3:05 Royal Ascot: Overdose to secure Kings Stand triumph
Published:The excitement surrounding this Royal Ascot meeting is really starting to hit home and Tuesday’s racing is second to none.
The card kicks off with the most intriguing battle of the week when Goldikova and Canford Cliffs go head-to-head in the Queen Anne Stakes, but it’s the immediate aftermath that could provide the race of the meeting.
Just half an hour after Goldikova or Canford Cliffs cross the finishing line, the best five-furlong sprinters from around the world will compete in the Kings Stands Stakes and a photo-finish looks on the cards with a race boasting this much quality.
Much has been made about 7/2 favourite Star Witness and the Australian runner has to be respected, but this is a race that doesn’t bode well for favourite backers with just two winning favourites in the last 10 years.
Runners trained outside of Great Britain and Ireland have won six of the last seven renewals and the Australian challenge is seriously strong, but we fancy the Hungarian runner nicknamed The Budapest Bullet.
Overdose was disappointing on his only start in Britain at Haydock in May, but connections were worried about the firm ground and this weekend’s rain has put the ground in Overdose’s favour.
A Group 2 winner in Germany, Overdose looks a huge price at 14/1 and has posted a quicker time than British challengers Sole Power and Kingsgate Native over five furlongs.
There are faster horses in the race than Overdose such as Star Witness, Bridgetown (10/1), Sweet Sanette (12/1) and Holiday For Kitten (25/1), but the draw has hampered the chances of both Bridgetown and Sweet Sanette.
A very low draw or high draw is ideal with Overdose drawn 15 of 19, and the two runners who have entered this race off the back of a run in the Temple Stakes at Haydock in the last 10 years finished first or second.
Overdose looks the pick but the filly Holiday For Kitten can also run a huge race at a massive price.
