Royal Ascot day 2 Tips: Queen Qemah and King Ulysses set to shine
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One down, four to go. Not that we’re wishing away the splendour of the five-day spectacular that is Royal Ascot. Oh no, it’s only just hotting up.
In truth, you could probably come up with any number of wacky multiples, such is the competitiveness of the racing on Wednesday.
It all begins again with what looks likely to be a fiercely contested Jersey Stakes and unfortunately for punters the card doesn’t appear to be any easier to decipher from there on in.
That’s especially true of the feature contest, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, with Highland Reel, Ulysses and Jack Hobbs each involved in a battle royale for favouritism.
Here are our tips for a tricky day two…
A new queen will be crowned in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes and we highly fancy it’ll be French raider, Qemah.
Last year’s Coronation Stakes winner followed-up that success with more Group 1 honours in her homeland.
She ended up a beaten favourite on her seasonal reappearance in early May but with those cobwebs now blown away there will be no prisoners taken in Berkshire.
Last year’s winner Usherette will be in amongst it and our pick’s Lingfield conqueror Mix And Mingle also won’t be too far away.
But with jockey Gregory Benoist back in the saddle and proven course form there’s no stopping the selection.
This year’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes may have been deprived of the likes of the absent So Mi Dar and Cloth Of Stars but we’re still left with some fascinating potential duels.
Highland Reel, Jack Hobbs and Ulysses look well clear of the rest and it’s the latter we’ve chosen to side with.
He’s the proven horse over 1m2f with his recent win in the Gordon Richards Stakes, ahead of yesterday’s Queen Anne-third Deauville and last year’s Prince of Wales’s hero My Dream Boat, very taking indeed.
He’ll need to step it up again with Highland Reel a quality animal, albeit mainly over 1m4f, and Jack Hobbs an ultra-consistent performer who’ll relish this ground.
However, when push comes to shove we reckon Sir Michael Stoute’s charge can continue his progression on the grandest stage.
It’s difficult to call this a ‘longshot’ in a betting heat of this nature but there’s certainly plenty of juice about G K Chesterton in the Royal Hunt Cup.
There’s been only one winning favourite in the last 15 renewals so it’s worth taking on the market principals and we’re hoping we’ve got the answer.
The Godolphin-owned runner has a 5lb penalty to contend with for his success at Epsom last time out but with that form, and a nice double-figure stall, he’s well worth backing to bring up a three-timer.
ITV Racing Tips:
14:30 – Daban EW
15:05 – Happy Like A Fool
15:40 – Qemah
16:20 – Ulysses
17:00 – G K Chesterton EW
17:35 – On Her Toes EW
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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
