Royal Ascot Day 2

Galileo Gold and Frankie Dettori won the feature race on Day 1 of Royal Ascot, the result saved the bookies from a big pay out as The Gurkha was backed like defeat was out of the question. Frankie always seems to raise to the occasion on the big days and did so in the St James’s Palace, when outriding his fellow jockeys. I think it’s fair to say The Gurkha would have won nicely but was set an impossible task.

Day 2 looks very difficult from a punting point of view, big fields and highly competitive races. I’m looking forward to watching the Japanese raider A Shin Hikari in the Price Of Wales’s stakes. The horse can’t be opposed on form but soft ground is an unknown. If running his race, he wins.

Ribchester would be my pick in the 2:30 based purely on his 3^rd in the 2,000 Guineas. The form of the race is very good and a repeat effort will see the Richard Fahey trained horse go well. EW at 8-1.

The Royal Hunt Cup at 5:00 is a real pin stick job, however one at a big price that could outrun his odds is Mr Owen, priced at 28-1.

This race is a handicap but Mr Owen has run in three Group 1 races, this includes a 3^rd place finish in the French 2000 Guineas. That form is rock solid.

Mr Owen had a seasonal pipe opener last month and finished a sound 3^rd in a Group 2. If the form can be taken literally and I think it can, as you don’t finish placed in numerous Group races through luck, he must have a chance in this.

Priced at 28-1 with 5 places on offer Mr Owen looks worth an EW wager at huge odds.