Ryan Moore gives his thoughts on today's Ascot meeting:-
He misses the first two races but that's not stopped Ryan giving his verdict on Frankel in the opener and King's Stand Stakes 30 minutes later plus thoughts on his four mounts to round out the card. Read Ryan's exclusive thoughts here
14:50
I have ridden plenty of short-priced losers in my time, but never one as good as Frankel. He will beat Excelebration, and Strong Suit will be third. Nothing more to say is there? Let's move on.
15:05
I don't have a ride in this either, but if it is good ground then I would probably like to be on Bated Breath, as he impressed me at Haydock. And if it is soft, then maybe Wizz Kid. But there is no stand-out horse and it wouldn't surprise me if any one of six or seven won it - Ortensia looked good in Dubai and I always respect Hong Kong sprinters.
But this week, with massive fields, the pace, the draw and luck in running will play a massive role. Often how you jump and travel in the first 50 yards, and whether you are near the pace, will often dictate whether you can win. And the reason why the fields are so huge this week is that there are no stand-out horses in many of the races - the likes of the Coventry, Jersey and the Queen Mary - so everyone is throwing their hat into the ring.
15:45
Gregorian
Effective on good and soft going, so the ground shouldn't be a problem however it rides. Made a winning reappearance in a hot Newbury handicap in April (albeit off just a mark of 88) but then appeared to run a blinder when fifth in a bunch finish in the French 2,000, and that was even better than it looked because he raced wide. Didn't get the run of the race at all in a very rough French Derby last time, so I think you can ignore that. Hopefully he will get better luck in running today, and he will need it from 12, but a strongly-run 1m will hopefully bring out the best in him. But he clearly needs to improve. I think Power is the best horse in the race but if it rides slow, then that would be a concern. He didn't like it when I rode him at Newmarket. Born To Sea was an eye-catcher behind Power at the Curragh, I was quite impressed by Cogito in the Heron Stakes and you have to respect the French horses Lucayan and Hermival. And keep an eye on Fencing too; he travelled really well in the Dante and the step back to a mile will suit. All in all, this is a very, very competitive race.
16:25
Lines of Battle
Dawn Approach and Sir Prancealot are the ones to beat on form coming into this. But I personally thought the former was workmanlike at Naas and, while Sir Prancelot was visually more impressive at Sandown, it wasn't the strongest of listed races. They could both be more vulnerable than their prices suggest. I certainly wouldn't be in a rush to rule out any supposed second strings from any of the top stables in the 2yo races this week, as they are all obviously lightly-raced with any improvement in them. And often horses come alive on the track, and show far more than they do at home. You only have to look at the Newmarket maiden that I won on Richard Hannon's 16-1 chance Havana Gold earlier in the month from the stable's fellow debutant, the odds-on Pearl Acclaim, to see that. And that is especially true of any of Aidan's two year olds, both of whom come into this race with one run and one win under their belt. Cristoforo Colombo is shorter in the betting than my mount and ridden by Joseph, but on my reading of the form book you could easily argue that Lines Of Battle showed much the better form when winning his maiden at the Curragh. He appeared to win with a bit in hand there and the form is working out very well too - the runner-up ran well in defeat next time, the third holds a Group 1 entry and won next time, and the seventh, Theatre, won by 6 ½ lengths a fortnight later. In fact, I rode Theatre to finish seventh at the Curragh and it rode like a really good maiden, too. And Lines Of Battle is a lovely looking horse; hopefully, this race doesn't come too soon for him and he still needs the experience. But I am happy to be riding him.
17:00
Simenon
It looks as if I may be on the favourite here, so let us hope the betting has got this one right. He showed some smart form in staying handicaps when with Andrew Balding last season, notably when third at Goodwood off a 2lb higher mark than this. He then joined Willie Mullins to go hurdling and showed real ability when third in an admittedly weak Grade 1 at Punchestown and when hacking up by 15 lengths at Cork last month. Looks well handicapped on his English Flat form, and there is a possibility that he has improved too as a 5yo. Willie saddled Sesenta to finish second in this race in 2009, so maybe we can go one better here; if he stays, then I am hopeful. I am drawn well in seven. Don't underestimate the importance of the draw in these staying races.
17:35
Ask Dad
I won on Lyric Ace in the soft at Leicester and he again impressed me when he followed up at Kempton last time. He may well be the one to beat but you don't need me to tell you that with 23 unexposed 2yos in here, something could quite easily improve past him and the likes of Dylanbaru. Let's hope that Ask Dad is such a horse. He only made his debut 10 days ago in a Newmarket maiden but ran well to finish second to a horse that had an outing. And he looked green and in need of the experience there. Needs to step up the best part of a stone, and maybe more, to even get close to some of these, and that may be too much of an ask.
Give everything but up!
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