Horses Not To Give Up On After Royal Ascot Performances

Bodyline for Sir Mark Prescott ran in the King George V Handicap Stakes on the Wednesday at the meeting and we have picked him out as a horse to not give up on after his staying on sixth in the event.

The three year old was a decent juvenile having won and placed in two out of three of his outings and on his seasonal debut this season he went to Yarmouth over 1 mile 2 furlongs and stayed on best of the pack to grab second.

Stepping up in trip and on a nice handicap mark many thought he would go well but having been out the back for most of the race he was left with to much to do to get involved.

However, in the final two furlongs he recorded the quickest sectional times, staying the best of the rest and with that in mind he is worth sticking with next time out.

His sixth in the event should see him still on a very feasible mark and may be a nice price with his sixth to the naked eye not looking all that attractive.

Montatham was a very unlucky loser in the Royal Hunt Cup finishing second to Dark Vision who just managed to get up close home but the William Haggas trained four year old showed plenty of scope to suggest he will be in the winners enclosure again in no time.

There was obvious draw bias across the whole five days at the royal meeting with the higher numbered drawn horses getting the better of things.

Montatham was drawn in still five in the handicap contest and still managed to almost land the big fielded contest which is remarkable when looking deeper into the race.

Montatham won at Newmarket on his seasonal debut in fine style but before that as a three year showed real signs of star talent and we believe sticking at the mile will see him go very well again.

Finally, the horse that has broke many punters heats since has returned as a three year old is Pinatubo who has now twice placed in Group One events but in the final staged has been outclassed.

The Charlie Appleby trained runner last season lit up the racing world when landing all six of his contests including the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot and after that landing back to back Group Ones in the National Stakes in Ireland and the Dewhurst at Newmarket.

Having accomplished all this in a short space of time, getting better and better with each run it earned him a two pound higher rating than Frankel at the age of two.

He made his first start as a three year old in the 2000 Guineas and although running a good race to finish third was beaten by the better horses on the day.

He was turned around quickly for the St James's Palace stakes and with two furlongs to go looked to be the winner, but he was outstayed by the John Gosden trained Palace Pier.

However, although not looking like the same horse of last season we believe he is still that good and needs a pacy seven furlong/mile event to show off his true ability.

Pace is one of his biggest assets and on both occasions this year he has been beaten by horses that stay further than the mile events.

Newmarket is a track that does not suit his style and the stiff mile at Ascot is more for a horse that goes further and isles likely to suit a horse who is a pace merchant.

We believe the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood is the perfect race for the son of Shamardal and he can get back to winning Group One events in that one.