Free horse racing selections for Tuesday June 18
Nick Robson previews Tuesday's racing and reckons Accidental Agent can repeat last year's Queen Anne success.
Nap: Accidental Agent (2.30 Royal Ascot)
Next Best: Mabs Cross (3.40 Royal Ascot)
Accidental Agent can follow up last year's win in the Queen Anne Stakes, the opening race of Royal Ascot 2019.
Eve Johnson Houghton feels her stable star has never properly been given the credit he deserved for last year's success - but were he to make win it back-to-back wins then there can be little doubt he is one of the best milers around.
The Delegator five-year-old has been a real success story, progressing through the handicap ranks to the highest level, although he has been winless in three outings since announcing himself on the big stage.
However, his trainer believes he had genuine excuses for his last two runs of 2018, and there was certainly plenty of encouragement to take from his reappearance in the Lockinge.
It is never easy coming back against race-fit rivals, and it is fair to say he ran a blinder to be third at Newbury behind Mustashry and Laurens.
He faces those two again, but is entitled to come on for the run and looks a huge each-way price.
There is also a case for believing Blue Point can win the King's Stand again - but given all the rain last week, Mabs Cross looks a tempting option.
Michael Dods' mare finished a closing third behind Blue Point and Battaash 12 months ago, before going on to great things herself over five furlongs.
Beaten by a pixel in the Nunthorpe at York, she then won the Prix de l'Abbaye and always seems to run her race.
Having defied a big penalty on her return, she could not concede the weight to Battaash at Haydock - but on softer ground and with the doubts about Battaash repeating his form, the northern raider looks the call.
Shaman can announce himself as the new kid on the block with victory in the St James's Palace Stakes.
He was second in the French 2000 Guineas to Persian King - and given to date the French three-year-olds have looked better than their British and Irish counterparts, he looks way overpriced.
There was lots to like about the way Phoenix Of Spain won the Irish Guineas, and he is rightly favourite to follow up.
Too Darn Hot will have his supporters, too, despite finishing behind Phoenix Of Spain in the Curragh Classic - and as it came so soon after his reappearance in the Dante it would be no great shock if he did.
King Of Comedy, Too Darn Hot's stablemate, also looks promising - but the unknown quantity is the French challenger.
Richard Hannon's Threat gets the vote in the Coventry Stakes.
The Cheveley Park Stud-owned youngster made a big impression when making a successful racecourse debut at Newmarket's Guineas meeting, and his trainer has not been shy in saying he feels he is his best chance of a winner at Royal Ascot this year.
The Willie Mullins-trained Riven Light should go well in the Wolferton Stakes.
A trip to Korea last autumn was a bit of a disaster, and he also disappointed on his final start of 2018 at Naas.
But he ran a blinder on his return to action in a Listed event at the Curragh recently, and that should leave him cherry-ripe for his latest big-race assignment.
The Ascot Stakes can go to Archie Watson's Ulster, who had little chance against Austrian School last time out and will be better off in this company.
Sporting Life tips
ROYAL ASCOT: 2.30 ACCIDENTAL AGENT (NAP), 3.05 Threat, 3.40 Mabs Cross, 4.20 Shaman, 5.00 Ulster, 5.35 Riven Light.
BEVERLEY: 6.00 World Title, 6.30 Arctic Ocean, 7.00 Fairy Falcon, 7.30 Kingson, 8.00 Ironclad, 8.30 Zihaam, 9.00 Zarkavon.
BRIGHTON: 5.50 Essaka, 6.20 Silent Agenda, 6.50 Diamond Lady, 7.20 Kaafy, 7.50 Funny Man, 8.20 Hedging, 8.50 Wilson.
SLIGO: 5.40 Grove Hill, 6.10 Master Matt, 6.40 Olay Power, 7.10 Hey Pretty, 7.40 Third World, 8.10 Maunganui, 8.40 Hayyel.
STRATFORD: 2.20 Evita Du Mesnil, 2.55 Goldslinger, 3.30 Graceland, 4.05 Ronava, 4.45 Adjutant, 5.20 Enforcement.
THIRSK: 1.40 Cece Ceylon, 2.10 Luzum, 2.45 Take Fright, 3.20 Gin In The Inn, 3.55 Current Option, 4.35 Rashdan, 5.10 Loolwah, 5.45 Burtonwood.
DOUBLE: Accidental Agent and Mabs Cross.
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