Alcohol Free

Things didn’t really pan out for Alcohol Free in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket last weekend.

She was out on the wing – where she has ended up in all her races – and, while she kept on well and proved that she stays a mile, I think she’s better than she showed. All roads lead to Royal Ascot and the Coronation Stakes from here.

Youth Spirit

Youth Spirit will be heading to the Derby at Epsom next month following his good win in the Chester Vase.

He’s by Camelot, whose optimum trip was over the same distance of 1m 4f, but there’s plenty of speed on his dam’s side, so there were mixed messages about his stamina limitations. However, I was delighted with the way he won, and he proved he could stay.

His owner, Ahmad Al Shaikh, is a great supporter. We finished second in the Derby last season with Khalifa Sat, so here’s hoping we can go one better this year.

Saturday Ascot runners

Although she’s at the right end of the weights, I’m not too sure how Hold Fast will go on the soft ground as her best form is on the all-weather. She’s in great form, though, and her fitness levels are obviously good from those races on the all-weather (13:55).

Alounak would probably prefer a slightly sounder surface. However, he has got some placed form on soft ground, so we’re not totally without hope (14:30). His season has to start somewhere, and his performance will give us a good indication as to what his objective should be at Royal Ascot.

Tribal Craft will love the ground. She’s got plenty to find on official ratings, but the conditions will suit her well (14:30). It would be great if she could get some black-type form, which is so important for these mares.

Robasta shaped pretty well on his debut but, like lots of horse first time out, he was green and was learning on the job. He seems like a grand horse who goes well at home and should give a good account of himself (15:05).

Symbolize loves the straight track at Ascot. I was very happy with his comeback run at Newmarket and he's been in good form at home since. The Victoria Cup (15:40) is always a very tough race and you need plenty of luck in running, but I do think he has a very live chance of hitting the frame.

Group One Power won well over 1m 4f at Epsom last time, but that was on quick ground. I think softer ground may just stretch his stamina limitations. He’s a good horse on his day who seems well in himself at home, but we’ll just have to look at how much rain they get (16:15).

Other Saturday runners

Recovery Run was bitterly disappointing at Sandown last time out, and without reason. He’ll have to improve on his best form to win this (Lingfield, 14:50), but we just want to see him run better than he did at Sandown. He was a smart horse last season who did nothing wrong.

Bounce The Blues is entitled to have improved massively for her run in the Doncaster Mile, where she showed up well for a long way against the boys. If they get a touch more rain, she’ll be very happy as 7f on slow ground is ideal for her. She must have every chance (Lingfield, 15:25).

Zoom Tiger  is another we’ll be on weather watch with. He improved plenty for his first run and ran very well at Newmarket last time out. Duran Fentiman takes the rides and he’s ridden plenty of winners for us in the past (Thirsk, 19:35).

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