2pts win

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…

Wesley Ward is always full of enthusiasm for his Royal Ascot chances but he said of his Norfolk Stakes chance GOLDEN PAL ‘I really think he’s one of the best horses I’ve ever brought to Royal Ascot – believe me, this horse is the real deal’. Bizarrely for Ward’s best…

FANNY LOGAN is a right good bet in the Hardwicke Stakes at 11/1. She gets the mares’ allowance against the colts and is proven on softer going which many of the market principles, including the favourite Antony Van Dyck, are known to dislike. John Gosden has been in good form…

With the rain falling, my old favourite SIR DRAGONET is looking more and more like a banker each time I look at the market for the Listed Wolferton Stakes. Sent off favourite for the Derby last year after bolting up at Chester and in his maiden, his form tailed off…

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…

I think FINAL SONG has an outstanding chance in the Jersey Stakes, back over 7f with a little bit of juice in the ground at a course she’s proven at. On ratings she has work to do – and thanks to three winless efforts on dirt in Dubai this winter…

I’m probably a dunce for trying to find the winner of a 19 runner two-year-old race at this stage of the season but I’m going to have a go with GET IT from the Clive Cox yard. A son of first-season sire Twilight Son, winner of the Diamond Jubilee Stakes…

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.…