Royal Ascot Day 2 Preview – David Shortte

Posted on June 21, 2017June 22, 2017 | Posted by David Shortte

Day one threw up some spectacular performances with Ribchester outstanding in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes and Lady Aurelia producing a devastating turn of speed in winning the King’s Stand Stakes.

Barney Roy turned the tables on Churchill in the Group 1 St James Palace Stakes while Rajasinghe, a horse given a good mention yesterday was a gutsy winner of the Group 2 Coventry Stakes. Thomas Hobson and Sound and Silence took out the Ascot Stakes and Windsor Castle Stakes.

TABtouch have enabled Superpick options on the six race program at Royal Ascot and you can now use your daily Superpick to increase your odds for a win, improve your odds for a place or take money back for second.

Here is a preview of night two :

Race One (Group 3 Jersey Stakes – 1400 metres 3 Year Olds)

One of the World’s finest Trainers Andre Fabre will be represented by French 3 year old Le Brivido here. Le Brivido was beaten a narrow margin behind Brametot in the Group 1 Poule Dessai Des Poulains at Deauville over the mile last start and the step back to 1400 metres looks ideal. Looms as the horse to beat.

Dream Castle, a son of Frankel finished fifth beaten a tick over 3 lengths by Churchill in the Group 1 2,000 Guineas and comes into this event as a serious threat with the drop back to Group 3 level.

Daban has won both of his career starts over the 7 furlongs and was placed last time out over the mile in the 1,000 Guineas when racing wide. Has definite each way claims.

Glastonbury Song is an interesting runner at $23. Won two of his first three starts and last time out in the Irish Guineas didn’t appear to enjoy the track conditions. At big odds and worth including for your novelties.

TABtouch Market : Le Brivido $4.20, Dream Castle $5, Daban $7, WhitecliffsofDover $10, Chessman, Winning Ways $15, Others $20 and upwards.

Race Two (Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes – 1000 metres 2 Year Old Fillies)

A big field of 24 fillies head up the straight here and after taking out the Group 1 Kings Stand Stakes with Lady Aurelia USA Trainer Wesley Ward will be looking to win this particular race for the third straight year with the favourite Happy Like A Fool.

Happy Like A Fool was an impressive winner on debut at Keeneland and looks to have plenty to offer. She is clearly the one to beat but at $2.05 in a field this big I’d prefer to shop on both totes.

At double figure odds Mrs Gallagher might be a nice each way play. Won her Maiden beating subsequent winners at this venue and is open to improvement off that run.

Heartache won her Maiden at Bath by a commanding 6 lengths and looms as a logical threat.

Chica La Habana won her Maiden at Beverley and is another worthy of thought.

TABtouch Market : Happy Like A Fool $2.05, Heartache $7, Mrs Gallagher $14, Chica La Habana $16, Others $17 and upwards

Race Three (Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes – 1600 metres)

Qema is a classy French Filly who won 2 Group 1’s last season including a Coronation Stakes here. Has had 9 career starts for 4 wins and 5 placings. Finished 3^rd at her first run back this time in behind Mix and Mingle in a Group 3 at Lingfield but her best is clearly better than that and if she has come on for the run will take some stopping.

Usherette is another French raider who won this race on soft ground last year. Has to deal with the firmer footing today but has won 6 of her 10 career starts and is coming off a Group 1 placing at her most recent effort.

Mix and Mingle got the better of the favourite Qema at their most recent outing when she was able to prevail in a Group 3 over the 1400 metres at Lingfield. In with each way claims again.

Smart Call is a dual Group 1 Winner in South Africa who had her first run for nearly 18 months when third in a Group 2 at York over 2000 metres. Drops back in trip here and should be strong to the line.

TABtouch Market : Qemah $2.90, Usherette $4, Smart Call $7, Mix and Mingle $9.50, Greta G $11, Others $26 and upwards.

Race Four (Group 1 Prince Of Wales Stakes – 2000 metres)

The race of the day here as a very talented bunch do battle over the 2000 metres.

Highland Reel has quite simply been a mighty campaigner for connections. He has had 22 starts for 8 wins and 7 placings and more than $9.5 million in prizemoney. He has had feature race victories in the Secretariat Stakes, Hong Kong Vase, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Breeders Cup Turf and the Coronation Cup. Throw on top of that placings in the Cox Plate and Arc De Triomphe and it’s pretty clear to see that this fellow is a Superstar. Runs into a quality field but was back to his brilliant best last time out in the Coronation Stakes at Epsom and is the one they all have to beat.

Jack Hobbs is a top class colt who has won 5 of his 10 career starts including a stunning victory at his most recent appearance when he romped in in the Group 1 Sheema Classic at Meydan on World Cup night. Looks the main danger.

Ulysses is a very promising type who has scope for improvement but will need every bit of it here against some high quality seasoned campaigners.

Decorated Knight is coming off a Group 1 win at the Curragh and must be considered for trifectas and first fours.

TABtouch Market : Highland Reel $3.40, Jack Hobbs $3.80, Ulysses $4.40, Decorated Knight $9, Mekhtaal $10, Queen’s Trust $11, Others $23 and upwards

Race Five (Royal Hunt Cup 1600 metres)

With 29 runners in this field there will be no Tote betting available on this event. Fixed odds each way betting will be available.

GM Hopkins at big odds might be worth a small each way bet in a very tricky affair.

Race Six (Listed Sandringham Handicap Fillies – 1600 metres)

A big field of 24 runners to round out the program and the winner looks well concealed.

Gymnaste is a Shamardal filly won a Maiden at Chester in impressive fashion and had excuses last time out when runner up at Kempton. Looks as good a chance as any in a race with many hopes.

TABtouch Market : Gymnaste $8, Rain Goddess, On Her Toes, Sibilance, Queen Of Time $11, Others $14 and upwards.

Day two looks a little trickier than what we saw on day one from a specials perspective. I’m not sure I have another Rajasinghe result in me but my three bets tonight are La Brivido in the first, Mrs Gallagher at $14 each way in race two and the Jack Hobbs and Highland Reel Quinella in the Prince Of Wales Stakes.

Good Luck punters!

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