Headlines

The jockey booking for Desert Crown in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot split the opinions of those on Racing Twitter, with Frankie Dettori somewhat harshly replacing Richard Kingscote. The owner wants to give the 2022 Derby winner the best chance and he clearly thinks that’s under Dettori. It happens

A complete farce from the BHA and Weatherbys meant four horses were declared as non-runners just 45 minutes before the off. The race was a 46-65 for horses who hadn’t won more than two races, which made four entries ineligible. Sh*t show!

Hollie Doyle heads to Milan for the Oaks d’Italia at the San Siro on Sunday. She won the French edition of the Classic last year with Nashwa, of course, and has a live chance of winning the Italian version aboard Shavasana — who looks set to go off as the favourite.

Four Royal Ascot runners are in the pipeline for Willie Mullins. The Closutton man is plotting to send Echoes In Rain over for the Gold Cup, while Vauban, Bring On The Night and Stratum could also make the trip.

ITV Racing

There’s coverage from five races at Haydock on ITV1 this afternoon, starting with the Listed Achilles Stakes at 13:15 and concluding with the two Groups 3 — the Lester Piggott Stakes and the John Of Gaunt Stakes.

Dettori has a couple of decent chances to keep his fine run of form going. Equilateral (7/2) is the favourite in the opener having come close over C&D here in a G2 two weeks ago and is the is top contender on that run.

Mimikyu (7/2) is another good shout in the Lester Piggott at 15:00. Won a G2 at Doncaster last year and and was second in a G3 by a shorthead on reappearance this season. She’s under a 5lb penalty but still respected.

I also like the look of Mr Wagyu (3/1) in the 13:50 Handicap. He was a very good third at Epsom last week and has a fantastic record over C&D with two previous wins

Ones to watch

We had a bit of luck with the 2YOs in the first letter with Buttons getting up by a nose under Ryan Moore at the Curragh, but The Caribbean was well beaten at Leopardstown yesterday.

There are a couple of nice 2YOs to choose from at Beverley tomorrow though. Midnight Affair (evens) is the one to beat in 14:05 after showing promise on debut when second at HQ, so is Fusterlandia (2/1) in the 15:15 for Amo — who have a 33% strike rate with 2YO turf this season.

He looked home on debut at Leicester last month but was headed in the final strides. A drop down in trip from 6f to 5f should suit on that basis.

Another one to watch is The Astrologist (11/4) in the 15:35 at Haydock. The Aussie horse is sent over for a crack at Royal Ascot, but prep didn’t go to plan in the Group 2 Duke Of Clipper Stakes at York as he was seventh.

He’s down in grade today and holds leading claims on ratings, but he does have a 3lb penalty. Ryan Moore takes the ride again

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Newsletter exclusive tip

Today’s newsletter exclusive is Live In The Moment (7/5) in the 16:30 at Catterick. He was seriously hampered by the stalls controversy in the Dash last weekend and that resulted in him finishing third last at Epsom.

But he ran well when headed in the final strides in his final run before that and he’s on a good mark here. Leading contender in this field.