Day two of Royal Ascot is the talk of the racing world on Wednesday, and Joe Napier has picked out four best bets, bookending the card in the Queen Mary Stakes and the Windsor Castle Stakes.
2.30pm Royal Ascot – Queen Mary Stakes
Having had no runner in the race for the last four seasons, it may be worth paying heed to the declaration of TRULY ENCHANTING for Aidan O’Brien. She is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Lily Pond, but being by No Nay Never, the selection displayed the pace her sire so often passes to his progeny when winning by just under four lengths at Tipperary. The third had previously gone much closer on debut than she got to Truly Enchanting, though like so many, the form is yet to be truly borne out. On promise though, she is taken to back up the impression she left that day.
3.05pm Royal Ascot – Queen’s Vase
Three of the four winners Aidan O’Brien has sent out in this race in the last decade have been ridden by Ryan Moore. He has declared four this time around, and though all of Higbury, Grosvenor Square and The Equator have something to recommend them on, Moore’s decision to ride ILLINOIS looks significant.
He has disappointed as favourite on both starts this season, so should not be given too many more chances, but he is extremely well-related, being a half-brother to Arc winner Danedream and a full brother to the talented Venice Beach. There is also enough stamina in his pedigree to suggest 1m6f will be fine and his second in the Lingfield Derby Trial can be upgraded given the winner, Ambiente Friendly, went on to be runner-up at Epsom.
5.05pm Royal Ascot – Royal Hunt Cup
The Royal Hunt Cup is one of the toughest handicaps to solve of the entire season, but there may be a live each-way candidate here in HOLLOWAY BOY. He has not won since his debut here, when stunning onlookers by landing the Chesham without a previous run, though his best effort on RPRs since was when a close fourth in the Jersey Stakes in Group 3 company at this meeting again last season.
His two runs this season have not been up to that level, though soft ground is a reasonable enough excuse and he has dropped to a mark of 105. Given he is a horse who is more than capable of running to Group race level at this venue, that rating could be workable and he is unexposed in a big field scenario which may also suit.
6.15pm Royal Ascot – Windsor Castle Stakes
Some of these may have achieved more on debut, but VINGEGAARD is well bred to be a speedy juvenile and is also in good hands for that purpose. He battled well to win on debut, and the three directly in behind have all come out with improved performances since on RPRs. As a result, though that maiden was not an obvious affair for a Royal Ascot winner at Chepstow, his effort can be reasonably upgraded. There can be hope he will improve just as substantially on his second start,, his trainer/jockey combo had three winners at this meeting last season, and he may also prove better on a more livewire surface.
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