Three Weekend Eyecatchers - 24/06/19

Saturday at Royal Ascot saw some superb racing right from the off and in the first race of the Saturday in the Listed Chesham Stakes where Pinatubo hacked up for Charlie Appleby and James Doyle.

This two year old holds a really bright future being unbeaten on all three of his starts, progressing nicely on all of them by scoring in a Class 4 on debut and then battling well in a Class 2 at Epsom.

This step up to Listed company against some really strong horses especially from the Aidan O'Brien yard would have really showed the racing world where he stood as a horse and he did not disappoint.

Drifting to 3/1 just before the may have scared some punters off him but they shouldn't have as under a positive ride by the Doyler he was always in control and finished easily clear of the chasing field.

This son of Sharmadal could be a really special Group 1 horse, if not this year then definitely next season if maturing and growing into his coat as a three year old.

He is certainly worth keeping an eye on.

Credit - At The Races

It was a great week for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby and the highlight of their week was seeing Blue Point land back to back King's Stands Stakes but taking that one step further and scoring in two Group 1 contests at the festival.

After winning on the Tuesday in the five furlong contest for a second time in a row, no one though that Blue Point would be seen again during Royal Ascot, but how wrong we were.

After coming back to Appleby's Newmarket stables in good health and full of life they took the decision to run him in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes to try and become only the third horse to land both races in the same week.

Stepping up to six furlongs did not seem to be the problem with the five year old staying that distance previously but what he produced was superb.

At the two furlong pole he asserted his dominance on the field and was not for catching having done most of the work early on to see off a late challenge from Dream Of Dreams.

Blue Point has now won five of his last six races at Ascot and will go down in History of the late meeting.

Credit - At The Races

The final eye-catcher from the weekend comes from Royal Ascot again and Roger Varian's Cape Byron was definitely a horse to take note of after landing a gamble with the bookies.

The five year old was 7/1 at the start of the day to take Class 2 Wokingham Stakes but before the off had been hammered into 7/2.

There had not been many gambles during the week but this one landed with the horse cruising through to the front and holding off all opponents with ease.

Even at 7/2 punters would not have thought a performance of that stature would of happened but Cape Byron was superb and is one to follow for the rest of the season.

Credit - ITV Racing