Expect a Goliath performance from French raider in Hardwicke

SATURDAY’s Royal Ascot card signifies the end of a brilliant five days of action, but there’s still loads of top-class action to get stuck into on the final day.

The Group Two Hardwicke Stakes (3.05pm) is always a competitive heat for the older middle-distance horses, and it’s no different with six Group One winners involved this year.

GOLIATH is one of those, courtesy of his easy victory in the King George at the track back in 2024.

He absolutely loved the firm conditions that day and it looks almost certain he’ll encounter a similar test on Saturday.

Whilst we’re going a while back, that form was very strong with Bluestocking, who he beat into second, winning the Arc subsequently and Rebel’s Romance, continuing to ply his trade, winning Group Ones around the world thereafter. There was no fluke to what he did.

He loves Ascot and looks overpriced, so is worth playing Win and Place on the World Pool markets.

The race looks fit for a Quinella also, so I’ll add Kalpana who isn’t certain to run on the ground but if they let her go, she has a leading chance as well as BEST SECRET, who ran a stormer in the Golden Gates here last year when finishing third on similarly fast ground.

Just over an hour later comes the Group Three Jersey Stakes, where SABER STRIKE and INTO THE SKY both hold leading chances.

They’re well found in the market, with Saber Strike very impressive last time and the highly tried Into The Sky dropping to what looks a more suitable trip after shaping very well in the 2000 Guineas. They’re both musts for the Quinella.

The one that might provide a bit of value in the Win and Place markets, however, is CATULLUS for Godolphin.

He had solid form over seven furlongs throughout his two-year-old campaign, but his most recent run at Goodwood was a big step up, and that of a potential high-class performer.

He absolutely bolted up off a mark of 96 having been gelded and had wind surgery. That looks to have been the making of him.

It’s an unknown as to where his ceiling could be, so I’ll have a go on him in the Win and Place markets with World Pool.

Goliath (Win and Place)                                                            3:05pm                   Royal Ascot

Catullus (Win and Place)                                                          4:20pm                   Royal Ascot