CAMPANELLE can win the Platinum Jubilee Stakes (British Champions Series) (4.20pm) on the final day of Royal Ascot 2022 on Saturday afternoon.
The Wesley Ward-trained four-year-old won the Commonwealth Cup over course and distance in the stewards’ room last year having initially been a narrowly beaten second behind Dragon Symbol. With little in it at the line, the interference caused by the original winner was enough to see Campanelle get the verdict.
She clearly likes Ascot and she can score again in the Group One feature of the final day in Berkshire.
Campanelle warmed up for her return to Britain with a comfortable Listed success in his homeland at Keeneland.
She should be spot on for this now and with likely better conditions than 12 months ago, she should be able to improve again and triumph.
Dragon Symbol is back for more, but hasn’t been in the same form since that ‘win’ 12 months ago.
The chief danger to the selection is Aussie raider Home Affairs, whose Chris Waller stable-mate Nature Strip blitzed his rivals over five furlongs in the King’s Stand Stakes on the opening day of the meeting. And the four-year-old will bid to give trainer Waller and New Zealand-born jockey James McDonald another Group One win – but on this occasion the Americans may come out on top.
The returning Hurricane Lane is the class act in the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes (3.40pm), but without a run since finishing third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last October he may not be fully wound up. With that in mind and at the prices it may pay to take him on with Aidan O’Brien’s BROOME.
Where the Charlie Appleby-trained Hurricane Lane won the Irish Derby, the Grand Prix De Paris and the Cazoo St Leger, the six-year-old Broome has just one Group One victory on his CV – the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud last July.
But with a close-up fifth to Alenquer in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh having blown off the cobwebs, he should be fit to take advantage of any rustiness in the favourite.
The Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (5pm) looks as competitive as ever but Ed Walker’s POPMASTER is at the top of a very long, shortlist of potential winners.
The four-year-old is a course and distance winner and he was seventh, not beaten that far, in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes at last year’s Royal Ascot. That was on testing ground, but he will prefer the likely better surface – unless the rain arrives – this time.
He warmed up for his return at Ascot with a decent second at Chelmsford City last time. He is just 3lb higher than his last winning mark, seems to be an improving sprinter and has what should be a favourable high draw in stall 29.
With luck in running he can come out on top ahead of Marco Botti’s hat-trick-seeking Silver Samurai (drawn low in stall five), David O’Meara’s veteran Summerghand, the Michael Dods-trained Blackrod and Lampang from the Tim Easterby stable.
Whether Appleby and Godolphin strike with Hurricane Lane in the Hardwicke, they should be able to land the Group Three Jersey Stakes (3.05pm) with NOBLE TRUTH, under Liverpool FC fan William Buick.
The gelded son of Kingman won twice over seven furlongs as a juvenile and returned to action with another smooth success in the Listed Betfair King Charles II Stakes.
The three-year-old, who was also narrowly beaten in the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere at ParisLongchamp last October, looks the one to beat in the Jersey and he can triumph ahead of Owen Burrows' course and distance winner Alflaila.
Aidan O’Brien has already had some juvenile winners at Ascot this week and ALFRED MUNNINGS could be another in the Listed Chesham Stakes (2.30pm).
The son of Dubawi made an eye-catching debut when scoring comfortably in a seven-furlong maiden at Leopardstown last month.
The Ballydoyle handler has won the Chesham a record six times including in the last two seasons with Battleground and Point Lonsdale. Alfred Munnings looks like he can bring up a magnificent seventh success for the Irish trainer.
Mark Johnston’s hat-trick seeking KNIGHTSWOOD can win the Golden Gates Stakes (Handicap) (5.35pm) ahead of the Andrew Balding-trained Groundbreaker.
In the final race of the meeting – and the longest – the Queen Alexandra Stakes (6.10pm), O’Brien may come out on top again with WORDSWORTH.
The four-year-old son of Galileo will be stepping up to this marathon trip of 2m6f for the first time, but it could be the making of him.
Wordsworth finished second in the 1m6f Queen’s Vase at last year’s meeting and has run some decent races in defeat at the likes of Glorious Goodwood, the Curragh and over two miles at Ascot at the end of April.
The extra distance could be what he needs to land just a third career success.
Away from Royal Ascot Ed Dunlop’s course and distance winner AMAZING RED can take the Watch Race Replays At racingtv.com Handicap (3.17pm); while at Ayr Warrington jockey Paul Hanagan has a number of decent chances of victory with course and distance winner ANNANDALE probably his best in the Weddings At Western House Hotel Handicap (For The Winton Cup) (2.59pm)
There’s racing on Merseyside at Haydock Park on Saturday night. Karl Burke’s QUICK CHANGE can land the Ormskirk Handicap (7.45pm); and O’Meara’s course and distance winner STAR SHIELD can also score again in the Bickerstaffe Handicap (8.15pm).
Wright Ones
ROYAL ASCOT (DAY FIVE)
2.30pm Alfred Munnings
3.05pm Noble Truth
3.40pm Broome
4.20pm Campanelle
5pm Popmaster (NAP)
5.35pm Knightswood
6.10pm Wordsworth
NEWMARKET
1.32pm Victory Dance
2.07pm Glory And Gold
2.42pm First Ruler
3.17pm Amazing Red
3.52pm Robjon
4.32pm Mister Bluebird
5.09pm Lovely Breeze
REDCAR
1.37pm Treble Glory
2.12pm Bouncing Bobby
2.47pm Sea Storm
3.22pm Scottish Summit
4.02pm Beauzon
4.38pm Grantley Hall
5.13pm Golden Prosperity
AYR
1.14pm Hard Nut
1.49pm Sipahsalar
2.24pm Truely Aclaimed
2.59pm Annandale
3.34pm Red Lacewing
4.14pm Shark Two One
4.54pm Oot Ma Way
HAYDOCK PARK
6pm Sea On Time
6.35pm Kimngrace
7.10pm Dornoch Castle
7.45pm Quick Change
8.15pm Star Shield
8.45pm Diamond Jill
LINGFIELD
5.18pm Dark Kris
5.50pm Venetian
6.20pm Gigi’s Beach
6.55pm Spangled Mac
7.30pm Cavendish
8pm Tralee Hills
8.30pm Waterloo Sunset
SUNDAY’S NAP: Mackenzie Rose (Pontefract 4.15pm)
