Author: Paul Davidson

A nice-looking Group 3 sandwiched in between the Oaks and the Derby. Cloak Of Spirits sets the form standard with her second place in the 1,000 Guineas having led for a long way. She was then well beaten in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot when racing on softer going.…

The Wokingham Handicap remains one of the best punting races of the entire meet and with 24 handicappers it’s not hard to see why. Last year had a rare winning favourite, and the improving Bielsa currently sits at the top of the market at 5/1. He does look talented, but…

A really exciting-looking renewal of the Commonwealth Cup and I’ve come down on two that look like they are real Group 1 types. Lope Y Fernandes ran a blinder in the Irish 2000 Guineas to finish third, shaping like the drop back to 6f would suit. He was very well-punted…

The Queen’s Vase has produced some fantastic winners over the years including the likes of yesterday’s runaway Ascot Stakes winner, Stradivarious. The race doesn’t seem to possess a horse anywhere near that calibre on current evidence but they are all lightly-raced with Born With Pride a warm order for William…

Another novel three-year-old handicap that we may never see again when normal service resumes at this meeting next year. Often these races can go to a future pattern-level performer and we may have one in the shape of HYPOTHETICAL, who cost 550,000 guineas last year and was priced up at…

It’s very hard to see past Stradivarious picking up his second Ascot Gold Cup and a remarkable third Royal meeting success in a row. Although he remains almost impossible to oppose, he has demonstrated that he’s not invincible over his last two starts and he is certainly a better animal…

A new addition to Royal Ascot is a 1m 6f Handicap on Day 2. Fujaira Prince was favourite at the time of writing with claims off the back of his third in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes last year, although he might not quite see out an extra two furlongs.…

The Duke Of Cambridge is a hot looking renewal with it difficult to rule out many with confidence. Michael Stoute has two potential Shamardal-sired improvers in the shape of Jubiloso and Queen Power, with the latter marginally preferred having run a career best on her reappearance to Terebellum (second favourite…

16:40 2m4f Ascot Stakes (A Handicap) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-100) National Hunt trainers have had a dab hand in the Ascot Stakes over the last couple of decades, but with no Willie Mullins or Irish entries it looks like it could go to a flat trainer this season. Verdana Blue…

The Pretty Polly Stakes serves up a cracking appetiser to the 1000 Guineas later on the card. An Oaks trial in its own right, it’s difficult to know at this stage whether this crop will be good enough to compete at Epsom in July. One man who knows a thing…