One of the biggest factors this week at Royal Ascot has been the style of racing and if you go through each event the majority of the races have been won by horses coming from off the pace and in general from a fair way back.
That makes the big betting event of the day, the Wokingham Handicap at 17:00, a hold-up merchants dream.
The key to this race, and by some way, is the possible handicap blot Dreamfield, a hugely impressive winner over this course and distance last month.
Giddy-up for Royal Ascot with PaddyPower.com
Raised to a mark of 103, John Gosden’s charge has worked like a top-class horse at Newmarket since then and all being well the next stop will be the July Cup.
So, whichever speedster you are backing here make him at least part of your betting profile, even if just to save on your stake of your other selections and despite the fact that he obviously likes to race prominently.
I am also quite sweet on bottom weight Ultimate Avenue with Ed Walker’s charge still unexposed and set to encounter his optimum conditions of fast ground in a big field.
At around 25/1 he is my main each-way bet, with Dreamfield as the saver as the fav could very well be head and shoulders above this bunch.
The Diamond Jubilee at 16:20 looks a crackerjack with Harry Angel leading the market, but his Ascot record is far from being outstanding and The Tin Man surely looks the each-way call here.
James Fanshawe has purposely produced him fresh here, following just an opening salvo success at Windsor and although he will probably need a career best, 8/1 looks a shade too big and he should be backed each-way.
I fancy that Aussie raider Redkirk Warrior is the biggest danger.
I really can’t work out the opening Chesham Stakes at 14:30, so I am leaving that juvenile event well alone and instead I will be having a major each-way play in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at 17:35.
Willie Mullins has a solid team for this lung bursting finale saddling the short priced favourite Thomas Hobson and Renneti and Meri Devie.
However, there are plenty of stayers worth a second glance. Fun Mac and Guard of Honour both ran well in this race last year and outsider Pearl Dragon is a very interesting runner from Germany, but the play here has to be Pallasator.
Second in a Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Cup, his racing career has recently been rekindled by a spell over hurdles with Gordon Elliot. This extreme trip on top of the ground has always promised to suit and he looks overpriced to my eyes at 8/1 and is a very solid each-way gamble.
Crystal Ocean looks a Hardwicke Stakes shoe-in at 15:05, while Mutawaffer should run well for Charlie Hills in the Windsor Castle at 15:40.
Run up a royal flush with PaddyPower.com’s Ascot odds*All odds correct at time of posting