JAWS dropped to the floor when Valiant Force landed last year’s Group Two Norfolk Stakes (2.30pm) at 150/1. It was lesser-known trainer, and former dairy farmer, Adrian Murray’s first ever Group race win, not to mention his first ever Royal Ascot runner, and despite representing the powerful Amo Racing operation, he flew in under the radar.
The bookies won’t be offering that sort of price around the same connections’ runner today, but ARIZONA BLAZE is still backable at around the 8/1 mark. The son of Sergei Prokofiev has looked speedy and straightforward right from the get-go, scoring at the Curragh on debut with a performance that earmarked him for Ascot back in mid-March. WHILSTLEJACKET got the better of him on soft ground in the Listed First Flier Stakes second time out, but a return to a quicker surface saw him bounce back in the Group Three Marble Hill Stakes.
He showed a good attitude to get back up that day and looked much better suited by the quicker ground. Ascot’s stiff five furlongs on good-to-firm ground should be just about ideal and he’s set to run a big race. AESTERIUS is the other one to watch out for at a nice price, likely to jump off around the 12/1 mark.
Big spenders Wathnan Racing picked this lad up for £380,000 at the breeze-up sales, and while a solitary win in a maiden at Bath is yet to cover that cost, he’s a hot prospect. The Bath victory was emphatic without being exceptional, but he finished that race with plenty left in the tank and.