MC Yeeehaaa has swapped his tracksuit bottoms for top hat and tails and races through the card to try to make your Wednesday a profitable one
Once again ground conditions crucial at Royal Ascot for Day 2, and the selections on the blog will closely mirror that again. This is not about finding the best horse, but the horse who loves juice in the surface. So let’s get to it…
Paul Hanagan has ditched IBN MALIK in favour of Thikriyaat in the Jersey Stakes at 2.30pm, but I’m not sure that’s going to prove the right decision. My selection has a decent rating for this field, likes some cut and stays well. Stall two might not be a great draw, but it might be. Only time will tell. I certainly feel Charlie Hills has a great each-way chance here.
Tom Dascombe has long been a man with a eye for a good juvenile, and KACHESS may well be a highly talented juvenile in the Queen Mary Stakes at 3.05pm. She looked really good at Goodwood first time and should improve a lot for that. Obviously this is a lottery, but at the very least Kachess should go well.
Gallop over to all the latest odds on PP.com
The Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at 3.40pm has brought about a decent field, and I’m hoping for a big run from USHERETTE (), who has a high rating of 117. Andre Fabre’s daughter of Shamardal has won her last three, and defeated the talented Arabian Queen at Newmarket last time. The ground will be fine and she stays strong.
A small but select field in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at 4.20pm, and obviously Japanese raider A Shin Hikari has an outstanding chance after a blitzing effort in France last time. Last year I went with The Grey Gatsby. But there is no front-runner in this field to take on A SHIN HIKARI and he is without doubt the one to beat.
Here we go – the annual cavalry charge in the Royal Hunt Cup at 5pm where Paddy’s paying the first 6 home! The draw will be key and who knows which side is best. There is a chance SPIRIT RAISER () is high in the handicap now for James Fanshawe, but he’s an improving horse who goes with cut in the ground. Fanshawe is a master with horses like this and he should finish off strongly.
PERSUASIVE () has been hugely impressive in two wins this season and can finish the day off in style in the Sandrinham Handicap at 5.35pm. Although she’s up in the weights she’s a typical John Gosden improver. Frankie Dettori is in the saddle and I’m expecting him to hold up the selection and come flying home with a rattle.
So best of luck. Tough day – but when the going gets tough for this column, Paddy starts to worry! Yeeehaaa!