The pick of the prices on Day 2 at Royal Ascot....

Tuesday, 18th June 2024

The pick of the prices on Day 2 at Royal Ascot….

Betting advice for this afternoon – Day 1 at Royal Ascot – was distributed yesterday. View it here….

Because I go out early – in search of the best possible prices about my selections – I’m always ahead of the game….

The flag hasn’t yet been raised on Day 1 – and I’m already thinking about Day 2….

…. which means the Royal Hunt Cup (5.05)– run up the straight mile….

…. and the Kensington Palace Stakes (5.40) – also up the straight mile but this time for the fillies….

Let’s get to it….

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In the Royal Hunt Cup – 5.05….

They watered at Ascot yesterday….

…. and this morning – according to the Going Stick – the far side of the track (where the low numbered stalls are) is slightly quicker than the middle and the nearside….

As a general rule in the Royal Hunt Cup the high numbered stalls are the right place to be….

…. but looking at my data this morning there is pace over on the far side tomorrow – more than there is on the nearside….

Of course, that could be immaterial if they all move over towards the stands rail….

…. or a small group is left going at it up the far side….

But it’s not impossible to win from that side of the track – Jimi Hendrix did it last year and Real World did it in 2021….

…. and there can be a bit of value going against the grain….

The one I like at the prices – STREETS OF GOLD at the 16s – is drawn in stall 5….

He likes a gallop to run at….

…. he’s produced two career-tops at the track in defeat over the 7f trip….

…. and he’s got a bit of something about him….

He’s won some valuable races….

…. he showed up well in the G3 Jersey Stakes at last year’s meeting….

…. and he rarely fails to run a race….

He’s not gone a mile before – and I’m flying in the face of the stats with that variable too –

…. but he was doing all his best work late on in the Victoria Cup in May….

…. and improvement for the extra yardage tomorrow will see him on the premises….

His sire – Havana Gold – was at his very best over the mile….

…. and he’s out of a Frankel mare….

…. so the omens are on the positive side….

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In the Kensington Palace Stakes – 5.40….

I’m hopeful about Andrew Balding’s HOPEFUL at the 16s in this one….

She arrives having produced two decent efforts at Redcar and Newmarket….

…. the form of the latter contest has worked out pretty well….

…. and she gets in off an unchanged mark of 84….

I think she’s got plenty more to give yet off that perch and Mikael Barzalona – who is 4/13 for Prince Faisal – takes the ride….

She’s a strong traveller and she stays further than a mile….

…. both wish-list attributes on this very stiff mile track and off what I’d expect to be a strong gallop….

Some opponents have achieved more – but they’ve had plenty more opportunities to do so….

…. and have shown more of their hand in the process….

Hopeful is unexposed – especially on a better surface – and she can run bigger than her price this morning suggests….

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• Finally….

That’s all for today….

I’ll be back tomorrow with my picks for Day 3 at Royal Ascot….

Win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd