MCDONALD PICKS UP EXTRAS AT ASCOT

James McDonald picks up a number of rides for Royal Ascot

Jockey James McDonald has been booked for a total of 7 rides across the Royal Ascot week with local trainers opting to take on the New Zealander’s services.

McDonald’s key assignments will be piloting Nature Strip in the Kings Stand Stakes over 5f on Tuesday and then Home Affairs in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes on Saturday over 6f.

There has been good backing for Nature Strip who has tightened in price across the week going from 3/1 into 15/8 and providing his best chance of a winner on Royal Ascot week.

Lightning Stakes winner Home Affairs currently sits as a 4/1 chance for the Platinum Jubilee Stakes on Saturday.

UK trainer Hugo Palmer has snapped up McDonald to ride three-year-old colt Hierarchy (50/1) in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup (6f) on Friday.

Hierarchy has won two of seven starts but ran second at Group 3 level at Ascot in April.

McDonald will also rekindle a Kiwi connection with a ride for Sir Peter Vela in the Listed Wolferton Stakes on Tuesday where he will ride Tasman Bay who is trained by fellow Kiwi Sir Mark Todd.

McDonald’s sole ride on Wednesday will be the Charles Hills-trained Dark Shift, an 8/1 chance to win the Royal Hunt Cup.

Thursday will be McDonald’s busiest day at Ascot.

McDonald rides Asgoodassobergets (20/1) in the King George V Stakes, Mr McCann (25/1) in the Britannia Stakes and Tanmawwy (12/1), also from the Hills stable, in the Buckingham Palace Stakes.

More News