Day one recap

Ryan Moore rode a hattrick on the opening day, winning aboard River Tiber, Paddington and Willie Mullins’ Vauban to take his tally to 76 victories at the Royal meeting — leaving him just one behind Frankie Dettori.

Speaking of Dettori, the money came for his rides on the opening day but he fired blanks and to make matters worse was slapped with a nine-day ban for careless riding on the King’s horse Saga — which means he will likely miss his last Eclipse.

Hollie Doyle became the first female rider to win a Group 1 at Royal Ascot as she landed the King’s Stand Stakes with 14/1 chance Bradsell.

Day two

Queen Mary Stakes

The opening race of the day is a big-field 5f Group 2 for 2YO Fillies. Again with these juvenile races, there isn’t a lot to go off in terms of form. Beautiful Diamond is the 7/2 favourite after winning impressively on debut, but Relief Rally looks more appealing to me at 5/1.

She’s 2-2 after wins at Windsor and Salisbury and is constantly getting shorter in the market. William Haggas (20%) and Munir & Souede (22%) are in-form as well and Tom Marquand could be key too.

Got To Love A Grey, a Listed winner last time out, could also be worth an E/W shout at 9/1.

Kensington Palace Fillies’ Handicap

A race that will be on my no-bet list today personally, the Kensington Palace Fillies’ Handicap was only added to the card in 2021 and the first two renewals have produced 40/1 and 12/1 winners.

If I was to pick one, it would be an E/W punt on Lady Eros (9/1) for Oisin Murphy and the Gosdens. She won by two lengths over this distance at Yarmouth earlier this month, this is a step up in class from that but she could well again for top jockey and yard combo.

Duke Of Cambridge Stakes

Another Group 2 contest, this time for Fillies & Mares over a mile, this could be close between Frankie Dettori and Prosperous Voyage (3/1) and favourite Jumbly (5/2) for Ryan Moore.

The former was a G1 victor last season and reappeared with a G3 win at Epsom earlier this month, but I’m swaying toward Joseph O’Brien’s Jumbly. She won a G3 over a mile at Ascot under Doyle for the Charltons last July before joining O’Brien and finishing second in a G2 at the Curragh on her first appearance for new yard.

She’s taken to go better today and Moore could deny Dettori a Royal Ascot victory again.

Prince Of Wales’s Stakes

The only G1 of the day and it looks set to be a competitive renewal of the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, with Derby winner Adayar the second favourite at 3/1 and Tattersalls Gold Cup 1-2 Luxembourg (2/1) and Bay Bridge (7/2) set to renewal their rivalry.

Some might argue that Sir Michael Stoute’s horse would have won at the Curragh last month had he had a clear run. He was only beaten by half-a-length and has C&D form, so looks slightly overpriced at 7/2. But I’m taking Luxembourg to win a fourth G1.

Royal Hunt Cup

Another needle in a haystack race, there have been just three winners at single figures in the Royal Hunt Cup in the last decade and none of those have been the favourite. It’s another race I will be leaving out today, but Dunum (10/1) is the most appealing on handicap form (1111212).

Queen’s Vase

Back to G2 action, the Queen’s Vase is contested over 1m6f and could be the first win of the meeting for Dettori. Win No.78 is surely coming at some point for the retiring Italian and it might be with Gregory (7/4).

the 3YO made his debut for the Gosdens at Haydock in April and followed that up with Listed success at Goodwood last month. He’s stepped up in trip a further three furlongs, but he appears bred to suit this distance and will be very well backed given who’s on board.

Windsor Castle Stakes

Another 5f 2YO race, the Windsor Castle Stakes is a Listed contest. Murphy is another jockey who could still be on the hunt for his first Royal Ascot winner this year and his mount Barnwell Boy (7/2) is the most attractive to me in this race.

He won very impressively on debut over 6f at Goodwood for in-form Charlie Johnson, going clear in the final furlong to win by over four lengths from the favourite, and this stiff 5f should still suit.

Newsletter exclusive tip

19:20 Newcastle: Kylian 2/1

Not the Kylian most Geordies would like to see scoring in Newcastle, Karl Burke’s 2YO has hit the bar twice with a third on debut and second lto. A win must be coming soon though and he should be in the mix tonight