Watch Out For Khanjar Attack
A great win last Saturday as Quinault landed the five timer and a valuable prize at York. We roll onto Royal Ascot and one of the most competitive sprint handicaps of the whole turf season.
William Haggas has lined up Khanjar for a shot at this valuable heritage sprint handicap. As a 2yo he won over course and distance so we know he handles this course. Last season he won impressively at Ripon and Haydock before bombing out when sent of favourite for the Ayr Gold Cup. He was rated 100 for that Ayr race and is down a pound at 99 for this race following an eye catching second place finish at Hamilton just over two weeks ago. Khanjar carried 9-11 at Hamilton so will think he is free with only 8-13 on his back at the bottom of this handicap with fast ground and high draw a positive.
Flaming Rib is rated 110 so carries top weight of 9-12. Hugo Palmer has booked good 3lb claimer Pierre-Louis Jamin to ride and it’s easier to carry a big weight on fast ground so he should be fine. Looking at past winners it seems carrying a big weight is not an issue in this race where pattern class horses run well. Rohaan has won the past two renewals carrying 9-12 & 9-8 while Cape Byron won carrying 9-9 & Bacchus 9-6. Flaming Rib finished a close second at Haydock in the Group 2 Sandy Lane stakes last season. He followed up that run with a cracking second to Perfect Power over course and distance in the 2022 Group 1 Commonwealth Cup.
His form tapered off at the backend of last season so he was given a break. This year he went on a winter holiday to the far east winning first time up in a Group 3 handicap at Doha before highly tried at Group 1 level in Meydan and Sha Tin. Flaming Rib is a straightforward ride who will race prominently and show his class down in handicap company.
Loads of dangers in this cavalry charge of 28 runners. The likes of Orazio, Apollo One, Saint Lawrence & Summerghand were on my shortlist.
Ascot 5:00
0.5 point each way Khanjar 11/1 William Hill & Bet365, both 6 places.
0.5 point each way Flaming Rib 28/1 Skybet 8 places else 33/1 generally with bookies paying 6 places.
Best of Luck, Nicky