The first race of Day Two is the Queen Mary Stakes and this is going to tell us how the Irish and English form ties up with one another. I thought Karl Burke’s Leovanni was impressive at Nottingham when she won, but I was at Naas where Make Haste won and Naas is a very similar track to Ascot over the stiff five furlongs and I’m going to side with her here. She really caught my eye that day and I’m looking forward to seeing her run.
The Queens’ Vase is next and I’m not totally sure about the favourite Illinois. He hung a little bit at Lingfield, but he was beaten by a smart horse in Ambiente Friendly and you can see why Ryan Moore is going to ride him. However, I think Highbury, his stablemate, could push him hard. He was impressive at Leopardstown over a mile-and-a-half, and it’s a stiff mile-and-a-half here which should suit so it’s a close call, but I think Highbury represents better value.
15:45 Duke of Cambridge Stakes
In the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes, I like Rogue Millennium. I was at the Curragh the day she finished behind Ocean Jewel who’s also in here. Rogue Millennium was quite unlucky in running at that day, she didn’t get any type of clear run and I think she should reverse the form here.
16:25 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes
In the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes I expect it to be between Auguste Rodin and Inspiral. Even though Auguste Rodin is very talented, you just don’t know if he’s going to turn up on song. He will like the fast ground, but I’m worried by how poor his run was in the King George, his only run at Ascot. Therefore, I’m going to side with Inspiral to improve from her run in the Lockinge. The going will be to her liking and I’m looking forward to her stepping up in trip again.
The Royal Hunt Cup has 33 runners and is a very hard race to decipher. I thought Wild Tiger looked a well handicapped horse on the improve. If he carries his form I think he could be hard to beat. There’s plenty of fancied horses drawn high here, and Holloway Boy is a lively outsider. He’s run very well at Ascot before, winning the Chesham a couple of years back. If he’s to find his best form, he could be in with an each-way shot at a bigger price.
17:40 Kensington Palace Stakes Fillies’ Handicap
In the Kensington Palace Stakes Fillies’ Handicap I like Summer Of Love; I was impressed by her when she broke her maiden, and she followed up at Kempton again on her last start. She looks to be one on the improve. I’ll go for her with Twirling and Ryan Moore to maybe chase her home.
In the last, the Windsor Castle Stakes, Shadow Army’s form looks strong. He had the form of his debut win franked by Francesco’s Piece, but my pick is Treasure Isle. On his second start at Naas, he stayed on really strong that day and I’d side with him for Aidan O’Brien.
Best of luck,
Mick