1.5pts each-way Vazirabad @6/1, 16:20 Royal Ascot, Thursday

Big Orange is absent to defend his Ascot Gold Cup crown, but the 2018 renewal looks very classy nonetheless with 2016 winner Order Of St George, rising star Stradivarius and leading French stayer Vazirabad among a field of nine.

Most of the pre-race talk has been of Stradivarius progressing from a top-class three-year-old stayer into the real deal, and both fast ground and ageing legs have been put up as reasons he’ll reverse the form with Order Of St George from Champions Day last year.

I don’t disagree with any of that sentiment, however both are very short in the betting now and, at the prices, it’s VAZIRABAD who makes his Ascot and British racing debut who appeals most at a general 5/1.

A very classy Group One winner who has won back-to-back renewals of the Dubai Gold Cup, he’s ridiculously consistent with 15 wins and 5 seconds from 22 starts on the flat, and is as good form as anything in this race in 2018.

I just can’t see him finishing outside of the places so I’m inclined to go big on the best price of 6/1 in the each-way markets, as his form is simply a cut above those I’ve not named yet.

1.5pts each-way Vazirabad @6/1, 16:20 Royal Ascot, Thursday (1,2,3, 1/5 with various bookmakers)

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