Anthony Van Dyck is hard to oppose and he could help Aidan O'Brien to enjoy a good Friday at Royal Ascot, according to Simon Holt.
Recommended bets
1pt win Keep Busy in 1.15 Ascot at 11/1
2pts win Anthony Van Dyck in 3.00 Ascot at 11/4
1pt win Lope Y Fernandez in 3.35 Ascot at 11/2
1pt win Durston in 4.40 Ascot at 7/1
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ANTHONY VAN DYCK is without a win since taking last year's Derby but can put that right in Friday's Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained son of Galileo, who prevailed in one of the closest finishes to the Epsom classic last June, may have bounced a little afterwards and was a beaten favourite in the Irish Derby before running poorly in the King George.
However, Ryan Moore's mount was back in good form in the autumn, notably when chasing home stable-companions Magical and Magic Wand in the Irish Champion Stakes over a mile and a quarter.
Anthony Van Dyke made a very good start to the new campaign when chasing home all-the-way winner Ghaiyyath in a fast-run Coronation Cup at Newmarket where he stayed on extremely well in the final two furlongs.
A winner on soft ground in last year's Lingfield Derby Trial, he looks like he will see this test out well.
Elarqam is an obvious danger, especially with Lord North boosting his comeback run here on Wednesday, but this is a new trip for the son of Frankel in what could be searching conditions. Morando has form on the course and is a horse who can never be discounted when the ground is deep.
O'Brien, who has an amazing record at this meeting, is also fancied to strike in the Commonwealth Cup with last weekend's Irish 2000 Guineas third LOPE Y FERNANDEZ.
Obviously this is a quick turnaround but many of the Ballydoyle horses thrive on racing and this son of Lope De Vega, who chased home Pinatubo in the Chesham Stakes here last year, ran an eye-catching race coming with a sweeping run from the back of the field to lead a furlong out before being collared by Siskin and stable-mate Vatican City.
The way Lope Y Fernandez travelled and picked up at The Curragh suggests to me that this drop to a stiff six furlongs could suit him well, and it was interesting that he was well supported in the market before the race. His half brother Dark Vision won the Hunt Cup on Wednesday.
At the beginning of play, KEEP BUSY looks over-priced in the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap following a career-best effort behind the impressive Lazuli in Sandown's Scurry Stakes last Saturday.
This is a quick reappearance but John Quinn's filly seems to have inherited the toughness and tenacious attitude of her dam Look Busy, a 100+ rated performer at her peak and winner of the Temple Stakes.
It's a little surprising that the official handicapper seems to have dismissed Keep Busy's run at Sandown considering she finished well clear of useful sorts in Dream Shot and Al Raya, though one always has to be wary of seemingly improved performances in conditions events.
Well drawn here near the stands side and with Cieren Fallon taking off 3lb, she looks sure to mount a strong bid for all the talk that the Newcastle winner Art Power could be a Group horse running in a handicap (with a short price to match).
Finally, DURSTON looks just the type to run a big race in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap.
David Simcock's tough and genuine four-year-old (now gelded) was highly progressive last season winning at Doncaster (1m6f) and Chester (1m4f soft) before running an absolute blinder at Goodwood when beaten a neck by the subsequent St Leger runner-up Sir Ron Priestley with over three lengths back to the third.
On his final start, Durston was thrown in at the deep-end in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury but found the battle-hardened Technician and Morando (both of whom had their ideal ground conditions and went onto win subsequently) too strong while still finishing six lengths clear of the 108-rated Sextant (also a winner next time).
With Sir Ron Priestley now rated 112, it looks like Durston has been handicapped retrospectively but there is surely more to come this season as he looks a good middle-distance stayer in the making and his ability to stay well and handle some cut in the ground should serve him well here.
Posted at 1655 BST on 18/06/20
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