Royal Ascot day two: Quotes from connections and Man On The Spot tips
Get the latest from connections and Man On The Spot's verdicts ahead of day two of Royal Ascot 2018, featuring Royal Hunt Cup.
2.30 Queen Mary Stakes (Fillies' Group 2)
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Views from connections
Wesley Ward - Chelsea Cloisters
"She would be the best of the fillies we're bringing this year. This is a race I've gotten lucky in a few different times and this filly looks like she's suited for that type of race. It looks like we're going to have fast ground, which will suit me, and everything looks really positive."
John Quinn - Signora Cabello
"She's got everything you like in a horse so it's fingers crossed. She probably wouldn't want any rain as she's so effective on fast ground. I don't think she'd want it soft and it shouldn't be anyway."
Man On The Spot Verdict
Trainer Wesley Ward has won this three times including with Lady Aurelia in 2016 partnered by Frankie Dettori. The latter rides CHELSEA CLOISTERS, who romped home at Keeneland on her debut in April when recording a facile eight-length success. Shades Of Blue represents last year’s winning yard and made a successful start over track and trip while Kurious made all at Sandown on her debut. Kodyanna won a conditions race at Beverley last month and Come On Leicester landed the odds in good style at Windsor recently. Signora Cabello beat third-placed Snazzy to win a Listed prize at York and Servalan picked-up a Listed contest at Naas with the odds-on So Perfect back in fourth. But the latter was allowed to come home in her own time after a stumble and the Ballydoyle filly is still preferred to stable companion Gossamer Wings. Forever In Dreams represents French form and remains unbeaten after winning at Saint-Cloud last month.
3.05 Queen's Vase (Group 2)
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Views from connections
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Man On The Spot Verdict
Aidan O’Brien has a good record in this and sends three with live chances. Kew Gardens set the pace in the Derby before fading badly and is the mount of Ryan Moore while Group 3 winner Nelson comes out best at the weights and Southern France won a Listed race over 1m5f at Navan last month. John Gosden runs a couple of unexposed colts in Stream Of Stars and Almoghared. The former won a maiden over 1m4f here and the latter was successful in novice company at Chepstow last month. But Mark Johnston also knows what’s needed to win this and the consistent KING’S PROCTOR may provide a bit of value against the market leaders with improvement likely stepping up in trip and is preferred to stablemate Lynwood Gold. Drapers Guild wasn’t beaten far by Southern France at Navan last time and could also go well at a price.
3.40 Duke of Cambridge Stales (Fillies' Group 2)
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Views from connections
Aidan O'Brien - Hydrangea
"I was very happy with how she ran at the Curragh on her return, as we knew she was going to need the run very badly. She has come on really well since then."
Martyn Meade - Wilamina
"Wilamina seems in very good form. She won very nicely at Epsom and we may as well strike while the iron is hot."
Man On The Spot Verdict
A dual winner at the highest level, HYDRANGEA (NAP) is versatile as regards the trip and ended last year with victory in the Champions Fillies & Mares over 1m4f here having won the Matron Stakes over a mile at Leopardstown earlier. The Ballydoyle filly looks a cut above these despite a penalty. Aljazzi is a Group 3 winner at Sandown and finished ahead of a below par Arabian Hope in last year’s Sun Chariot but the latter’s stablemate Promising Run makes more appeal having landed a couple of Group 2 races at Meydan earlier this year. Tomyris made a winning return in Group 3 company at Lingfield and could go well along with Wilamina, who won at Epsom last month, but Unforgetable Filly has yet to reproduce the form of her victory in the German 1000 Guineas last summer.
4.20 Prince of Wales's Stakes (Group 1)
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Views from connections
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Man On The Spot Verdict
CRACKSMAN is difficult to oppose despite making hard work of winning the Coronation Cup at Epsom last time. John Gosden’s high-class colt won the Champion Stakes over course and distance on his only previous visit to this venue with Poet's Word well beaten in second. The latter won last month’s Brigadier Gerard at Sandown with Desert Encounter back in third but was runner-up to Hawkbill in the Group 1 Sheema Classic at Meydan before that though the latter was nowhere near his best behind Cracksman in the soft ground at Epsom last time. Second and fourth respectively in last year’s Derby, Cliffs Of Moher and Eminent, have both won Group 2 races subsequently but look up against it in this as does Royal Julius, a Group 2 winner in Italy last month.
5.00 Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap)
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Views from connections
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Man On The Spot Verdict
Zhui Feng was placed in the Victoria Cup here before winning last year’s renewal and is following the same path. Keyser Soze missed the break in the Victoria Cup and did well to finish within four lengths of the winner while Bless Him won the Britannia over track and trip last year but is 10lb higher today. Afaak won a tough handicap at York last time with Cape Byron back in fourth and Jim Crowley prefers him to the returning Mukalal while Mubtasim attempts today’s longer trip for the first time but stablemate and dual all-weather winner Seniority makes more appeal if lining-up. Escobar won nicely at Haydock last week but Daniel Tudhope has opted for Firmament today while Godolphin’s Saltonstall is penalised for winning at the Curragh last month. ARCHETYPE has raced twice in France this year and went close in Listed company last time. Simon Crisford’s colt could go close with a similar effort while Ryan Moore gets the leg-up on US raider Master Merion and Frankie Dettori keeps faith with Diomed Stakes runner-up Gabrial.
5.35 Jersey Stakes (Group 3)
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Views from connections
William Haggas - Headway
"He's in really good form. He ran badly in the Guineas. I'm not sure it was the trip - it just wasn't his day - but he's in good shape now. It's a particularly strong race this year, but he'd have as good a chance as any."
Man On The Spot Verdict
James Garfield finished in front of Expert Eye in the 2000 Guineas and beat the latter to win the Greenham over today’s trip at Newbury earlier. Could It Be Love ran a big race when runner-up in the Irish 1000 Guineas and is preferred to the other Ballydoyle runner St Patrick's Day and also Emaraaty, who was beaten by the progressive handicapper Society Power in a handicap at Goodwood. The latter’s stable companion Headway won a Listed race at Lingfield in March while Brother Bear, Lake Volta and Purser were also successful in Listed company last time with John Gosden's colt preferred on his defeat of Symbolization at Newmarket. But a chance is taken on GLORIOUS JOURNEY dropping back in distance today after finishing a close-up third at Chantilly. The first two home subsequently finished second and fourth in the French Derby and Charlie Appleby’s colt should be in the mix on that form. Tabdeed and Walk In The Sun are both unbeaten in novice races while Wesley Ward’s Hemp Hemp Hurray has won twice on Turf in the USA.
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