It's always going to be tough to land a treble, but I was confident of at least getting every horse to place on Day 1.
Unfortunately, the first runner of the treble was the one to let the side down. Manxman was repeatedly short of room when the race heated up, and that won't be the first time this will happen this week.
The other two runners ran belters, but King's Gambit definitely should have won. He was positioned towards the rear and was given mission impossible, but was good enough to place.
Caballo De Mar was the second-best horse in the race, and in hindsight, nothing was beating that favourite. The favourite came from last to first down the outside and showed what a good horse he is. I could be overreacting, but I think he could be a Gold Cup horse for next year.
Solana Rose 25/1 EW (4pl) – Ascot 2.30 (Queen Mary Stakes Group 2)
I have tipped up Spicy Marg on the main thread, and that is my main selection for this race. But, there are many in with a chance and one at big-priced odds is Solana Rose.
I think it speaks volumes that connections pitched her into a Listed race at York on her debut in the middle of May. She wasn't fancied to run well, but definitely shaped better than the odds thought she would. She finished 6th/9, but looked like she was learning on the job. She went through the race quite nicely and didn't get the clearest of runs through.
She won a Mickey Mouse race at Ripon the time after when being the 4/9F, but the way she moved through that race suggests she has bags of speed. I think the form of the York race is decent, and given how well she coped without racecourse experience bodes well. She can definitely hit the frame if she improves again.
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Pinhole 9/1 EW (4pl) – Ascot 3.05 (Queen's Vase Group 2)
One of the early pieces of form to follow this year has been the Chester Vase. The winner and runner-up were first and second in the Derby at Epsom, so maybe those in behind can frank it again.
Furthur and Pinhole were fourth and fifth at Chester, but Pinhole was making his return to racing in that race, and I think he shaped as if he needed the run. He was progressing as a juvenile and was quietly fancied to run a big race at Chester, but as I just said, he looked tired.
I think he shaped with promise, and with that run under his belt and an extra couple of furlongs to face, we should see improvement.
Ancient Rome 18/1 EW (6pl) – Ascot 5.00 (Royal Hunt Cup Heritage Handicap)
Jamie Spencer is renowned as being the best jockey for races like this. He is the maestro of riding the straight mile at Ascot, so Ancient Rome can be one of the plays in the daily each-way treble.
It is a bit of a gamble selecting Ancient Rome as he has shown very little in his recent runs. If he were to bounce back to any type of form that he showed in his younger years, he could win this race.
You don't have to look too far to see that Ancient Rome is a top-quality horse on his day. Last year, he was second to Quddwah in a Group 2 at this venue, and was 3rd in a Group 1 in America. This year, he has been competing in Meydan and hasn't really got going; the same can be said about his Newbury run recently. However, at the age of six, they might have been laying him out for today's race.
Each way treble odds: 4939/1
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