by Charlie McCann
Day two of Royal Ascot and the feature event is the Group One Prince Of Wales's Stakes and I am a big Free Eagle (4.20) fan and hope the lightly-raced Irish raider will appreciate the forecast fast ground. The selection (11/4 at BetVictor) finished third on ground softer than ideal in the Champion Stakes last autumn and this race was identified as the early season target in the immediate aftermath.
Last year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner California Chrome misses the race through injury but there is still a strong international challenge from France, Japan and Australia and Gallic raider Ectot is the one who might give the Dermot Weld runner most to think about. Ectot failed to sparkle in the Arc when last seen on the track but his win in the Prix Niel at Longchamp last September on fast ground was gained in a very fast time and this has long been his target.
The card opens with the Jersey Stakes over seven furlongs and it looks a modest renewal; Ivawood has finished third in both the Newmarket and Irish Guineas and is a worthy favourite but at 13/8 he is very short for a colt who must give away 5lbs and more to 14 of his fifteen rivals.
If a draw near the stands' rail is a positive (won't know until viewing Tuesday's racing) then I will take a chance on Hathal (2.30) who easily landed the odds at Lingfield earlier in the month on his second start having ran with considerable promise on his only run as a juvenile. Frankie Dettori takes the ride and at 14/1 with BetVictor he can reward each way support.
Haggas' also saddles Besharah (9/2) in the Queen Mary and the filly has created a very favourable impression in winning both starts to date including over C&D on debut. One note of caution she did get upset in the preliminaries at Windsor last time and let's hope she doesn't run her race before the stalls open. The recommendation, however, is Meccas Angel (3.05) who looked very smart when winning at Beverley last time on fast ground and she is drawn in stall one so could easily make a beeline for the far rail. At 11/2 with BetVictor she is the each way selection.
Integral (3.40) is not quite the good thing the betting would suggest in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes given she must give weight away to some very talented fillies but she is reported to have worked the house down at Newmarket last week and gets the vote. She is currently 5/4 at BetVictor but I think she may drift to 6/4 this morning.
The Hunt Cup is one of the big betting races of the week and Munaaser (5.00) sneaks into the race at the foot of the weights for Sir Michael Stoute; you can put a line through his reappearance as he hung badly right but has bits of form last year that make him look potentially well treated and at 20/1 with BetVictor (five places) he can outrun his odds.
Her Majesty the Queen is double-handed in the finale the Sandringham Handicap and of the two Touchline is the filly that interests me most but my two against the field are Mothers Finest (12/1) and Risen Sun (5.30) with marginal preference for the latter who ran well against a decent older horse at Leicester on her reappearance. At 10/1 with BetVictor she is another each way recommendation.
At Uttoxeter Highpower makes his chase debut for Jonjo O'Neill and this half-brother to Albertas Run scored over timber last time. He is likely to be a warm order, however, and a chance is taken on Lawney Hill's Take A Bow (3.20) with Aidan Coleman a significant jockey booking.
For all your Royal Ascot odds check out BetVictor.com
