Royal Ascot Day 2 Tips and Preview by Dave Stevos

It is safe to say that Day 1 went pretty well bar a couple of hiccups. Ebury was on the wrong side but just managed to sneak place money, advised 6 places at 22/1. Mohaather was given a poor ride but at least Accidental Agent ran a big one. So I Told you was far too keen and faded late. Pyledriver won for us at 20/1 and likely heads to the Epsom Derby now. He is a lovely horse. We then had a trio of places with Liberty Beach (12/1), Agincourt (40/1) and Smart Champion (22/1). Day 2 looks tougher but hopefully we can keep the good run going. Check out Dave Stevos Royal Ascot Day 2 tips below…

Royal Ascot Preview: 1.15pm – Silver Royal Hunt Cup Handicap (Class 2)

When declarations were made I was very sweet on Model Guest for this race. However, he was pulled on Tuesday. With rain forecast on Wednesday afternoon you’ll need to find a horse that not only has a high draw but also one that handles cut in the ground. Unfortunately, very few of those at big prices drawn high have form on soft ground. One horse that has shown his best form on the all weather but who should have a chance of handling easy conditions on pedigree is the John Best trained Plantadream.

This son of Planteur has progressed rapidly on his last three runs. After landing a novice at Kempton (8f) he followed that up with a close 2nd under a penalty at Lingfield in February. He looked like he benefitted from the break when returning to action at the same track. On his handicap debut off 81 he destroyed the field by 7L, securing his place in this race. His sire Planteur won a couple of big races on soft and his dam is a half sister to a few soft/heavy ground winners. At odds of 22/1 Plantadream is the e/w selection.

Royal Ascot Day 2 Tips: Plantadream e/w @ 22/1 (6 places)

Royal Ascot Day 2: 1.50pm – Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3)

Next up is the 10f Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes and 8 will go to post. With rain forecast it could be worth giving Kenzai Warrior another chance. He completely blew the start in the Guineas, almost unshipping Jason Watson. This horse is better judged on his debut win at Salisbury (8f gd) and also on  his Group 3 win on heavy at Newmarket when he beat a very good yardstick in Ropey Guest by half a length. He has plenty to find with Juan Elcano on their Guineas form but that horse had a much kinder trip.

The step up to 10f should suit Roger Teal’s charge on breeding. His dam was placed over a mile and there is plenty of stamina in her pedigree. Karakonite is a sire that is based in the USA and he is from an exceptionally talented family that includes Miesque and Kingmambo. It is a nice mix of speed and staying power and 10f could be Kenzai Warrior’s perfect trip right now. At odds of 14/1 Kenzai Warrior is capable of going very close.

Royal Ascot Day 2 Tips: Kenzai Warrior e/w @ 14/1 NAP

Ascot Preview: 2.25pm – King George V Handicap (Class 2)

18 horses will go to post for this 12f handicap and it is extremely competitive. The one I like at a pretty big price in this is Summeronsevenhills. Trained by Richard Hughes, this colt shaped with definite promise behind Derby hopeful English Hill at Lingfield last time. He finished 3rd, nearly 10L behind the winner. However, given how keen he was and how the race unfolded it was a more than decent effort by the son of Summer Front.

King’s Caper is single figure odds with some firms, presumably because of the booking of Frankie. However, on that Lingfield form he was 3L behind our selection off level weights and he is 5lb worse off now. Summeronsevenhills is over 4 times the price of Mark Johnston’s charge and I can see him upholding that Lingfield form. He should be much sharper now with that run under his belt and he has a decent draw in stall 11. At odds of 40/1 with 5 places available, Summeronsevenhills is the e/w pick.

Royal Ascot Day 2 Tips: Summeronsevenhills e/w @ 40/1 (5 places)

Royal Ascot Day 2: 3.00pm – Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1)

The first Group 1 of the day on Wednesday is the 10f Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. Only 7 go to post and it is a star studded field. Japan is odds on for O’Brien and Moore and his form is top notch. A dual G1 winner last year at 12f and 10f, he also landed the King Edward VII stakes here over 12f. Japan finished off last season with an excellent effort in the Arc on very soft ground and he looks like the one they all have to beat.

Barney Roy is a super horse on his day and he is next best in the betting. He showed all the old ability remained in Meydan but rain would be a big worry. Headman is another one that would prefer the rain to stay away. Addeybb, on the other hand, will be delighted to see the heavens open. This classy son of Pivotal is back from a successful spell in Australia.

He landed a couple of G1s over there (gd/sft and sft) and he finished off last season with a super effort behind Magical here in the Champion Stakes. If the ground is soft or worse then Addeybb could be the biggest threat to Japan. At odds of 13/2 with just 7 runners, a win bet is advised. The more rain that falls, the better his chances will be.

Royal Ascot Day 2 Tips: Addeybb Win @ 13/2

Royal Ascot Preview: 3.35pm – Royal Hunt Cup Handicap (Class 2)

It looks like a high draw could be key in the Royal Hunt Cup. The near side held a huge advantage on the straight course over 7f in the opener on Tuesday with the first 4 home drawn 16 or higher. One horse with solid soft ground form and a high starting berth is Wargrave. This formerly Irish trained horse is now with George Baker. He made a winning start for the yard on the snow in St Moritz back in February. However, the run that makes him of real interest here is his 2nd to Lancaster House on soft ground at Listowel last September (9f).

The winner of that race advertised the strength of the form by landing a G3 at the Curragh last time. Wargrave was 2L behind him off level weights and the winner is rated 108. That would suggest that a mark of 102 leaves Wargrave with some room for manoeuvre. Any rain that falls will be a bonus as the son of Galileo has shown his best form on soft. George Baker has his horses in decent form and from a good draw Wargrave could go well at odds of 50/1.

Royal Ascot Day 2 Tips: Wargrave e/w @ 50/1 NB (7 Places)

ascot preview 2: 4.10pm – Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed)

The first Juvenile race of the week at Royal Ascot is the 5f Listed Windsor Castle Stakes. This is a tough race to weigh up at the best of times but this year it is even harder. Tactical has a good draw in stall 20 for the Queen and Andrew Balding and James Doyle rides. His promising debut came on quick ground though and his sire’s progeny tend to like fast conditions. Very few of these have encountered easy ground. So, I am going to try and pick one with a pedigree that suggests soft conditions will suit.

One colt that definitely ticks that box is Tenth Century for the Ontoawinner Syndicate. This son of Fountain Of Youth was a close 2nd on debut at Lingfield. The winner of that race goes for the Group 2 Queen Mary so she must be highly regarded. Michael Bell’s charge is related to loads of soft ground winners and there are thunderstorms forecast. Confidence levels aren’t high with this selection but with 5 places available Tenth Century is worth chancing each way at 40/1 for small stakes.

Royal Ascot Day 2 Tips: Tenth Century e/w @ 40/1 (5 Places)

Royal Ascot Preview: 4.40pm – Copper Horse Handicap (Class 2)

The final race on Day 2 is a 16 runner 14f handicap and this is another tricky looking heat. The Mark Johnston stable is one I always struggle to read but I think Hochfeld is interesting off a mark of just 98. This horse returns from over a year off the track so fitness has to be taken on trust. However, his trainer is well capable of readying one and he has serious form in the book. The fact the son of Cape Cross handles soft ground is another plus.

He is a former dual handicap winner at this distance on good and good to firm off 84 and 92. However, his run behind Raheen House over today’s C&D in a Listed heat makes him of interest off 98. He was 0.5L behind two horses rated around 110 now and he has more recent placed form off 103 (12f gd/sft) so he is potentially well treated. Johnston runs two here and this fella is the pick of stable jockey Joe Fanning. If he can break well from stall 4 a bold bid could be on the cards at odds of 33/1.

Royal Ascot Day 2: Hochfeld e/w @ 33/1 (5 places)