1pt win Mcerin @5/1, 0.5pt each-way Sioux Nation @16/1, 14:30 Ascot, Thursday

Qemah and Le Brivido combined to bag us two winners on Wednesday’s Royal Ascot card, both favourites, and market leaders are having a good week.

American trainer Wes Ward is having a good week with two winners and a close second, so it’s hard not to like the claims of MCERIN in Thursday’s opening Group Two.

He’s 5/1 and his work on turf has been described as ‘phenomenal’ by Ward, so at that price there seems little point opposing him on value grounds.

It’s a similar story for my other fancy in the race, Aidan O’Brien’s SIOUX NATION.

Known form aside, 16/1 is a massive price for anything ridden by Ryan Moore and trained by O’Brien at this meeting – and fast ground is expected to really suit.

By the excellent but sadly deceased sire Scatt Daddy, whose progeny include dual-Royal Ascot-winner Lady Aurelia and Commonwealth Cup favourite Caravaggio, this looks to be ideal conditions and it’s likely he’ll have been trained for this race.

Ryan Moore wasn’t negative in his Betfair column and the form of his second to Brother Bear, who ran well in defeat in Tuesday’s Coventry Stakes, looks solid enough to make a mockery of his big price.

O’Brien won with Highland Reel on Wednesday’s card and nearly won the opener with a 66/1 chance, so he’s in good enough form and big prices should not put us off.

Nothing else is particularly hot in the market and the each-way terms are very favourable.

1pt win Mcerin @5/1, 14:30 Ascot, Thursday (Paddy Power, Betfair)
0.5pt each-way Sioux Nation @16/1, 14:30 Ascot, Thursday (1/4 odds, 1,2,3,4 Bet365)

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