Royal Ascot 2016 draws to a closer with the Queen Alexandra Stakes. This race is a conditions event open to horses aged four and over and it is held over the mammoth trip of two miles and five furlongs.
We have two horses joint at the top of the market right now with Oriental Fox and Clondaw Warrior both at 5/1.
Looking at the former to begin with, he was the winner of this race last year off a mark of 105 and is off 108 here. He has to give weight to all of his rivals, but is proven over the course and distance, which is vital.
Joe Fanning gets a good tune out of the gelding and this has been the plan for some time now for the eight-year-old.
It has been a frustrating week for trainer Mark Johnston but he could be about to end it on a high.
Clondaw Warrior have Willie Mullins an excellent Royal Ascot winner when getting up to win in the Ascot Stakes last year over a similar trip and he has to be in with a massive chance here.
The horse has some good form in Group company and looked to be right on top of his game when winning over hurdles at Fairyhouse in March before a good third at Ayr.
He’ll have been primed for this race and is perhaps the better bet of the two favourites.
Sir Mark Prescott is always a man to be respected in these staying handicaps and he has Amour De Nuit here, who is an 8/1 shot.
This horse won over a mile and six furlongs at Chelmsford last time out and has looked as though he is a true stayer in most of his runs.
The horse might need stoking up from Luke Morris a fair way out, but finds plenty for pressure and could be EW value.
It’s then 12/1 and over about the rest of the field but I think this could be between the top three in the betting.
Joe's tip(s) for this race: [mepr-show if=”rule: 20415″]
Of those three, Clondaw Warrior is the best bet.[/mepr-show] [mepr-active rule=”20415″ ifallowed=”hide”] Joe's tips are only available to Premium Tip members – You can get FREE PT membership here [/mepr-active]
