Ascot 2.30 – Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2)
Day 2 kicks off with the Queen Mary Stakes, a 5f sprint for two-year-old fillies and a notoriously tricky race. I’m taking a chance on Spicy Marg, ridden by Kieran Shoemark, who deserves a big win after recent challenges. Her debut at Newmarket impressed me—despite a small field, she clocked a sharp time, handled the dip well, and showed a strong turn of foot. The form looks solid, and if she improves, she could be in the mix. She's an each-way play for me.
Selection: Spicy Marg
Ascot 3.05 – Queen's Vase (Group 2)
If there’s a big-priced winner outside the handicaps today, this could be the race. I’m siding with Shackleton, who looked in need of his reappearance at the Curragh—carrying condition and lacking pace over a shorter trip. He kept on gamely despite looking out of it, and that run should have brought him on. The step up in distance should suit, and with Aidan O’Brien’s strong record in this race, he’s worth a chance. The Godolphin runner is top-rated but comes from a weak Dante, and the French contender has solid form and stamina, so both are respected.
Selection: Shackleton
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Ascot 3.40 – Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2)
I might regret being this confident, but I think Cinderella's Dream has a strong chance today. She blew me away at Newmarket when she beat a good field—far better than I expected after backing Running Lion against her. That performance showed real class, and although she faces tougher rivals like Fallen Angel now, I believe it will take something special to beat her.
Selection: Cinderella's Dream
Ascot 4.20 – Prince Of Wales's Stakes (Group 1)
This is the kind of race every fan dreams of—stacked with quality. Los Angeles rightly heads the market, with two strong wins this season and impressive form, including a third in last year’s Arc. He gets his ideal setup with pace in the race and looks tough to beat.
France sends two: Facteur Cheval, consistent but likely playing for a place, and Map Of Stars, who has a genuine winning chance. He was unlucky last time due to poor tactics and has strong form through Sosie, a proven Group 1 performer.
Anmaat isn’t just a soft-ground horse—he ran Los Angeles close on quicker ground and remains underrated. See The Fire bounced back impressively at York and is clearly classy, but this is a major step up. A cracking race all around.
Selection: Map Of Stars
Ascot 5.00 – Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap)
The Royal Hunt Cup is a 30-runner minefield, and picking a winner feels like throwing a dart blindfolded. Still, for the Lucky 15, I’m going with The Liffey. Now with Joseph O’Brien, he shaped well on return at Naas over a trip too short after 350 days off—clearly a prep for this. He was a solid performer for Aidan O’Brien, with strong form and a peak RPR of 104. His Listowel win has worked out well, and he looks primed for a big run here.
Selection: The Liffey
Ascot 5.35 – Kensington Palace Stakes (Fillies' Handicap)
Going against the grain can bring value, and I’m siding with Julia Augusta in this wide-open race. Four-year-olds have won all four previous renewals, and while most of the field fits that trend, David O'Meara's mare stands out. He excels in big-field handicaps, and Julia Augusta has strong form in better company. She was a respectable sixth in a Group 2 at Ascot last year and followed up with a good Group 3 run. After a long break, she shaped well on unsuitable ground at Epsom—likely a prep for today. She's primed for a big run.
Selection: Julia Augusta
Ascot 6.10 – Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed Race)
It’s a shame Ballistic Missile didn’t fire on Day 1, as that would’ve boosted confidence in Utmost Respect, but I still expect a big run. Richard Fahey has a strong record with juveniles at Royal Ascot, and this colt looks promising. His debut at York was full of promise—keen early, repeatedly denied a run, and forced to switch wide—yet he still showed a sharp turn of foot. It was a messy race, but valuable experience, and he’s clearly got talent. Tough ask to win a maiden here, but he’s one to watch.
Selection: Utmost Respect
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