Royal Ascot - Wednesday

by sportform Wed 18 Jun 2014, 2:44 am

GOING: GOOD

STALLS: Straight - Centre; Round - Inside

2.30 JERSEY STAKES (GROUP 3) (CLASS 1) (3yo)
Winner £42,533 Runners: 23 Going: Good Distance: 7f Channel: CH4

23 go to post for a competitive opening race on day two of Royal Ascot. John Gosden had success on day one with Kingman and has a very good chance to get off to a flyer on Wednesday with MUWAARY. This 3YO Oasis Dream colt won well on his seasonal debut at Newbury in April before finishing a respectable fourth in the French 2000 Guineas. He was pushed along two out and was outpaced by the winner in the final furlong. The drop in trip back to 7f will help and he should go very close. Mustajeeb was third in the Irish 2000 Guineas behind Kingman and has the best of the Irish form. Redbrook comes over from France and is looking to build on two wins this term including a listed race win at Longchamp last time out.

3.05 QUEEN MARY STAKES (GROUP 2) (FILLIES) (CLASS 1) (2yo)
Winner £56,710 Runners: 22 Going: Good Distance: 5f Channel: CH4

Wesley Ward and Victor Espinoza won the Windsor Castle Stakes on Hootenanny and will be looking to winner another race with SPANISH PIPEDREAM. The Scat Daddy filly won by over 4l on her only start on the Polytrack and Keeneland and has to be respected. Anthem Alexander won very easily by 7l at Tipperary and is the best Irish challenger. Richard Hannon runs two, Tiggy Wiggy ridden by Richard Hughes and Dangerous Moonlite with Ryan Moore on board. Tiggy Wiggy has won three of her four starts including beating the colts in a listed race at Sandown last time out. Dangerous Moonlite won her only start at Ascot over CD. John Quinn and Frankie Dettori had a winner on Tuesday with The Wow Signal and have Harry's Dancer going for this. Like that colt, this filly won very impressively on her debut by 5l at Thirsk.

3.45 PRINCE OF WALES´S STAKES (BRITISH CHAMPIONS SERIES) (GROUP 1) (CLASS 1) (4yo+)
Winner £297,728 Runners: 8 Going: Good Distance: 1m2f Channel: CH4

Last year's Arc winner TREVE runs in this. She won the Arc in very good style last year by 5l and will be hard to beat in this. She slightly disappointed last time out when finishing behind Cirrus Des Aigles but that is still better form than most of the others in this race have. that said is is still yet to be seen if she can recapture her form of last year. Magician goes for Aidan O'Brien but was beaten well by Noble Mission last time out and hasn't looked in great form this season so far. Mukhadram was second in the Dubai World Cup last time out and is probably the most likely challenger to the favourite. The Fugee has talent and goes for a top stable in John Gosden's.

4.25 DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE STAKES (GROUP 2) (FILLIES & MARES) (STRAIGHT COURSE) (CLASS 1) (4yo+)
Winner £82,882 Runners: 14 Going: Good Distance: 1m Channel: CH4
This looks one of the more competitve races on today's card with a handful of decent horses running. Integral goes for Sir Michael Stoute and is the likely favourite. Her form when 1l second to Sky Lantern in the Sun Chariot Stakes last season is top notch and she made a pleasing seasonal bow when second at Newmarket. The winner that day in the Group 3 Dahlia Stakes was Andre Fabre's Esoterique who may need to improve from that Newmarket run to win this. Sky Lantern goes for Richard Hannon but is carrying a 5lb penalty for being a Group 1 winner. She still has the class to beat these though. Purr Along runs for Johnny Murtagh with Jamie Spencer on board. She has struggled in this grade though and maybe best watched. The much maligned CERTIFY runs for Goldolphin. She looked a top class filly at 2YO before being banned for a year. Has won one of her two races in Meydan since returning, was fourth last time out but maybe better now back on turf and this is her optimum trip.

5.00 ROYAL HUNT CUP (HERITAGE HANDICAP) (STRAIGHT COURSE) (CLASS 2) (3yo+)
Winner £108,938 Runners: 30 Going: Good Distance: 1m Channel: CH4

ABSEIL for Sir Michael Stoute has looked a smart, progressive type this season with impressive wins at Yarmouth and then Epsom on Derby Day. He disappointed at Chester but the course and softish ground didn't seem to help. Looks well in here despite a 5lb penalty. Short Squeeze improved dramatically to win three races on the bounce last summer before finishing third in a Group 3. Hasn't been seen out since though and doesn't appear to go that well first time out. Chil The Kite has very good CD form including a win in 2012 and a very good 5l seventh in the Queen Anne Stakes last season. Won quite well last time out by 2l at Newbury and comes here in good form. Could be a decent each way bet.

5.35 SANDRINGHAM HANDICAP (LISTED RACE) (FILLIES) (STRAIGHT COURSE) (CLASS 1) (3yo 0-110)
Winner £39,697 Runners: 25 Going: Good Distance: 1m Channel: CH4
Sheikh Hamdam Al Maktoum has a very good chance of landing the first race of the day with Muwaary and just a good of a chance in winner the final race of the day with Muteela. This 3YO Mark Johnston-trained filly is unbeaten in three starts is up 8lbs for her latest win at Newmarket but is very nicely bred and open to further improvement. MEJEYDA was only 4 1/2l back from Miss France in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and should be respected at for this at a nice price.