SELECTIONS:

3.05 Powerscourt
3.45 Antonius Pius
4.55 Saintly Rachel
5.30 Al Eile-NAP

Powerscourt can add to Ireland's profitable Royal Ascot by winning the Hardwicke Stakes.

Aidan O'Brien's five-year-old won the Great Voltigeur over this course and distance but, after he had finished third in the Irish St Leger, it was decided to concentrate his four-year-old campaign at ten furlongs.

Presumably this was to boost his stallion appeal and he only raced three times over a mile and a half. One of them was the Breeders' Cup Turf in which he finished third and in his races over ten furlongs he often gave the impression that he would be better over further.

He had a strenuous campaign running in nine races in six different countries but this is his first outing since finishing fifth in the Dubai Sheema Classic nearly three months ago so he comes here a relatively fresh horse.

Antonius Pius runs over six furlongs for only the second time since he won the Railway Stakes as a two-year-old. The other occasion was in the July Cup when he ran respectably although nothing like well enough.

The Golden Jubilee Stakes is worth trying because he seems to have the necessary speed as he has always travelled easily in his races. His quirky nature only comes into play towards the end and at his current price of 10-1 or 12-1 he looks worth a punt.

Al Eile may be better known as a hurdler but such horses often do well in the Queen Alexandra Stakes and this one has some smart Flat form to his name. He won three successive races towards the end of last season and finished up with a comfortable success in the two mile Leopardstown November Handicap.

He ran a respectable race to take a close-up fourth to Vinnie Roe in the Saval Beg Stakes last time and John Queally's five-year-old is a confident choice.

Saintly Rachel never runs a bad race and Charlie Swan's consistent mare may come out on top in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes.