ROYAL ASCOT 2021. DAY TWO WEDNESDAY 16th JUNE

Wednesday Weather update - It's going to be another hot sunny day on Wednesday, today's maximum temperature of 27C means you want to stay hydrated and find some shade if you can as it's a long day.
Official Going Report - Good to firm.

DAY TWO
Hope you enjoyed yourselves with day one, am still expecting more good weather again today and we will have more Group 1 action with the feature contest Prince of Wales Stakes off at 4:20 and the big handicap of the day is the Royal Hunt Cup off at 5pm. With the exception of the Prince of Wales race huge fields are the order of the day, hopefully all the horses remain in good order in this heat and we've no dramas at the start. There is still a limited attendance of 12,000 spectators all week but it's a beginning for a return to larger crowds soon with Goodwood coming up next month.

2:30 Royal Ascot - Queen Mary Stakes (2yo) [Group 2]
5f  21 runners

Once the royal party has arrived and settled down we will start today with the Queen Mary Stakes off at 2:30. This Group 2 for 2yo fillies usually throws up a good one to follow for the rest of the season and a big field of twenty-two are declared to do battle today. Plenty in with chances of course, but would want to take a good look in the parade ring as 2yo's can be bit anxious especially with big crowd and company. 
As we saw on the opening day Wesley Ward has an interesting runner over from America with TWILIGHT GLEAMING a winner of her second race at Belmont and needs to be taken very seriously with John Velazquez over for the ride, Frankie Dettori is onboard another American filly ARTOS and the two look quite lively in the opening show. Aiden O'Brien only fields one, relying on YET winner of a Dundalk maiden from Orinoco River who also lines up again. 

Lively Outsider - with the yard going well this year and their 2yo's impressive BEAUTIFUL SUNSHINE can be backed to win/place here for trainer George Boughey was sent off odds on favourite for both her novice wins and has shown plenty of speed albeit in much smaller fields. 
RESULT
1st - (18) Quick Suzy @8/1 [Gary Carroll].

3:05 Royal Ascot - Queen's Vase Stakes [Group 2]
1m 6f 34y  14 runners
The Queen's Vase next up at 3:05 and a field of 14 line up. A very strong Irish contingent here with six of the thirteen and most of them fancied in the market. Aiden O'Brien has three including the two favourites (at time of publishing that is) both Arturo Toscanini as well as Wordsworth run for the Coolmore owners, while his other runner Kyprios is part owned by Moyglare Stud is hard to pick from the three maybe Wordsworth just edging it and the choice of Ryan Moore. Other Irish runners include Benaud, Ruling (both J O'Brien) and Taipan from Jessica Harrington. 
The home challenge is led by John Gosden three runners STOWELL (L Dettori), Law of the Sea and Pied Piper while the winning run of Mark Johnston's DANCING KING is going to be put to the test, but wouldn't rule out a huge run again.
RESULT
1st - (6) Kemari @15/2 [W Buick].

3:40 Royal Ascot - Duke of Cambridge Stakes [Group 2]
1m  12 runners

The Duke of Cambridge Stakes is off at 3:40 and this Group 2 for fillies and mares has attracted a field of thirteen, despite having to give the field weight (5lb in most cases for last years Group One success) CHAMPERS ELYSEES could still be the one to catch for Johnny Murtagh. Excuses on soft/heavy going this season and will surely relish the return to a faster surface. The one to be aware of is LADY BOWTHORPE if she can repeat her Lockinge Stakes run is clearly a danger, while the King Power Racing colours are carried by QUEEN POWER and having taken another group contest at York in some style (ran away winning by 8L) there ought to be a battle up front in the final furlong.

Lively Outsider - Although only 4th in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket, INDIE ANGEL [WON 22/1] was a couple of lengths behind the trio of Lady Bowthorpe (1st), Queen Power (head 2nd) and Lavender's Blue (neck 3rd it was a quality renewal the Dettori factor could get her into the places at 25/1 on current show?

RESULT
1st - (8) Indie Angel @22/1 [Frankie Dettori].

4:20 Royal Ascot -- Prince of Wales's Stakes [Group 1]
1m 1f 212y  7 runners

Today's Group 1 race THE PRINCE OF WALES STAKES goes off at 3:40. Just the seven declared so it's a small and select field and includes last year's winner LORD NORTH [Non Runner] who ended last season with a creditable 4th in the Breeders Cup Turf, then went over to Dubai to win a Group One there should be tough to beat again. The likes of LOVE a multiple classic winner and successful again at this level in Yorkshire Oaks makes her seasonal return though might want a little further is hugely respected, trainer Aiden O'Brien also has Armory too on the back of his win at Chester. Sangarius was put in his place in the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown last time while My Oberon will prefer this surface to the soft going encountered in France which leaves with Desert Encounter and Audarya [2nd 10/1] to complete the field. The latter could be one to watch having been placed over in Paris at the Arc meeting then won at the Breeders Cup, but this is her seasonal return and took a couple of races to get going last term.

RESULT
1st - (7) Love @11/10f [Ryan Moore].

5:00 Royal Ascot - Royal Hunt Cup
1m  30 runners

The big handicap of the day is the Royal Hunt Cup at 5pm with only the 30 declared (excluding the three reserves) it's clearly fairly simple to pick and if you still in the placepot today, best of luck! The field will thunder down the straight mile course, would expect runners to split and I favour the far side though would depend where the bulk of the pace is early on. Lets try and pick two out of the pack to have an interest in, MAGICAL MORNING (J Gosden) was staying on to chase home the winner in a Doncaster handicap and like everyone will need some luck in runner with such a massive field. I also consider ASTRO KING (Sir M Stoute) who has a turn of foot if able to race up with the pace and strike late, was considered unlucky at Thirsk last time out, Ryan Moore in the saddle a big plus. Godolphin run REAL WORLD [WON 18/1] and this is a very lightly raced horse, all runs on dirt in Meydan so if there's any chance he takes to turf could be high up the list, but it's a big IF.
Lively Outsider - CLIFFS OF CAPRI. Has plenty of experience in big fields, and run at the Royal meeting before (4th Buckingham Palace Handicap) can use all that to his advantage and while not a young horse, the 7yo is surely overpriced here at 33/1
RESULT
1st - (28) Real World @18/1 [Marco Ghiani].

5:35 Royal Ascot - Windsor Castle Stakes
5f  27 runners

The penultimate event of the day is the Windsor Castle Stakes at 5pm with only the 28 declared (excluding the three reserves) it's clearly fairly simple to pick and if you still in the placepot today, best of luck! A big hand to the stalls handlers at the start for all their wonderful efforts with these big fields this week. A quick word for former top jockey Darryll Holland who has his first Royal Ascot runner today SILKS PASS, working with former champion jockey Kieren Fallon who is the assistant trainer at the yard which started with a team of 20 horses and this one was a winner up at Redcar on sole start good luck to you. Expect both GOLDEN BELL and RUTHIN to be popular in this huge field of lightly raced 2yo's and maybe BARGING THRU can do just that with Hollie Doyle riding for Archie Watson who has a trio of runners here.
RESULT
1st - (10) Chipotle @22/1 [Charles Bishop].

6:10 Royal Ascot - Kensington Palace Stakes (Handicap)
7f 213y  18 runners (Fillies and Mares)

We end the day with another new race for this years meeting, a handicap for fillies and mares which has attracted a field of eighteen and we will race on the round course. Field headed by the Sir Michael Stoute runner LIGHTS ON who has won her last two races in the famous Cheveley Park Stud silks, the most recent win was at this track and appears to be a big player despite the weight burden. So I Told You is also chasing a hat trick for Joseph O'Brien but those two wins at Sligo don't amount to a great deal in my view so we'll opt for STUNNING BEAUTY for Godolphin, three wins in the Uk having run in Dubai in far better races, the return to these shores and climate appears to have suited could still have more to offer for this well bred filly.

RESULT

1st - (16) Lola Showgirl @12/1 [Laura Pearson].

Results will be updated in the evening and we will have details for Thursday's Ascot Gold Cup card posted up as early as possible. Hope you enjoying the week thus far, we are as long as the big price winners keep coming, two more today, miles ahead. Nice.