Flaming Spear – runs at Royal Ascot
DEAN sends out four runners today at two Berkshire tracks, Ascot and Royal Windsor and he’s hoping at least one of the four arrows hits the target.
Flaming Spear is a 25/1 shot in the opening race of the Royal Ascot meeting, the fiendishly difficult 24-runner Buckingham Palace Handicap. The Tony Bloom-owned chestnut gelding is talented but quirky (can be stalls shy) and he would prefer softer ground than he’s probably going to encounter but if all went to plan, he might be worth an each-way squeak with bookmakers paying six places. There are a lot of dangers, principally, Kaeso, Daarik and Motakhayyel. Joey Haynes rides the stable runner.
At Windsor, the yard runs three – Spring Romance (6.30pm) Yimou (7pm)and One Cool Daddy (7.30pm). The last of the trio is having only his second run on turf and is rather a law unto himself. He’s a 16/1 shot for jockey George Downing who rides him for the first time. Although slipping down the weights, he’s not one to trust implicitly.
Yimou has a good chance at around 5/1 of gaining his fourth win when one of 11 lining up for the 5f 0-90 handicap. George Downing rides him for the first time and he will hopefully not be too far away.
Solario Racing’s Spring Romance is having his first run back on turf since July of last year. The 5yo son of Zebedee’s subsequent three runs over the winter on the all-weather were disappointing and he’s had a good holiday since. Hopefully, the rest will have done him good. He’s been going nicely at home, is well handicapped and Sophie Ralston takes 5lbs off his back. At around 10/1, he’d be worth an each-way shout. Englishman looks a big threat.
