David Probert Blog | Royal Ascot Day One
17 Jun 2024
Coral Racing Ambassador, David Probert, previews his three rides on the first day of Royal Ascot, including Purosangue in the King Charles III Stakes.
15:05 Coventry Stakes – Arran
Arran won nicely on his first start at Newmarket in April when just getting the better of a nice horse of Richard Hannon’s, and he’s come out of that race really well. I had a sit on him at home last week and he just felt as if he’d strengthened up since that run, so he’s in great form heading into this race. He’s a lovely two-year-old, but I think he’ll be an exciting horse for the future for the team down at Whatcombe.
This is the big stage tomorrow, and it will undoubtedly ask a much sterner question of him than Newmarket, but hopefully he can take it all in his stride and run an encouraging race.
15:45 King Charles III Stakes – Purosangue
This is slightly in the deep end for Purosangue, but he’s a fast horse, and he deserves to take his chance. This will be the first time I’ve ridden him, but he’s done very little wrong in his career so far, and he seems quite versatile with regards to ground, so he could be capable of outrunning his odds.
It will be fast and furious, and there’s no doubt that Big Evs is the one to beat, but I’m drawn quite close to him which is nice as he should give me a good tow into the race. Purosangue did get very close to Big Evs last year at Goodwood, so he’s the one I’ll be following, and hopefully we can really make a race of it.
17:40 Wolferton Stakes – Certain Lad
It’s a real shame for George Bass that he’s picked up a ban and can’t ride this horse, but it’s a privilege to have picked up the spare ride. I’ve not ridden him before, but he’s been in really good form, and he ran a cracker last time at Sandown in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard. The guys at Jack Channon’s yard tell me he’s been in great form at home since, so although he’s priced up as a bit of an outsider, I think he’s got a better chance than his odds suggest.
He probably will have to take a little step forward to win this, but I do think that’s possible, so I’d say he goes there with a very nice chance.
St James’s Palace Stakes Preview
I think it looks a bit of a match race between Notable Speech and Rosallion, and I expect the Guineas winner to confirm his superiority once again here. I’ve ridden against Notable Speech before and he just has an electric turn of foot, so if he can use that again tomorrow, then I think he’s going to be extremely difficult to beat.
Rosallion was very good in Ireland last time, and I know Sean [Levey] said that if he could have aimed at William Buick on Notable Speech at Newmarket, then he feels it might have been a different result. I think it will be close between the pair of them, but I’d just favour Notable Speech to keep his unbeaten run going here.
David Probert, Coral Racing Ambassador
15:05 Coventry Stakes – Arran
Arran won nicely on his first start at Newmarket in April when just getting the better of a nice horse of Richard Hannon’s, and he’s come out of that race really well. I had a sit on him at home last week and he just felt as if he’d strengthened up since that run, so he’s in great form heading into this race. He’s a lovely two-year-old, but I think he’ll be an exciting horse for the future for the team down at Whatcombe.
This is the big stage tomorrow, and it will undoubtedly ask a much sterner question of him than Newmarket, but hopefully he can take it all in his stride and run an encouraging race.
15:45 King Charles III Stakes – Purosangue
This is slightly in the deep end for Purosangue, but he’s a fast horse, and he deserves to take his chance. This will be the first time I’ve ridden him, but he’s done very little wrong in his career so far, and he seems quite versatile with regards to ground, so he could be capable of outrunning his odds.
It will be fast and furious, and there’s no doubt that Big Evs is the one to beat, but I’m drawn quite close to him which is nice as he should give me a good tow into the race. Purosangue did get very close to Big Evs last year at Goodwood, so he’s the one I’ll be following, and hopefully we can really make a race of it.
17:40 Wolferton Stakes – Certain Lad
It’s a real shame for George Bass that he’s picked up a ban and can’t ride this horse, but it’s a privilege to have picked up the spare ride. I’ve not ridden him before, but he’s been in really good form, and he ran a cracker last time at Sandown in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard. The guys at Jack Channon’s yard tell me he’s been in great form at home since, so although he’s priced up as a bit of an outsider, I think he’s got a better chance than his odds suggest.
He probably will have to take a little step forward to win this, but I do think that’s possible, so I’d say he goes there with a very nice chance.
St James’s Palace Stakes Preview
I think it looks a bit of a match race between Notable Speech and Rosallion, and I expect the Guineas winner to confirm his superiority once again here. I’ve ridden against Notable Speech before and he just has an electric turn of foot, so if he can use that again tomorrow, then I think he’s going to be extremely difficult to beat.
Rosallion was very good in Ireland last time, and I know Sean [Levey] said that if he could have aimed at William Buick on Notable Speech at Newmarket, then he feels it might have been a different result. I think it will be close between the pair of them, but I’d just favour Notable Speech to keep his unbeaten run going here.
David Probert, Coral Racing Ambassador
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