ROYAL ASCOT 2017. DAY TWO WEDNESDAY 21st JUNE

Wednesday Weather update -- It's going to be HOT! 
High 31C Wednesday, very warm and humid day again.

Going -- GOOD TO FIRM

DAY TWO

Hope you enjoyed yourselves with day one, am still expecting some glorious weather again today and we will have more Group 1 action with the Prince of Wales Stakes at 4:20 and the big handicap of the day is the Royal Hunt Cup off at 5pm. 

Once Her Majesty has arrived and settled down we will start today off with the JERSEY STAKES at 2:30. This Group 3 for 3yo's usually throws up a good one to follow for the rest of the season and 20 are declared to do battle today.

The French raider LE BRIVIDO from Andre Fabre's yard has to be respected but we pick WHITECLIFFSOFDOVER over that one in a tricky opening contest. Be surprised if Ryan Moore can't get this in the frame at least. 

2:30 Royal Ascot -- Jersey Stakes (7f)
RESULT
1st -- LE BRIVIDO 2/1 FAV
2nd -- SPIRIT OF VALOUR 66/1
3rd -- MUBTASIM 20/1


The 2yo Fillies race QUEEN MARY STAKES next up at 3:05 and a field of 24 line up. And while it's possible to cross out about 6-7 of these on form the rest could be anything having raced about once or twice at most. 

Wesley Ward saddles the lively favourite HAPPY LIKE A FOOL but surely it's folly to take a 5/4F against the field here? So we side with OUT OF THE FLAMES and MRS GALLAGHER against the field in a race that's bound to throw up plenty of winners throughout the season.  

3:05 Royal Ascot - Queen Mary Stakes (5f)
RESULT
1st -- HEARTACHE 5/1
2nd -- HAPPY LIKE A FOOL 10/11 Fav
3rd -- OUT OF THE FLAMES 14/1


The DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE STAKES is off at 3:40 and this Group 2 for fillies has attracted 16 runners, Andre Fabre sends over his filly USHERETTE again who won this same race twelve months ago and comes here on the back of a few place runs with another Godolphin runner LAUGH ALOUD it could be a good day for the boys in blue. 

Of the rest SMART CALL looks a good one to side with for Sir Micheal Stoute and Ryan Moore. The seasonal debut run at York was on totally different ground and the small field might not have played to her strengths, should get a decent gallop here today. 


3:40 Royal Ascot -- Duke of Cambridge Stakes (1m) 
RESULT
1st -- QEMAH 5/2F
2nd -- ALJAZZI 40/1
3rd -- USHERETTER 11/4

Today's Group 1 race THE PRINCE OF WALES STAKES goes off at 4:20. Just the 9 declared but it's a small and select field. 

HIGHLAND REEL is a globetrotting star and can land this big prize adding to his trainers amazing record in Group 1s. Already a winner at Epsom in the Coronation Cup this season and continues to be campaigned all around the world. 

While SCOTTISH is not the best in the Godolphin yard he's very consistent, stays well and could well be value to run on for a place. 


4:20 Royal Ascot -- Prince of Wales's Stakes (1m 2f)
RESULT
1st -- HIGHLAND REEL 9/4F
2nd -- DECORATED KNIGHT 10/1
3rd -- ULYSSES 9/2


The big handicap of the day is the ROYAL HUNT CUP at 5pm with only the 33 declared (excluding the reserves) it's clearly fairly simple. 

TABAARAK heads the weights and it would be a huge effort to land this off that mark although he has won two handicaps at this course and that experience might be useful and 20/1 looks interesting.

John Gosden runs four here with his GM HOPKINS a possible place bet at big odds does seem to pop up in the heritage handicaps from time to time. Though I will also be backing one of my 10 to follow here with EL VIP. 

5:00 Royal Ascot -- Royal Hunt Cup (1m)
RESULT
1st -- ZHUI FENG 25/1
2nd -- BLAIR HOUSE 16/1
3rd -- TASHWEEQ 66/1
4th -- BALLET CONCERTO 20/1

The finale on Day Two is the Sandringham Handicap over the straight mile, again a race for 3yo fillies and there's just the 24 in the line up. 

Really hard to know what the draw will do on this ground, do they charge down the middle? Am going to take one from each side of the draw to try and give us a fair chance either way, RAIN GODDESS looks good despite top weight and Ryan Moore can go well once more. On the lower side of the draw TISBUTADREAM is a course and distance winner and priced about 20/1 for inform Silvestre de Sousa. 

5:35 Royal Ascot -- SANDRINGHAM HANDICAP (1m)
RESULT

1st -- CON TE PARTIRO 20/1

2nd -- RAIN GODDESS 7/1

3rd -- PACO'S ANGEL 33/1

4th -- QUEEN OF TIME 8/1

Results will be updated in the evening and we will have details for tomorrow's Gold Cup card posted up as early as possible. Hope you enjoying the week.