Day Two of the Royal Ascot should be another fantastic day of racing, with another four Group races, including the Group 1 feature – The Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.
GG Editor Tom Aldridge guides you through his selections & analysis for all 7 races on the card, including one he’s keen on at a huge price in the Kensington Palace Fillies’ Handicap.
Back his selections with SBK and you can get £30 in Free Bets when you stake just £10.
Odds correct at time of posting – 3.17pm 20th June
2.30pm – Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2)
Karl Burke is a master trainer with his juveniles and he might have another star on his hands with BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND. The way she pulled clear of the field at Nottingham on debut was eye-catching and once she hit the front she wasn’t for catching. Having won the race last year with Dramatised, I’m expecting Karl Burke to land back-to-back renewals with Beautiful Diamond.
SELECTION – Beautiful Diamond
3.05pm – Kensington Palace Fillies’ Handicap (Class 2)
I like one at a bit of a price here, and that’s DON’T TELL CLAIRE. She’s 2lb lighter than when finishing 8th in this last year but she’s improved since then and on the pick of her form she’s right up there with some of the market leaders. She was just over a length behind Crystal Caprice in September and is now 9lb better off with that rival, yet the selection is almost triple the price. Her third behind Farhh Too Shy and Belhaven was a good effort considering it was on unsuitably soft ground, and I expect her to be in the mix at the finish.
SELECTION – Don’t Tell Claire
3.40pm – Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2)
This looks a straight shootout between JUMBLY and Prosperous Voyage, and it’s the former that gets my vote. She finished well clear on Honey Girl on reappearance and should strip fitter for that run, and it’s worth noting she won on her sole previous visit to Ascot last year. Her main river flopped on her sole effort at Ascot last year and that winning course experience could prove crucial in here.
I’ve also got to mention Random Harvest, who is currently 22/1 at the time of writing and that looks far too big. She was within a length of Prosperous Voyage at Epsom last time out and has a 3lb pull with that rival. I expect her to outrun her odds, but for win only purposes I’m all over Jumbly.
SELECTION – Jumbly
4.20pm – Prince Of Wales’s Palace Stakes (Group 1)
This is a fascinating renewal and the top three in the betting are hard to separate. However, the battling victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup from LUXEMBOURG has swayed me. It looked like Bay Bridge was going to eat him up when pulled out for his effort, but the way Luxembourg stayed on was so impressive and he never let Bay Bridge get on level terms with him. Adayar could be a big danger but considering Bay Bridge finished ahead of him in the Champion Stakes, I’m backing Luxembourg to come out on top in what I’m expected to be one of the races of the week.
SELECTION – Luxembourg
5.00pm – Royal Hunt Cup (Class 2)
This is wide open and there are plenty you could make a case for. However, the one I’ve come down on is ASTRO KING for Daniel & Claire Kubler. Previously trained by Sir Michael Stoute, he finished runner-up in the 2021 running of this and came 4th in last year’s renewal off a mark of 102, and he’s off just 99 this time. His first run for his new yard was impressive, finishing fourth in the Hambleton Handicap despite consistently being denied a run at a crucial point in the race. With most bookies offering six places (Skybet are offering eight), I think Astro King is an excellent E/W pick and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he went on to win.
SELECTION – Astro King
5.35pm – Queen’s Vase (Group 2)
One of the more confident fancies on the second day of Royal Ascot is GREGORY for John & Thady Gosden. He could hardly have been more impressive when bolting up in Listed company at Goodwood last time out, and this step up in trip should see him to even better effect. Frankie Dettori has been booked for the ride and he should be able to steer him to victory and make it a perfect 3/3 in his career. The big danger will be Peking Opera for the lethal A P O’Brien/Ryan Moore combination, who have won three of the last eight renewals, but I still feel Gregory will have too much for them here.
SELECTION – Gregory
6.10pm – Windsor Castle Stakes (Class 1 Listed)
I’ve gone big with my selection in the final race, and that’s Karl Burke’s WORLD OF DARCY. I’ve already mentioned how good a trainer Karl Burke is with his 2YO’s and he could have another smart one on his hands here. He ran out a comfortable winner on debut, easing down towards the finish at Pontefract and he was only beat by his impressive stablemate Elite Status in the National Stakes last time out. There’s nothing of that calibre in this field and he’s drawn nicely on the stand side, which has been the right side to be on in three of the last five renewals. There’s plenty towards the head of the betting who could be anything, but in a race where there’s been plenty of double-figure odds winners I’m happy to take them on with World Of Darcy.
SELECTION – World Of Darcy
Back his selections with SBK and you can get £30 in Free Bets when you stake just £10.
ROYAL ASCOT DAY 2 THROUGH-THE-CARD TIPS
2.30 – Beautiful Diamond (4/1 generally)
3.05 – Don’t Tell Claire (25/1 generally)
3.40 – Jumbly (9/4 generally)
4.20 – Luxembourg (9/4 generally)
5.00 – Astro King (9/1 generally)
5.35 – Gregory (7/4 generally)
6.10 – World Of Darcy (16/1 generally)
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