14:30

In my previous column, I mentioned a couple of two-year-olds that I was looking forward to seeing at Royal Ascot.

LADY TILBURY  was one of them and I’m still looking forward to seeing her run. As I said, she reminds me of Quick Suzy who won the race last year and there are even more similarities in the fact she was drawn next to Twilight Gleaming, a very fast horse from America and this year, Lady Tilbury is drawn next to Love Reigns, a very fast horse from America.

She still showed little signs of greenness when she won at Tipperary last time and I think there is more to come from her. You’d think if she was trained by someone more fashionable than David Marnane, she’d be a lot shorter in the betting. I also have to add that David Marnane has had two winners at the Royal meeting in the past, so he knows how to get them right.

15:05

The Queen’s Vase looks wide-open.  I’d have to say that of the Irish runners, Fozzy Stack’s RULER LEGEND   looks rather interesting. He’s lightly raced having only run three times but did well to win at Naas last time up and looks a real galloper. I think the step up in distance could bring out further improvement in him too. He’s got the assistance of Jamie Spencer on board, and I think from his low draw, he’ll make plenty of use of him.

15:40

Bay Bridge is tough to oppose as he keeps on winning and looked very good at Sandown last time. But I have no doubt that STATE OF REST  could put it up to him.  The Japanese horse Shahryar is a rather unknown quantity, but clearly possesses plenty of ability as well.

State Of Rest looked like he was the best horse in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last time. He got going late and stayed on through the line, so I’d rather be keeping him on side at the prices.

16:20

I wouldn’t have the strongest of views in the Duke Of Cambridge but I’ve always liked SAFFRON BEACH  , who is a good filly trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam. She wasn’t beaten by in the Dubai Turf on her last run and that followed two successes at the back end of last season, including beating Mother Earth in the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket.

17:00

The Royal Hunt Cup is going to be one of the most competitive races of the week. You need plenty of luck in running and as we’ve seen in previous years, course form is often important, and you can be drawn anywhere; it totally depends on how it’s riding on that day. Four-year-olds have a good recent record in the race, winning six of the last seven renewals. 

As I mentioned above, David Marnane won this race with Settle For Bay in 2018.

17:35

The Windsor Castle is all about speed and while LITTLE BIG BEAR  has looked good in his two starts to date, he’s very short in the betting and these types are races are never formalities. I’m sure he won’t be far away though.

I did notice that Far Shot was being turned out very quickly by his connections. He went off odds-on when making a winning debut just seven days ago, and it reminded me when his trainer did a similar thing with Calyx a few years back. He had 10 days in between his debut and winning the Coventry at this meeting.

18:10

HAZIYA  did little wrong in finishing third in a handicap at the Curragh last month. She’s since been purchased by Qatar Racing, which could be telling in itself. I’m looking forward to seeing if she can run well for Joseph O’Brien.

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