17:35 Royal Ascot: Sandringham set up for Waterway Run

The Sandringham Handicap provides the perfect opportunity to end day two of the Royal meeting in style, and in Waterway Run, there is some amazing value to be had.

Run over Ascot’s straight mile, this race provides fillies who are perhaps not top-class a chance to win some decent prize money. Long time favourite for the Oaks in 2010, Timepiece dropped down to listed company after some disappointing efforts in Group races, and bagged this race with ease for the late Sir Henry Cecil. The similarities between Timepiece and Waterway Run are striking.

Ralph Beckett’s charge won the Group 2 Oh So Sharp stakes at Newmarket as a two year-old, before running credibly in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She was then fancied to go well in the UK Classics this year.

Alas, that wasn’t to be. A reasonable sixth place to subsequent Guineas favourite Hot Snap in the Nell Gwynn, the daughter of Arch then took in the Group 1 Poule D’Essai Des Pouliches at Longchamp, finishing sixth again, this time 5 ½ lengths behind Flotilla.

Over the years it has paid to follow the class horses in the race, with 15 of the last 16 winners officially rated over 90. Although that doesn’t narrow the field down a whole lot this year, Beckett’s filly looks well overpriced at 16/1 with Ladbrokes.

With an Oaks one-two already in the bag this season, the Kimpton handler is enjoying his best campaign for some time. He will be praying for it to stay dry however, with Waterway Run having only raced on ground described as good or better in her career.

The two horses at the head of the market, Woodland Aria 5/1 and Mango Diva 6/1, are perhaps entitled to be there, being unexposed sorts. But it is certain that they would need to improve to claim this listed prize, and at the prices it definitely looks worth following one that has the delivered at this level already in Waterway Run.

All odds and markets correct as of the date of publishing