The Whistling Shrew - Royal Ascot Day 2 Preview

Galileo Gold was king of the Guineas winners under a

smart ride from Frankie Dettori

What an awful start for the Shrew... Galileo Gold proved doubters wrong and Frankie Dettori made full use of a good draw to send him to the front early enough to see out another group 1 win in the St James Palace. He was always doing enough to see off the fast finishing The Gurkha who got bunched in from a tight draw and had too much to do despite catching

In the opening race Tepin proved she is a really smart filly seeing off Belardo and co. to become the first American horse to win the Queen Anne. Carvaggio justified strong support to land the Coventry and Profitable profited from Mecca's Angel's flop in the Kings Stand. There was some respite for Shrewdies as Jennies Jewel scored another big win for the fillies in the Ascot Stakes before the right colours came home in front in the last (but unfortunately the wrong horse).

Day two has at it's centrepiece the Prince of Wales Stakes which this year has a slightly disappointing turn out but features hot international raider A Shin Hikari who will bid to give the often luckless Japanese a big international winner. He will have to beat last year's first and second The Grey Gatsby and Western Hymn as well as consistent Irish filly Found to do so. The remainder of the card boasts a host of competitive races including the big handicap of the day, the Royal Hunt Cup, featuring a 30 runner cavalry charge down the Ascot straight.

Shrew's Shrewdies

2:30 - Ibn Malik 10/1 e/w or Gifted Master 9/1 e/w
3:05 - Lady Aurelia 15/8 (nap) or Al Jonrah 8/1 e/w
3:40 - Maimara  8/1 e/w
4:20 - A Shin Hikari 8/13 should win or The Grey Gatsby 9/1 e/w (nb)
5:00 - Instant Attraction 28/1 e/w or Arzaff 20/1 e/w
5:35 - Dolce Strega 14/1 or Persuasive 11/2


Race-by-Race Guide

2:30 - The Jersey Stakes, Group 3, 7f

Ibn Malik had exceptional 2yo form - is he still progressing?

7f is an odd distance and requires a specialist - Ibn Malik has proven that he is just that with a good second behind Emotionless in last years Champagne Stakes and a strong handicap win last time out. The Gifted Master also had strong form over this distance as a two year old but has been running over a mile or 6f since including a comfortable win here in April. He probably has slightly better form than Ibn Malik but the latter seems to still be improving.

Slightly below that form is the unbeaten Thikriyaat whose Newmarket run should translate well here. Haalick has more experience than most of these but also seems to be below the form required. Forge in contrast should go better on this ground and likely has more to come.

Castle Harbour is another with form below the very top in this race but could be anything at this stage after two good handicap wins over this distance.

Ribchester represents the classic form with his 3rd in the 2000 Guineas meaning he should be on the premises for Godolphin

Always worth being aware of the Queen especially when it's her birthday so Light Music in the royal colours is probably worth looking at - but if she wins it's a fix ;)

3:05 - Queen Mary Stakes, Group 2, 5f

Lady Aurelia is Wesley Wards 'best chance of the week'

It's a lazy analysis but when Wesley Ward is bullish he's not often wrong. He has put favourite Lady Aurelia up as his best chance of the week and she is the one least likely to be affected by the ground. She should be a lot better than these based on what we know so far. Al Jonrah best placed to follow her home

3:40 - Duke of Cambridge Stakes, Group 2, 1m

Godolphin have a very strong hand in this with 4 fancied runners. The market makes Usherette as the best chance to make it 6/7 and she was deadly last time out beating Arabian Queen and Amazing Maria at Newmarket. She has a big chance of winning here.

Lucida is one of four for Godolphin

Always Smile deserves her place here after a strong handicap win at York last time out proving she'll relish a big field - the ground is an unknown. Devonshire on the other hand has proven form on soft-heavy and will enjoy the test more. Lucida boasts strong CD form on her third in last year's Coronation Stakes - that is her best run to date and I'd expect another big run - soft ground though is a worry.

Leading the charge against the Godolphin battalion, Jazzi Top seems well held behind Usherette last time out but you can forgive her a bit of freshness on first run out and her three year old form is enough to go close. Maimara will appreciate more rain and certainly has form to go close and is a nice price after a flop last time out. Miss Temple City was just behind Lucida in the Coronation Stakes last year but will be doubtful on this ground.

4:05 - Prince of Wales Stakes, Group 1, 1m2f

The top rated horse in the world - Can he prove it at Ascot?

A select but interesting field for the feature race headed by Japanese superstar A Shin Hikari, who always wins...unless he comes 9th.... with 10 wins and 2 9ths on is race record it is an unusual profile, but he has proven that he has travelled well when picking up the Prix D'Ispahan at Chantilly in May by a tidy 10 lengths on his first run on heavy ground. He is really short in the betting so probably worth taking on.

Behind him that day was My Dream Boat who will have to improve bags to go past him. Found has shown her level over this trip and well be thereabouts - has bags of talent and good form to back it up. Tryster is a great horse on the dirt but hasn't been up to Group 1 level on turf.

The Grey Gatsby tries again in the Prince of Wales

Western Hymn is an interesting runner and showed a return to form when second behind Time Test at Sandown. He was third in this last year 2 lengths behind... The Grey Gatsby, who is one of my favourite horses but has been below his best since running Golden Horn close in last year's Eclipse. He was robbed in this last year by a poor hold up ride from Jamie Spencer. I expect him to improve for this time of year and be really prepped for this test. If A Shin Hikari turns up in the same form as Chantilly he should win, but that run was a long way above what he achieved in Japan and in an in form Found or Gatsby could beat him.

5:00 - Royal Hunt Cup, Handicap, 1m

Stupidly competitive as always. Mark Halford runs two interesting runnners in Portage and Hasanour who will likely both go well.  Convey looks too good to be here but is a big price and there are a lot of unproven elements. Last year's winner GM Hopkins should run well again.

Arzaff is younger than most of these and therefore possibly open to further progression now with headgear removed. Stats for younger horses are itn his favour... The stats also show that this race is often won by a horse and a jockey and Instant Attraction with Jack Garritty on-board is definitely that - I liked his second at Epsom at the derby meeting and he is probably due a win soon.

5:40 - Sandringham, Listed, 1m

Another ridiculous race. Godolphin are going heavy here too and I like Anamba the best of their runners - it is worth watching Hasanour in the previous race to get an indication of how good he is. Frankie Dettori and John Gosden team up again with Persuasive who they will fancy to make it a four timer and she is unexposed

Dolce Strega looks good at a price.