Royal Ascot 2024 – Day 2 Tips and Betting Preview

The second day of Royal Ascot takes place at the Berkshire venue on Wednesday and after an opening day of big priced winners mixed in with some favourites coming in it will be interesting to see what day two has in store for us.

The highlight is the Prince of Wales Stakes but we don’t see that as a betting opportunity. There are plenty of others across the course of another excellent card though and we have picked out seven to keep us interested throughout the day.

2.30 Royal Ascot: Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2)

A Group 2 sprint over 5 furlongs for 2 year old fillies kicks off Day 2 & with a field of 26, it’s certainly not the easiest race to figure out.   There are plenty in with chances but 2 appeals at the odds, the first of those being the Irish trained Mighty Eriu.  She’s run just the once, thrown in at the deep end at the Curragh over 6 furlongs where she gave the well touted Tunbridge Wells something to think about before giving way inside the last furlong.  That run was full of promise & I felt that a drop to 5 furlongs on a stiff track would probably suit.  She has enough pace to think they won’t get away from her & if that’s the case, I’d expect her to be making late gains & finishing better than most.  Her shrewd trainer doesn’t send them over unless they have a chance so that, coupled with a favourable high draw, should be enough to see her in the mix.

Twice raced Amestris is my second bet here & on the evidence of her 2 runs to date, she’s got a top chance.  On debut, she finished a good 2nd at Newmarket & was 2 lengths in front of Miss Rascal who’s currently 2nd favourite for this.  She then went to Lingfield & won with the minimum of fuss, in the process recording the 2nd highest Topspeed figure in this field.  Her trainer has had 2 that have finished 2nd in this race previously & he rates her as better so, assuming he’s a good judge, that should stand her in good stead here.  Another with a high draw so I’m putting all my eggs in the stands rail basket today.  If that proves correct, I feel that both should be bang in the mix at big odds.

Tips

Back Mighty Eriu (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 34.00 William Hill (⅕ odds 1-5)

Back Amestris (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 19.00 William Hill (⅕ odds 1-5)

Back them here:

3.05 Royal Ascot: Queens Vase (Group 2)

Aiden O’Brien has 3 of the first 5 in the market here & it’s a race where I think the market leaders will hold sway.  Whether it’s Illinois, the mount of Ryan Moore, one of the other O’Brien runners or the other 2 out to spoil the party (Birdman & Meydaan), I genuinely don’t know so it’s a race to sit out.

3.45 Royal Ascot: Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2)

An open looking race for fillies & mares with questions surrounding many of the runners.  Rogue Millennium & Laurel are rightly heading the market and could be better than their rivals but runners from the former’s yard ran poorly yesterday whilst the latter hasn’t seen the track in over a year.  Running Lion is a risky proposition having been beaten favourite in 3 of her last 5 starts & finishing plumb last in the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth at Epsom but I feel we might just see the best of her today.  After missing last year’s Oaks & then bombing out in the French version, she’s been campaigned over a variety of trips.  She showed better in a Listed race at Salisbury & then ran a creditable 3rd in a Group 3 where I felt she didn’t get home over a mile & a half.  Similar followed at this track where the soft ground didn’t help on the stamina front.  Stepping back in trip, she ran a good race on reappearance which was enough to see her go off at 13/8 at Epsom.  Despite a poor run, everything went wrong & she was eased inside the last furlong.   I think a return to a more conventional track with a stiff finish will suit & I’m of the opinion a mile is her best trip so at the odds, I’m prepared to chance that she’ll return to form with a bang.

Tips

Back Running Lion (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 8.50 Bet365 (⅕ odds 1-4)

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4.25 Royal Ascot: Prince of Wales Stakes (Group 1)

The only Group 1 on the card today & it arguably looks to be a match between Auguste Rodin & Inspiral.  If one is going to spoil the party, I think it will come in the shape of French challenger Horizon Dore.   A cracking race to watch but not one to be investing your money on.

5.05 Royal Ascot: Hunt Cup (Handicap)

30 runners down the straight track over a mile, one of the best sights in racing.  Now, it’s just a case of figuring out who’s going to come out on top & I’m taking 2 against the field here, one from either side of the draw.   From the high numbers, I’m going with handicap debutant Holloway Boy.  On Royal Ascot form alone, he has a great chance.  As a 2 year old, he caused a shock when winning the Chesham on debut whilst 12 months ago, he was a close up 4th in the Jersey Stakes, a race in which his performance can be upgraded because he raced a bit wider than ideal away from the main action.  He did run ok on reappearance when behind Charyn having travelled well but getting tired but was poor last time out.  A return to better ground, down in class & back at Ascot should bring about better fortune & he looks a nice each way bet.

I wouldn’t be putting anyone off Streets Of Gold but, drawn low, Thunder Ball is the one.  His sole Ascot start saw him finish an excellent 4th in last season’s Brittania when faring best of those forcing the pace.  Since then, he’s continued to run well, finishing 7th in the Cambridgeshire where he won his mini group of 5 before winning at Goodwood.  A 7th in the Lincoln was followed by a 4th in the Spring Cup, 2 excellent runs, & although he disappointed last time out, that was probably a run too many in a short period of time.  Back on better ground will suit & the break should have freshened him up.   With solid form in big handicaps, I’m very hopeful of a big run.

Tips

Back Holloway Boy (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 21.00 Bet365 (⅕ odds 1-6)

Back Thunder Ball (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 34.00 Bet365 (⅕ odds 1-6)

5.40 Royal Ascot: Kensington Palace Stakes (Handicap)

As if one cavalry charge wasn’t enough, here’s another.  Same trip, slightly fewer runners (25) & this one confined to fillies & mares.  The first of my 2 selections here is the well fancied Aurora Dawn.  She’s lightly raced on turf & has bundles of improvement in her.  On her first 3 starts, she finished 1-2-1, the disappointment when turned over at odds on albeit racing round a bend & in a smaller field perhaps didn’t suit.  She won’t have that issue today.  Last time out, off 1lb higher at Goodwood, she could only finish 6th of 12 but that doesn’t tell the whole story.  She broke slowly, got stuck on the rail, was repeatedly denied room & could never land a blow.  The step back up to a mile should suit & provided she breaks on terms & her draw isn’t a negative, I feel she’s the most likely winner.

I’m hopeful that Hopeful runs wells too.  Very lightly, she was off the track for almost 18 months after her debut but returned in fine style, absolutely hacking up in a Newcastle novice event in January.  Not as good next time out but then has run well in 2 turf appearances, the first when encountering unsuitably soft ground at Redcar.   Last time, she was half a length 3rd of 9 at Newmarket, travelling well but just outpointed by a couple who have remained in good form.  She’s a very strong traveller & therefore this big field should suit her.  Connections have pulled off a masterstroke with the jockey booking too & if she is to fulfil her potential, this setup is surely the right one for her.  A big each way price.

Tips

Back Aurora Dawn (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 10.00 Paddy Power (⅕ odds 1-6)

Back Hopeful (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 13.00 Paddy Power (⅕ odds 1-6)

6.15 Royal Ascot: Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed)

A 2nd 2 year old race to finish the day, again over the minimum trip & with a maximum field of 28.   So many chances but not a race to get heavily involved in so I’m sitting this one out.