The second day of the Royal Ascot meeting takes place on Wednesday and while much of the attention will be on races such as the Prince of Wales’ Stakes there are two handicaps on the day two card.
The second of the handicaps is the Royal Hunt Cup which is one of the biggest and most famous races of the week. We have picked out two selections in that race and there is also one we like in the earlier handicap.
3.05 Royal Ascot
Preview
The first handicap of the day, the Kensington Palace, is a fillies race over a mile on the round course. Whilst it’s possible to win from anywhere, a low draw and early prominent position is perhaps most favoured which perhaps isn’t ideal for the favourite Yerwanthere who is likely to be held up. She’s one of 3 for the yard & I’d prefer the chances of stablemate Adelaise if she builds on her reappearance run at the Curragh. Tamarama and Crystal Caprice are both drawn wide whilst Lady Eros, from the lowest stall, should go well if she can cope with this step up in class. At a bigger price, Don’t Tell Claire should go well at a track she loves but may just be high enough in the handicap.
Betting
Tarrabb – Drawn 4 & with a prominent race style, the selection should be suited by the setup of this race & she certainly has enough form to recommend her. Her record of 3 wins & 2 second’s from 8 starts is decent & looks even better when you delve in a bit deeper. She won a couple of handicaps last summer, firstly at this track before following up off a 7lbs lower mark at Haydock where she won one of the Sunday Series races comfortably enough. Off her revised mark, the same as she races off today, she was a close 3rd behind Crystal Caprice and Don’t Tell Claire here but is weighted to turn the tables off 7lbs and 4lbs better terms respectively. She ran well enough on reappearance in a small field handicap on the all weather & has been kept fresh for this. From a yard in form & with a top jockey on top, she will be difficult to keep out of the frame.
Tips
Back Tarrabb (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 Bet365 BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
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5.00 Royal Ascot
Preview
Always one of the toughest races of the week, the Royal Hunt Cup is as typically competitive as ever with a maximum field of 30 expected. Perotto won the Britannia in 2021 but has hardly shown much since so doesn’t look the most solid favourite at around 7/1. Ghaly has been off for 8 months but Saaed Bin Suroor has been in cracking form this year & you can be sure one of his won’t be lacking for fitness whilst Intellogent has yet to win for this yard & whilst he has claims, his price is too short. Astro King, Dunum & Awaal all have good shouts and, at bigger prices, I’m intrigued by Dawn Of Liberation and Isla Kai. However, I’m going double handed in this.
Betting
Blue For You – This 5 year old hails from a yard that does well with his handicapper’s & this one has a progressive profile in his 16 run career to date. There isn’t much rain about which is a positive given his best recent form has been with firm in the description, in fact his form when the going is described as good or better reads 01732215. His last win was last summer over this trip at York where he was repeatedly short of room but still managed to beat his rivals off 5lbs lower than today’s mark. He closed last term with a couple of below average runs here but I think the soft ground was to blame. On reappearance, he showed he retained all of last year’s form with a promising 5th of 16 in the Hambleton from the coffin box draw. He’s been dropped 1lb for that & should come on for the run so looks to have an outstanding chance at a nice each way price.
Wanees – Form figures of 0-0 this term hardly inspire but he’s much better than that. In the Lincoln, the ground was bottomless and, like many of his rivals, he ran no race whilst he was a slightly disappointing 10th of 12 in a handicap at Newbury where he was below par but quite honestly, wasn’t given a hard time. He needs to put that run behind him but I’m certain his shrewd trainer has aimed him at this & he looks capable of winning off a mark of 95. He had previously won 4 of his last 6 starts including a Class 2 handicap at Haydock off 2lbs lower & was a good 6th of 30 in the Britannia over this course & distance 12 months ago. The trainer has won 2 of the last 4 runnings of this & if the first time blinkers do the trick, he’s a massive price in an open race.
Tips
Back Blue For You (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 17.00 Paddy Power BOG (⅕ odds 1-7)
Back Wanees (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 21.00 Betway BOG (⅕ odds 1-7)
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