4:25 Royal Ascot: Englishman to spring a small surprise
Published:Sir Prancealot is a worthy favourite to win the Coventry Stakes, but in a race with so many unbeaten horses and others with untapped potential, 10/3 looks a price too short to really get involved with.
Punters will instead look to main dangers Dawn Approach or Aidan O’Brien’s Cristoforo Colombo, but Englishman could be the answer to a tough heat at 8/1.
In total, there are nine horses that are still unbeaten, with Sir Prancealot doing little wrong in winning on both of his starts.
The latest at Sandown was particularly eye-catching, quickening twice to win a shade cosily against a talented field, firstly to make up ground on the leaders before going back on the bridle and then to put the race to bed.
Furthermore, trainer Richard Hannon has won the Coventry Stakes in two of the last three years with talented duo Canford Cliffs and Strong Suit and is well regarded for being a supreme trainer of juveniles.
He looks the most likely victor, but with little each-way value, he can be opposed.
Dawn Approach is the main Irish challenger and has triumphed on all three starts.
Jim Bolger’s runner has looked especially smart in closing out her races, but the big doubt is that he would be better over slightly further than 6f and may not have the outright speed of some of his rivals.
Cristoforo Colombo won what looked a high-class maiden on debut and will probably attempt to go for home early in the hope of stealing a march on his leading competition.
This will play into the hands of Englishman, who came from out of the clouds to win on his only start at Newbury in a race which has thrown up a host of winners since.
The one doubt was that this victory came over 5f and so the Coventry Stakes marks a step up in trip, but if finding a passage through the field from the rear, he can pick them off late.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
