St Leger due to the ground.

Stoute has already been on target this week with Glass Harmonium’s 8/1 win in the Hampton Court Stakes, and Doctor Fremantle looks primed to make it a second for the master of Freemason Lodge. Get on at 7/4 with Coral.

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Of the oppositon chief market rival Campanologist has to be the danger given that he won over course and distance on this card 12 months ago, beating the brilliant Conduit.

That recollection, together with the fact his stable have had a winner at the meeting with Flying Cloud netting the Ribblesdale will persuade some punters to follow the Godolphin blue, but a meek reappearance in Sandown’s Brigadier Gerard is fresh in the memory and has to put a downer on his chances.

There’s also Bronze Cannon who has featured in this column in recent times, but this likeable type carries a penalty for a soft Group 2 win at Newmarket and hails from a stable that’s firing blanks in all directions. He looks one to avoid at present.

Over at Newmarket the Channel 4 cameras are back at the picturesque July Course to cover four live races, and I fancy another product of the Stoute academy to win the five furlong handicap at 3.50pm as Strictly makes her handicap debut off a favourable looking mark of 80.

This three year old Falbrav filly should possess bags of speed to cope with the drop back to the minimum trip after a workmanlike display in getting her head in front over six at Doncaster in May. Faster ground will also be a definite benefit.

Crack apprentice Louis-Philippe Beuzelin keeps the ride and his 5lb allowance should allow Strictly to notch her second career success, quite possibly at the expense of Michael Bell’s in-form Bahamian Babe, herself a scorer at Leicester last weekend.

Frustratingly for connections that meant she has crept back up slightly to a mark of 89, which allied to Beuzelin’s claim means attempting to concede weight to a filly on the way up from a stable right at the top of the tree, even though Michael Bell also wisely opts to claim from Bahamian Babe. Back Strictly to win at around 7/2.

Sticking with the Newmarket theme I’ll also be having a couple of quid on William Haggas’s Respite in an open looking fillies’ handicap at 3.15pm – things didn’t pan out the way her trainer would’ve liked on her handicap debut at Doncaster in May, but now with that man Beuzelin in the plate she looks well worth another chance.

Her pedigree suggests the step up to a mile should be well within her compass, and in a field of just eight she looks a decent bet to upset likely favourite Cosmopolitan, who hails from the out of form Gosden stable and has to concede nearly two stone to Respite.

Back her to win at forecast odds of around 9/2.

Good luck!

Saturday’s bets at Royal Ascot & Newmarket:

3.05 Royal Ascot – Hardwicke Stakes – 4 Doctor Fremantle (win)

3.15 Newmarket – Intercasino.co.uk EBF Fillies’ Handicap – 7 Respite (win)

3.50 Newmarket – Intercasino.co.uk VIP Gold Clup Handicap – 8 Strictly (win)