2pts win

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.…

With 2018 and 2019 winner Blue Point retired, Battaash has an open goal in the King’s Stand provided he’s on a going day. Odds-on quotes are just about fair, but certainly not of betting interest given he’s never a sure thing. The reality is, Ascot is a stiff 5f and…

I like FOX CHAIRMAN for the Queen Anne Stakes. Unraced at two, his four starts at three were all good ones, with hard luck stories at Chester and Ascot’s round course keeping him fairly under the radar. He’s by Kingman and out of a Galileo mare so has the pedigree…

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…