Royal Ascot 2024 Ante-Post Preview Day 2

[StevieDay1983]

Hello again! Here is the second preview I am posting on behalf of @The Brigadier where he gives his early doors thoughts on the betting ahead of Royal Ascot 2024 coming up this week. Read on below to see which horses our horse racing expert is backing before the 48-hour declarations are confirmed.

Royal Ascot Day 2 Ante-Post Tips Preview

Day 2 of Royal Ascot once again brings the best of the best together to race for seven races with the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes the feature race as the only Group 1 contest on the card where the older horses race for a purse of a million pounds.

The backup races feature three Group 2’s in the shape of the Queen Mary Stakes for the juvenile fillies, the Queen's Vase for the staying three-year-olds and the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes for the older fillies and mares. 

The big betting race of the day is the Royal Hunt Cup run over the straight mile which precedes an equally tough straight 7F race in the Kensington Palace Handicap. The day closes with the listed Windsor Castle Stakes for two-year-olds run over the minimum trip.

Last year’s starting prices of the seven winners were 9/1, Evens, 10/1, 10/1, 22/1, 25/1 and 20/1 so it could be a day for outsiders.

14:30: Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) 5F 2yo fillies

Established in 1921 the race is restricted to two-year-old fillies with the winner holding court as the speediest juvenile filly around. American-trained horses have won four of the last nine renewals and should be given close scrutiny. It’s a good race for fancied runners with nine of the last 15 winners coming from the top three in the betting.

Favourite

Make Haste (Diego Dias) 2yo filly: Made a big impression when running out a 3 1/2L winner at Naas in a maiden on her seasonal debut last month. A 75,000 guineas yearling she looks all about speed and is a major player for Ireland. His Brazilian-born handler said recently that “We think she is special and we like her a lot”.

Heavens Gate (Aidan O’Brien) 2yo filly: Stepped forward from a promising debut second at Navan to score in a 6f Curragh maiden by 2 1/4L from stable mate January to put herself in contention for a run at Royal Ascot. She’ll be dropping back to the minimum trip and may just find this trip too sharp.

Leovanni (Karl Burke) 2yo filly: Owned by Wathnan Racing the daughter of Kodi Bear made a winning racecourse debut at Nottingham when well backed going off 6/4 favourite. Sure to have improved plenty she could be a player.

Dark Horse

Ultima Grace (Wesley Ward, USA) 2yo filly: Likely to be Wesley Ward’s runner here having looked speedy when winning at Keeneland on the dirt in a five-runner maiden back in April. Hard to assess on form but has to be respected as her trainer has won four of the 15 winners since he started targeting the Royal meeting in 2009. A real dark horse.

Outsider

Spherical (Roger Varian) 2yo filly: William Buick has provisionally been booked for this daughter of Blue Point who made a winning racecourse debut at Yarmouth when well-backed in May. That was only a three-runner race and the second has been beaten since so is also hard to assess.

Kassaya (Andrew Balding) 2yo filly: Stepped forward from a promising second at Salisbury when comfortably winning at Nottingham at the beginning of the month and this daughter of Kingman who cost 1,000,000 as a foal is a half-sister to 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean. Oisin Murphy is booked and can run well.

Selection

Kassaya (each way)

 

15:05: Queen’s Vase (Group 2) 1M 6F 3yo

The race has been run under its current name since 1960 and is restricted to three-year-olds only. The St Leger at Doncaster in September is a likely target for the winner or even placed horses. The race was reduced to the St Leger trip from 2 miles in 2016. The betting is often a very good guide to the likely winner with thirteen of the last 16 winners coming from the top two in the betting.

Favourite

Sayedaty Sadaty (Andrew Balding) 3yo colt: Brings arguably the best form to the table with his fifth (beaten 7 1/2L) in the Derby to City Of Troy with the step up two furlongs likely to suit.

Agenda / Highbury (Aidan O’Brien) 3yo colts: Two of seven left in the race by master trainer Aidan O’Brien and whoever he runs will be of high significance having won the race four times out of the last nine years. Agenda is the highest rated of the O’Brien team having chased home the ill-fated Hidden Law in the Chester Vase in May and would be a major player if this is his chosen route. Highbury was an emphatic winner of a Leopardstown maiden last time and would be a more than able deputy if the chosen Aidan O’Brien runner.

Dark Horse

Meydaan (Simon & Ed Crisford) 3yo colt: William Buick has been provisionally booked and having won a listed race over 1M 3F at Goodwood from Space Legend looks like a possible stayer who can run well.

Outsider

Birdman (Jessie Harrington) 3yo gelding: Unbeaten in a Cork maiden (had Highbury back in third) and a listed race at Navan this year. Done little wrong and already proven at just short of this trip.

Selection

Aidan O’Brien selected

 

15:45: Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2) 1M 4yo+ fillies and mares

First run in 2004 the race switches to the round course from the straight course this year for the first time which will no doubt affect the draw.  There have been six winning favourites in the past 20 runnings with the Gosden’s and Sir Michael Stoute the leading trainers with four winners a piece in that period.

Favourite

Laurel (John & Thady Gosden) 5yo mare: Not seen since flopping in Lockinge at Newbury over a year ago. Lightly raced and has won first time out for the past two seasons so maybe a lack of an outing won’t be an issue. Been working behind Inspiral at Newmarket this Spring. The highest rated in the field.

Rogue Millennium (Joseph O’Brien) 5yo mare: Brought out of Tom Clover’s stable for 1,650,000 guineas prior to this season and went down by 2 1/4L to Ocean Jewel in the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes at The Curragh on her re-appearance. Sure to have tightened up for that and won this race last year by a neck and has been trained for a repeat.

Dark Horse

Sea The Lady (Christopher Head, France) 4yo filly: Has hit the frame in several pattern races over the last year including when third in a Group 3 at Longchamp on her re-appearance back in April. Aurelian Lemaitre has been booked to ride.

Outsider

Breege (John & Sean Quinn) 4 yo filly: Came back to winning form when beating Chic Columbine a neck in the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom at the Derby meeting. Needs to step up her game again although were the ground to turn soft then that is possible as she adores the mud.

Sparks Fly (David Loughnane) 4 yo filly: Adores the mud and were the ground to turn soft would very much come into the equation. The softer the ground the bigger her chance.

Selection

Rogue Millennium

 

16:25: Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1) 1M 2F 4yo+

The feature race of the day was first run in 1862 and is the only Group 1 today. The Gosden stable has a very good record in the race having won the race five times whilst Godolphin are the leading owners also with five victories. It’s a good race for fancied horses with only three of the 24 winners this century finishing outside the top three in the betting.

Favourite

Auguste Rodin (Aidan O’Brien) 4yo colt: Won three Group 1’s last season, Epsom Derby, Irish Derby and Irish Champion Stakes alongside two shocking efforts in the 2000 Guineas and King George at Ascot. Went down by 3L to White Birch at The Curragh in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup on his re-appearance and should strip fitter here although appears to have two ways of running.

White Birch (John Joseph Murphy) 4yo colt: Taken his form up a notch this season, winning all three starts at The Curragh in Group company. Had Auguste Rodin 3L behind last time. Appears to have a preference for soft ground so any rain would be in his favour. Rated just 2lb inferior to Auguste Rodin.

Inspiral (John & Thady Gosden) 5 y o mare: Beaten a neck in the Queen Anne Stakes by 33/1 chance Triple Time and went on to 
have a successful summer winning three Group 1’s. Was disappointing on her re-appearance in the Lockinge at Newbury behind stablemate Audience with her trainer stating afterwards that she needed the run. 

Dark Horse

Horizon Dore (P Cottier, France) 4yo colt: Runner up in the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp last time. Only rated 4lb behind the top-rated here in Auguste Rodin and not without a chance if putting his best foot forward.

Outsider

Blue Rose Cen (Maurizio Guarnieri, France) 4yo filly: Smart as a three-year-old last season winning the French 1000 Guineas and Oaks and was having her first run for a new trainer when only fifth in the Prix d’Ispahan some 2L behind Horizon Dore.

Royal Rhyme (Karl Burke) 4yo colt: Comfortable winner at Sandown in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes on his re-appearance and would come into calculations if the ground was to turn soft.

Selection

Auguste Rodin

 

17:05: Royal Hunt Cup (handicap) 1M 3yo+

The first of the week’s heritage handicaps with a likely maximum field of thirty runners spread across the straight course.
You must go back to 2009 to find the last winning favourite when Forgotten Voice obliged with only three winning in the last 35 years.

Favourite

Sonny Liston (Ralph Beckett) 5yo gelding: Raised 6lb for winning at Newbury on seasonal re-appearance and will have to shoulder top weight here. Was runner-up to Jimi Hendrix in this last year but is 11lb higher now.

Real Gain (Richard Hughes) 4yo gelding: Winner of three of his six starts. Tenth (beaten 9L) in Newbury Spring Cup on seasonal re-appearance and has been backed ante-post for this so better surely expected.

Dark Horse

Perotto (Roger Varian) 6yo gelding: Not been seen for 312 days but is capable as he proved when winning at Sandown and Ascot last season, but can he do it fresh? Tom Marquand has been provisionally jocked up.

Wild Tiger (Saeed Bin Suroor) 5yo gelding: Lightly raced Godolphin runner. Upped 13lb for victories at Yarmouth and Goodwood this season over 7F. Extra furlong to navigate today.

Outsider

Aerion Power (Sir Michael Stoute) 6yo gelding: Ran a good fourth in this last year and arrives in good form having won at Nottingham at the beginning of the month. Must carry a 5lb penalty here which isn’t in his favour as he’s only been put up 2lb for the Nottingham win.

Selection

Wild Tiger (e/w)

 

17:40: Kensington Palace Stakes (handicap) 1M 4yo+ fillies and mares

First run in 2021, this handicap is one of the newest races at the meeting with big prices coming to the fore in its three renewals. It switches from the round course to the straight track this season for the first time which should negate any hard luck stories.

Favourite

Summer Of Love (Saeed Bin Suroor) 4yo filly: Clocked some very fast sections when winning at Kempton in a novice stakes race a fortnight ago having previously missed work. Impressed there and has been allotted a very nice mark of 88 for her handicap debut. Yet to race on turf but Ascot suits those that have raced on synthetic surfaces and could be chucked in.

Twirling (Simon & Ed Crisford) 4yo filly: Ryan Moore has been provisionally booked. Last seen winning at Doncaster over a mile and has been given a 5lb rise for that victory.

Doha (Ralph Beckett) 4yo filly: Was backed off the boards when just touched off on her seasonal re-appearance at Haydock on soft ground and if conditions are on the easy side comes into the equation despite a 3lb rise for that run.

Dark Horse

Fakhama (William Haggas) 4yo filly: Not seen for 309 days and only raced three times as a three-year-old. First time in a handicap and could be well treated. Very much a dark horse.

Outsider

Elim (Ed Bethell) 4yo filly: Made a pleasing re-appearance when fourth to Ron O at Redcar last month (2nd won since) and will have benefited for that run.

Selection

Summer Of Love (NAP)

 

18:15: Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) 2yo

First run in 1839 the race is open to colts, geldings and fillies and often falls to a lightly raced juvenile with all ten of the last winners having raced no more than three times. Of all the two-year-old races at the meeting, this is the one most likely to see an upset with ten of the last 18 winners 12/1 or bigger.

Favourite

Celtic Chieftain (Aidan O’Brien) 2yo colt: Reportedly one of Aidan O’Brien’s runners here. Went off at 8/1 when winning a Navan maiden by a neck eleven days ago. This is a quick turnaround but has to be given respect due to connections.

Treasure Isle (Aidan O’Brien) 2yo colt: Followed up a Curragh runner-up with a half-a-length victory at Naas four weeks later. The trainer has already stated this is his target and has to be given maximum respect.

Dark Horse

Honorary American (Wesley Ward, USA) 2yo colt: Ran third on the dirt on his debut at Aqueduct in May when the turf course was waterlogged. That didn’t suit this son of Churchill and he’s worked a lot better since on the turf. A bit to prove now but he clocked a good time for his latest workout.

Outsider

Shadow Army (Richard Fahey) 2yo colt: Owned by Wathnan Racing he made a winning racecourse debut when scoring at York in May by a short head from subsequent listed winner Francisco’s Piece. The trainer spoke highly of him after that victory and can take a hand in the finish if lining up.

Selection

Shadow Army (e/w)

 

Final Thoughts on Royal Ascot Day 2

Another great day’s racing in store but always remember to gamble responsibly.

A recap of my selections:

14:30 Kassaya (each way)
15:05 Meydaan (each way)
15:40 Rogue Millennium
16:25 Auguste Rodin
17:05 Wild Tiger (each way)
17:40 Summer Of Love (NAP)
18:15 Shadow Army (each way)

Make sure you keep checking back on our racing forum to see the ante-post previews for day 3, 4, and 5 that are coming up over the next couple of days. Our expert horse racing team will also be providing all the best Royal Ascot tips for every race. You can also find some of the top Royal Ascot betting offers available on the market on our site. 

[richard-westwood]

Royal hunt cup 

Wild tiger. 8.9 10/1 8 places 

Fantastic fox. 8.6 33/1 6 places 

Sonny Liston.   8.2 

Blue for you.   8.2 

5 PT Ew top 2 .....forecasts all 4