Royal Ascot Top Jockey

Ryan Moore took the top jockey title last year and is an obvious, clear and very worthy favourite this time round.  Not only does he have the pick of the rides for Sir Michael Stoute, who targets the meeting with military precision (Modun in the Duke of Edinburgh handicap another example) but he’s also seemingly the first port of call for Ballydoyle rides this year, having ridden and won all 4 of the runners at the Chester may meeting. Moore’s general class this year isn’t in question, his ride on St Nicholas Abbey in the Coronation Cup a typical reminder of what he can do when the chips are down.

Johnny Murtagh - Can take top jockey

That stats back him up – He’s got 28 wins from 265 on this course in last five years and a bunch of placed efforts, which count for a lot at the Royal Meeting – and he finished in the first three 13 times last year. So why am I taking him on with a jockey who lost the Ballydoyle job last year in Johnny Murtagh?

Well to start, the loss of the job clearly hasn’t affected Murtagh’s confidence. His Oaks success on Dancing Rain is a contender for ride of the season while his Lincoln success on Sweet Lightning showed what he can do when a runner’s well handicapped.

He’s leading jockey in Ireland with 22 wins from 144 rides but that doesn’t tell the whole story. He’s come second on 22 occasions, third on 19, and fourth on 7. That’s an astonishing 72 rides in the first 4 from 144, which is 50% of his rides in the first four. Given that he’s got no rides for Ballydoyle, that’s quite phenomenal, although a retainer for John Oxx / The Aga Khan will have helped him.

He has a 19% strike rate around Ascot and had 4 winners last year, finishing in the first three 9 times. While he won’t have the help of Ballydoyle this time round he’s got good links with more than a few top trainers and that won’t stop him making a bold bid over all types of races.

Others who make appeal are Frankie Dettori, who rides Ascot like no other and will get plenty of strong chances. However his suspension for the last two days puts him straight out of the equation.  

Mikael Barzalona will be popular with many but it remains to be seen how many rides he gets and while he’s as good as any of them, he’ll struggle to make an impact while sharing rides with Dettori, or if he has less than 20 rides over the meeting.

Kieren Fallon already has two strong chances in Seta and Start Right and will come in for many good chances, so he should hold a good chance although his price could collapse based on good bookings next week.

Jamie Spencer has not only got the ride on Sweet Sanette in the King’s Stand, the mount on Fame & Glory in the Gold Cup along with Gatepost in the Coventry. Adding this to the fact that he’s got trainers like Michael Bell and owners like Marwan Koukash / Fitri Hay onside and 18/1 with VCBet makes a lot of appeal.

Tom Queally does seemingly get a free winner in the eyes of many when he rides Frankel & he’s got World Domination in the King Edward Stakes but little else makes too much appeal after that and while he’s pretty much Juddmonte’s jockey of choice his hand looks a little weaker than past years.

Nick Watts has highlighted the claims of Mike Smith who gets the pick of the Wesley Ward raiders but the Europeans may be more aware to front running tactics than when he last had runners and it will be hard for him to have an impact in races like the Albany and Chesham.

Advice

1 pt Johnny Murtagh to be Royal Ascot Top Jockey (16/1 Bet365)