Royal Ascot Tips: Timeform's 3 handicappers to watch out for

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21 June 2023

Royal Ascot Tips

Tuesday, 20 June (6.10pm, Copper Horse Handicap) – Postileo
Wednesday, 21 June (5pm, Royal Hunt Cup) – Perotto
Saturday, 24 June (5pm, Wokingham Handicap) – Tanmawwy

Timeform’s Tony McFadden highlights the three handicappers heading into Royal Ascot with leading claims on Timeform’s ratings.

*Before we get down to business, remember folks: Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing / Ante-post prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason – you will lose your stake under traditional Ante-post rules.*

Postileo

The Copper Horse Handicap is a relatively new race at Royal Ascot and this year’s renewal looks a particularly interesting one with Willie Mullins set to run 2022 Triumph Hurdle winner Vauban and another unexposed sort in Absurde. As always, Mullins will be a force to be reckoned with in all of the staying races at Royal Ascot, but Postileo also has an attractive profile and is available at bigger odds.

He is very lightly raced for a six-year-old, but showed why connections are persevering with him when he made a comfortable winning return from 19 months off at Hamilton last month. That was also his first start since being gelded and he proved he retains all of his ability, while scoring in a fashion that suggests he may have even more to offer at around this trip.

Postileo had to wait for a run, but shot into the lead when getting an opening entering the final furlong and arguably had more in hand than the official margin suggests. A subsequent 3 lb rise seems lenient and he must have a big chance for the same connections who took the inaugural running of this handicap in 2020.

Perotto

The draw will likely play a big part in the Hunt Cup, but if there is one horse who has clearly been laid out for the race, then it is undoubtedly Perotto. He won the Britannia over the same course and distance at Royal Ascot in 2021 from a mark of 99 but he was more out than in for Marcus Tregoning last season.

Admittedly, he was handed some stiff tasks, but his handicap mark has fallen as a result and, with that in mind, it was no surprise that he attracted support on his return and first start for Roger Varian in the Victoria Cup over seven furlongs last month.

Perotto shaped promisingly, too, pushed along to get into contention over two furlongs out and making steady headway from there, but he was unfortunate that the race developed away from him. He shaped like he will relish the return to a mile and, given he is very well handicapped based on his three-year-old form (2 lb lower than his Britannia win), he looks a leading contender for one of the most competitive handicaps of the week.

Tanmawwy

Tanmawwy was very progressive in handicaps last season, winning his first two starts in this sphere at Windsor and Doncaster and he was well supported for the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on the back of those efforts. He disappointed on that occasion, but can easily have a line put through that effort, as he failed to settle back over seven furlongs.

Tanmawwy was beaten only by a neck on his return in heavy ground at Newbury in April and arguably shaped best of all, given he raced closer to the strong pace than the winner and was only headed late on. He started favourite for his latest start at Newmarket but that is another race you can put a line through given he was unsuited by how it developed.

Given the form of his Newbury second has worked out well, and he left the impression he is capable of winning a big handicap, he is well worth another chance, especially at a track that should suit him much better and he will more than likely get a strong pace to sit off.

Royal Ascot Tips

HANDICAPPERS TO WATCH OUT FOR

Tuesday, 20 June (6.10pm, Copper Horse Handicap) – Postileo
Wednesday, 21 June (5pm, Royal Hunt Cup) – Perotto
Saturday, 24 June (5pm, Wokingham Handicap) – Tanmawwy

Timeform’s Tony McFadden highlights the three handicappers heading

Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing / Ante-post prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason – you will lose your stake under traditional Ante-post rules.