Horse Racing Tips: Matt Chapman's Wednesday Royal Ascot picks

Matt Chapman’s Royal Ascot Tips

14:30 – RELIEF RALLY
15:05 – DONT TELL CLAIRE (Each-Way)
15:40 – PROSPEROUS VOYAGE
16:20 – LUXEMBOURG
17:00 – ASTRO KING (Each-Way)
17:35 – GREGORY
18:10 – MAXIMUM IMPACT (Each-Way)

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

14:30 – RELIEF RALLY

Day 2 of Royal Ascot 2023 gets under way here with the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes for two-year-old fillies over five furlongs. I was at Yarmouth when Born to Rock made a winning debut and she was impressive. But I have to take her on here. This blog got a result from RELIEF RALLY when the daughter of Kodiac scored at Salisbury last time and I like her attitude. Whether she’s good enough only time will tell, but she has the right attitude and stays strong for William Haggas and Tom Marquand.

15:05 – DON’T TELL CLAIRE (Each-Way)

Now the Kensington Palace Handicap over a mile. I have a feeling this is a race to take a chance and the one I’ll risk is DON’T TELL CLAIRE for Danny and Clair Kubler and Jack Mitchell. The mare has plenty of decent form at Ascot and was far from disgraced when third on May 13 at this track. It’s arguable she might prefer a bit of cut in the ground, but she has a win at this track on fast ground and was eighth in this event in 2022 when a bit higher in the handicap. An eachway chance.

15:40 – PROSPEROUS VOYAGE

It’s Group 2 company next with the Duke of Cambridge over a mile. PROSPEROUS VOYAGE did this blog a favour at Epsom and I’m happy to stick with her for Frankie Dettori and Ralph Beckett. She’s a Group 1 winner from the past and finished second to Cachet in the 1000 Guineas back in the day. When she brings her A game she’s much better than this lot. The problem is she’s not always consistent.

16:20 – LUXEMBOURG

One of the biggest races of the week in the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes over a mile and a quarter. There is every chance LUXEMBOURG will get an easy lead here – but even if he doesn’t he’s got every chance for Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien. The former Guineas third kept on really well last time to deny Bay Bridge in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh when he made all and he has every chance to quicken up off the bend here and be very hard to peg back.

WELCOME TO PP NEWS: NEW TO US? CLICK HERE FOR OUR £/€20 SIGN-UP OFFER

17:00 – ASTRO KING (Each-Way)

Now it’s the Royal Hunt Cup Handicap over a mile. ASTRO KING was fourth in this in 2022 and second in 2021 for Sir Michael Stoute. Now he’s handled by Danny and Claire Kubler and judged by his comeback run for them at York there’s every chance he can make it third time lucky under Richard Kingscote. The lightly-raced gelding loves fast ground and his run at York was very good as he was repeatedly denied a clear run. His placed runs here came off 102 and 98 so a mark of 99 is certainly workable.An each-way chance once again.

17:35 – GREGORY

This is the Group 2 Queen’s Vase for three-year-olds over a mile and three quarters. Very easy to stick with GREGORY here for John & Thady Gosden and Frankie Dettori. Once owned by Normandie Stud, the son of Golden Horn has won both starts and was impressive at Goodwood last time. The step up in trip should be right up his street.

18:10 – MAXIMUM IMPACT (Each-Way)

Day 2 ends with the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes over five furlongs. A bit of a guessing game. I’m happy to chance MAXIMUM IMPACT for Kevin Stott and Alice Haynes. The son of Havana Grey is an Amo Racing and really impressed me when getting his second success in a small field at Ascot last time. He appears to go on any ground and if good enough has the attitude to run well. An eachway chance hopefully. So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?