ROYAL ASCOT - DAY 2 (WEDNESDAY)

14:30 ASCOT - QUEEN MARY STAKES

The Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes will see some of the quickest 2yo fillies from Britain, Ireland and beyond scorching the famous turf in the first race today. America’s leading hope and likely favourite is the Wesley Ward trained Love Reigns, who impressively won on debut at Keeneland by 9 and 3/4 lengths. The filly made all from the rail draw and extended her advantage in the final furlong of the 5 and half furlong contest, Irad Ortiz Jr again partners her and she deserves maximum respect as Wesley Ward’s only challenger for this. Maria Branwell is another that deserves respect having made it two from two in a listed race at Sandown despite showing greenness, I feel however that she has a bit to find with a few in this field.

Dramatised is my idea of the winner, Karl Burke’s Showcasing filly blew apart an above average fillies maiden at Newmarket at the end of April. She recovered from dwelling at the start to scoot clear in the final furlong after travelling like a serious filly. The second that day Malrescia who was a full 4 lengths behind, won her next two starts in impressive fashion and gives the form substance.

DRAMATISED (WIN) written by Michael Taylor 15:05 ASCOT - QUEEN'S VASE

A decent staying race for three year olds in its own right, but also some clues towards a potential tilt at the final classic of the year. The St Leger.

Eldar Eldarov is a late maturing three year old, who is completely unexposed at the moment. He made a pleasing return to the track when staying on strongly to win over Newcastles stiff mile and a quarter. This horse has a beautiful pedigree and price tag to match, and there’s every chance he could go on to much better things.

Nahanni was certainly not discredited when running seventh in the Derby. He has always looked a stayer in the making, however the occasion looked to get the better of him on Derby day, and that could be a concern again here.

Baltic Bird is interesting. A big, imposing type who is being brought along steady. The penny is starting to drop now, and that was evident after emphatically winning his maiden at Yarmouth. The step up in trip is almost certainly going to aid his improvement, and it will be a surprise if he doesn’t make the frame.

Anchorage is the dark horse here regarding improvement at the trip, and he’s the selection.

He gained plenty of experience as a two year old, but certainly looked like some time and an increased distance of ground would see him reach his potential. His three year old comeback was full of promise, running on strongly over an inadequate trip, and that should have him primed for a big effort.

ANCHORAGE (WIN) written by Matt Polley 15:40 ASCOT - PRINCE OF WALES'S STAKES

Sir Michael Stoute won this race in 2018 with Poet’s Word before following up the year after with Crystal Ocean and looks to have an excellent chance of adding another trophy to the cabinet with Bay Bridge following his five-length demolition of rivals in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard at Sandown last month. The four-year-old is unbeaten in five since stepping up to a ten-furlong trip and looks to have optimum conditions to keep his run going.

Japanese runner Shahryar was impressive when winning the Group 1 Sheema Classic in Dubai when last seen, holding off the late challenge of Breeders Cup Turf winner Yibir, and given both Alenquer (6th) and Hukum (7th) have since followed up with Group 1 victories themselves the form is definitely strong. He’s yet to race over this trip but has won over nine furlongs and also over twelve so would appear to have a good mixture of speed and stamina and as such looks to be a live danger.

State Of Rest won three consecutive Group 1 races at Saratoga, Moonee Valley and Longchamp before a close-up third behind Alenquer in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh when last seen so adds further spice to the mix, while Lord North won this race in 2020 and proved he still holds plenty of ability when winning the Group 1 Dubai Turf in March. He could only manage fourth (just over a length behind the re-opposing State Of Rest) when last seen at The Curragh last month but wasn’t beaten far.

The last of the quintet is Grand Glory who is a prior Group 1 winner in France and also brings solid recent form to the table having won two from two so far this season. His strike rate over this trip is excellent however that majority of his wins have come on slower ground so I fear he may struggle in the forecast conditions.

BAY BRIDGE (WIN)

written by Dean Kilbryde 16:20 ASCOT - DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE STAKES

The Duke Of Cambridge Stakes race sees just the 8 Fillies & Mares up against each other.

Current market favourite Saffron Beach has only been seen once this season in her re appearance at Meydan where she finished fourth. Meydan form can always be a bit of a head scratcher and whether the form adds up to much. Although she does have the services of William Buick to help her. I feel she is a little short and there is perhaps better value to be looking elsewhere. Has a penalty to contend with as well here.

Mother Earth won on her reappearance at the Curragh this season but was disappointing in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury finishing low down in the field. A P O'Brien will hope she can bounce back but she has a rather inconsistent record and has ran twice ok at Ascot. But nothing that gets you thinking that looks good on paper. Could be the case of seeing what mood she is in on the day a risky bet to be confident on.

Thunder Beauty & Primo Bacio look up against here so difficult to make a case for them. The French have 2 horses for this race with Kennella & Sibila Spain here. Silbila Spain looks the bookies choice out of the 2 but again their French form can be a little questioned.

German 1000 Gunieas winner Novemba comes over as well to add some more international feel to this race. Though since winning that race, she has shown very little in 5 races. Without sounding like a broken record difficult to make a case for.

My selection though is Bashkirova for William Haggas. lightly raced for a 4-year-old she has won 4 of her 6 races in her career and her win at Epsom was impressive keeping on strongly at the finish. Of course, Epsom is a very different track to Ascot but the 1-mile trip suits her to the ground. I think there is improvement to come from her and if she runs to a similar level to how she ran at Epsom she will give the favourites in front of her something to think about at around the 9/2 mark (at time of writing) be very surprised if Shes not in contention here

BASHKIROVA (WIN) written by Luke Tucker 17:00 ASCOT - ROYAL HUNT CUP With thirty set to take part in this we shall endeavour to factor in as many trends or apparent strengths as possible although as is the usual, plenty of luck shall be required in what looks a cracking renewal of the Royal Hunt Cup.

Raced on the straight course over one mile, this tends to take some figuring out and the betting has hardly been a strong guide, with no market leaders managing to win for over a decade. The draw offers slightly more hope and those drawn middle to high have done best over the same time-frame, age trends are as one might expect with the four-year-olds dominating with six wins from the last ten. Trainer and jockey pointers are rather thin on the ground although James Doyle has won two fairly recent renewals and he looks to have claims aboard Intellogent.

Astro King did everything right when second in this last season, finishing comfortably in front of the other twenty runners on his side of the track though unfortunately well behind Real World who won on the other. Fairly disappointing thereafter, he burnt plenty of fingers on his reappearance at Thirsk although that was a rough race and he is entitled to come on for it. Currently heading the market and hailing from the Sir Michael Stoute yard, one can't help but think he will finally land one of these races and his mark of one-hundred and two surely offers hope.

Dark Shift is progressive and he arrives here chasing a fourth win from his last five starts. Looking through his form, there has to be a slight doubt as to how well suited he is to large fields as two of his heaviest defeats have been recorded in similar fields.

Legend Of Dubai is very lightly raced for a four-year-old and has only had a handful of races to his name so far. Quietly progressive in a few novice races, he travelled like a very good horse before powering right away on his handicap debut at Newmarket last time and the third has since given the form a very significant couple of boosts. Attempting to guess whether Roger Varian's charge will be ready for this type of test is impossible although he will very likely go close if handling the occasion.

Sinjaari landed the 2020 John Smiths Cup and has performed with credit a few times for this yard, third when making a rare appearance at this trip at Newbury, he could go well at massive odds if getting the gaps and respect is afforded despite his mark looking high enough.

Symbolize has attracted strong market support in the build-up and he may well have been aimed at this for quite some time. From the Andrew Balding yard and with crack five pounds claimer, Harry Davies on top, he must find improvement to land this although his form from last season's Balmoral reads well and he is feared.

Escobar is a regular in these types of races and he gained a richly deserved success at York two starts back, nudged back up ratings as a result, he will likely struggle to get his head back in front although he could run on into a place at decent odds. What's The Story, Totally Charming, Magical Morning and Desert Peace are a few more who deserve a mention but our vote will be split between two, with Astro King taken to finally build upon what he has promised and Sinjaari taken to mow enough down late in the day for a place.

ASTRO KING (WIN) SINJAARI (E/W) written by Chris Connolly

17:35 ASCOT - WINDSOR CASTLE STAKES

The Listed Windsor Castle Stakes over 5 furlongs for 2yo’s is often seen as a chance for lesser-known owners and trainers to have a shot at the big time. Amongst those is the 15,000gns Havana Grey filly Star Of Lady M who comes here with three wins from her four starts, her only defeat coming at the idiosyncratic Chester. A very admirable filly but will surely come up short today, the best of the fillies would be Union Court who made it two from two at Chepstow and she deserves respect but this is a big step up in class. Frankie Dettori is always popular with punters at Ascot and his ride Far Shot will be towards the head of the market. This Kodiac colt only made his debut only seven days ago in small field at Yarmouth but he did enough to win but he is another who will need to step up significantly to take this.

The No Nay Never colt Little Big Bear for Aiden O’Brien and Ryan Moore will head the market and should stamp his class on this field. Defeated on debut by the narrowest of margins at the Curragh, he got off the mark with consummate ease at Naas on second start. Travelling strongly throughout he put the race to bed in the final half furlong, any improvement on that run will make him very hard to beat.

LITTLE BIG BEAR (WIN) written by Michael Taylor 18:10 ASCOT - KENSINGTON PALACE STAKES

The Kensington Palace Stakes rounds off the action for day 2 of Royal Ascot and is an exciting handicap over one mile with many contenders that will fancy their chances of landing the prize.

Irish raider Haziya has been well supported this week and looks set to go off as favourite. She showed she was very well handicapped when landing the spoils at Leopardstown in April on her first try at a mile. She then followed that up with another very good effort off her revised mark at The Curragh. It’s easy to see why she is fancied today, towards the bottom of the weights and will surely give her running.

White Moonlight is a lightly raced 5yo who has had just the three starts to date - winning on two occasions. She may have just found the extra two furlongs at Chelmsford last time a bit far and is a very interesting contender back at a mile here. I feel she does lack a bit of experience though in a field of this size and that would be a negative in a race like this.

Improvised is my idea of the winner in this contest. She has always been held in high regard by the David O’Meara team and provided a career best effort last time out in a listed race up at Musselburgh. She shaped that day as if the mile will be well within her compass and she has the potential to improve further now upped to a mile in distance.

Angel Power has some good group race form to her name from previous seasons, however, her best efforts have come over a mile and a quarter so I would look elsewhere for each-way value here. That value may come in the form of Farhh To Shy, who has been very progressive at seven furlongs and is another who could easily improve now upped to a mile and she would be of great interest here.

IMPROVISED (WIN)

FARHH TO SHY (E/W)

written by Tom Bates