14:30 – Queen Mary Stakes
Wesley Ward loves sending his juveniles over here and simply blitzing our youngsters on fast ground in the juvenile races. Word is that Chelsea Cloisters is yet another flying machine of his for the Queen Mary Stakes at 14.30, but such machines can either fly high or be shot down and I fancy Shades Of Blue could outgun Ward’s wonder.
Clive Cox did exactly that last year when his Heartache smothered the apparent USA good thing Happy Like A Fool by an easy two-and-a-half lengths.
The daughter of Kodiac showed an electric turn of foot late on debut to see off Queen of Bermuda (winner twice since) and Come on Leicester (also a winner of her maiden), so the form looks rocks solid and, at around 11/2, the selection looks an each-way bet to nothing from her cracking stall plot in box 22.
on Day Three of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on June 22, 2017 in Ascot, England.
15:05 – Queen’s Vase
Southern France will relish the step up to a mile-and-three-quarters in the Queen’s Vase at 15.05.
He looks a Cup horse of the future and will be cutting down his rivals as he hits the rising ground here.
15.40 – Duke of Cambridge Stakes
Trainer Hugo Palmer expects a big run from Unforgetable Filly in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at 15.40, and at 25/1 what is there not to like about her?
She needed her run first time out, will love the fast ground and although the bay filly has about 12lbs to find with the likely favourite Hydrangea, she is far from fully exposed over a mile and looks cracking each-way material.
Racegoers mingle around the parade ring as they attend Ladies Day at the Royal Ascot horse racing meet, in Ascot, west of London, on June 22, 2017.
The five-day meeting is one of the highlights of the horse racing calendar. Horse racing has been held at the famous Berkshire course since 1711 and tradition is a hallmark of the meeting. Top hats and tails remain compulsory in parts of the course while a daily procession of horse-drawn carriages brings the Queen to the course. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images)
16.20 – Prince of Wales’s Stakes
Cracksman looks untouchable in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at 16.20. He simply hated Epsom when landing the Coronation Cup at Epsom but has attracted the big money of pro punters in the past seven days when they saw very close to even-money on the horizon.
In my book he should be 2/5 on this vastly different terrain.
17.00 – Royal Hunt Cup
The big handicap of the day is the Royal Hunt Cup at 17.00. Ireland will rule the roost here courtesy of Saltonstall and Settle For Bay, and at double figure prices we can back both.
The former seemed to absolutely relish his first run on good ground when easing home in a cracking handicap at the Curragh last time out and a 5lbs penalty looks more than fair.
Settle for Bay, a multiple Dundalk winner, was a huge eye-catcher at Leopardstown. Only 14th into the straight that day, he finished like the Flying Scotsman under the minimum of pressure to finish fourth.
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Of the home contingent, Medahim has solid each-way claims and I wouldn’t be in the least bit surprised to see massive outsider Tony Curtis run out of his skin.
17.35 – Jersey Stakes
Failed 2,000 Guineas contender Expert Eye is dropped to seven furlongs for the Jersey Stakes at 17.35, but I reckon he is an out-and-out sprinter and should have run in the Commonwealth Cup. I much prefer the classy looking outsider Tabdeed at 16/1.
A winner of both his starts, he needs a career best by some way, but is crying out for a seventh furlong and looks massive each-way value at that price up against Goodwood winner Emaraaty.
We cordially request that one place all one’s Royal Ascot bets on PaddyPower.com. It’s spiffing.