Royal Ascot Hardwicke Stakes best bet: Free Wind can blow rivals away for Frankie Dettori
By John FearnPublished on 24th June 2023

One of Royal Ascot's most competitive races, the eight high-class runners lining up for Hardwicke Stakes look sure to give us a race to remember.
Moore would love to be Royal Ascot's leading jockey, but he will have his work cut out to get the better of rival Frankie Dettori here, with the Italian looking to add the final day's feature race to the Gold Cup and Coronation Stakes that he landed on Thursday and Friday.
Of the 53 rivals that his ride Free Wind has lined up against across his seven turf outings, only one has finished ahead of him, and that was Golden Pass at the Newmarket July meeting in 2021.
The York win was over a sharper 10-furlong trip, so this return to a mile and a half will suit even more, and with her three-pound allowance and the irrepressible Dettori on board, this mare is going to take all the beating.
Suggested bet: Free Wind each-way in the 16:20 at Royal Ascot