14.30 - Palace Pier looks hard to beat. The only case I can make against him is the terrible record high draws have in this race. Only 1 winning double figure draw since 2002. Plenty of favourites have been beaten from the higher draws. Not too many front runners stand out here. Pogo should be bang there and possibly Regal Reality. Lope Y Fernandez is probably going to a be bit closer to the pace this time but it still shouldn't be too strong a pace. A slow pace I don't think will suit Prince Eiji as he can be very keen, Lord Glitters and Bless Him would probably want a strong pace. Accidental Agent is not the same horse he used to be. A lot of people fancy Sir Busker as their each way play here. He didn't finish far behind Palace Pier in a group 1 here last season but that was on deep ground. Palace Pier is a top of the ground horse. Sir Busker goes well at Ascot but I think ultimately cut in the ground is his prime conditions which he won't get here. I think Order Of Australia has the pedigree to be a really good 4yo. He can often be really keen however and over the straight course at Ascot you need to be nice and relaxed. He didn't have the cleanest of runs last time at Sha Tin and I think he'd have learnt plenty from that. My each way selection against the fav is TOP RANK. Last time in the Lockinge that was his first run a group 1 and he only finished 7 lengths behind Palace Pier and pulled well clear of the rest despite having to weave around through the run. Palace Pier got a much clearer run against the rail that day. I think Top Rank could be a better horse on better ground now. He certainly looked a different horse physically at Doncaster. Even though a 5yo now he looks progressive and it's just his 2nd run in a group 1. Draw low and drawn around the pace, he should get a nice toe into the race from Pogo or Regal Reality. I'm not saying I think he reverse the form with Palace Pier but I do think he'll run very well again and he is the EW option here for me.

 

15.05 - EBRO RIVER needs to prove himself on quick ground. I also didn't like his quirks last time. He's a very talented horse but could easily blow up on this big occasion. Tolstory won in a very slow time on debut. It looks a slight worry that Berkshire Shadow hasn't been seen in so long. Penny dropped late and he ran on well to win so you would have thought he'd have came out soon after to follow up. Golden War was the last off the bridle on debut and travelled smoothly, just didn't pick up straight away and wasn't pushed or knocked about at all. Looked to finish with plenty left and I think he'll run on and pick up the pieces here. Vintage Clarets will be suited by the ground. This is much tougher than his races so far though. I think he's a pace angle here. Kaufymaker is very interesting. She's very good but with seemingly a lack of pace from the low draws it won't suit her running style. Unlike most Wesley Ward horses she does very well coming from off the pace. There doesn't look a pace to aim at near her draw. For me DHABAB who was a winning tip on his debut has been bought for this race specially and is a huge player from a good draw. Looked a bit inexperienced in the early stages of that win but when the penny dropped around the 2f stage he was very impressive and pulled well clear.  That race he won on debut was won by a certain Thunder Snow a few seasons back. Dhabab's sire is No Nay Never who also won at Royal Ascot on his 2nd start. John Gosden has a good record in this race and it looks like Rab has kept this ride in order to to give him redemption on the big stage from his recent wrong doings. With extra places going to be on offer here my 2nd each way bet in this race would be THE ACROPOLIS who is just bred for Royal Ascot. Sire and dam sire both won at Royal Ascot and dam was placed at Royal Ascot. Very impressive turn of foot after showing a good cruising speed on debut. Hard to know the form of that run but the time was good. Aiden has a terrific record in this race. Draw doesn't look the best but he's just too well bred for this to ignore and should be around the places.

 

15.40 - There's a lot of pace from the high draws here. Ornate, Battaash, Winter Power, Liberty Beach. Ornate isn't good enough to win this but will probably take them a long. Winter Power looks a star, she won in a good time at York that form took a big boost the other day but I never like 3yo's against older horses in sprints. I think this may have come a year too early for here. Battaash should be a lot shorter here but he isn't because of his prep and I think that's a huge worry. Liberty Beach shouldn't be ruled out here. Very classy filly that has won a group 3 and placed in a group 1. I just think at this level she could do with some cut in the ground. Personally I think Starman is better than Winter Power so there's some horses with form behind him who I want to side with here. KINGS LYNN and OXTED. Kings Lynn was 2 lengths behind Starman on good to firm ground last year at Doncaster. He himself pulled well clear of 3rd. He's really grown up this season since being gelded. Taken his form to a new level this season and proved himself over 5f. Beat some high class and more experienced rivals at Haydock last time and was doing his best work late on which is a good sign for this track as you still need to see the stiff 5 out well. Oxted looks like he's been crying out for 5f this season. Was behind Starman last time at York and should appreciate a return to a quicker surface. Drawn around the pace here and Cieran Fallon gets back on. He rode him when he won a group 1 last season, has won 3 times on him in total.

 

16.20 - Battleground should run better than last time but I just wonder, being such a big horse does he need cut in the ground. Reports from near the yard says Thunder Moon probably hasn't trained on. Chindt ran very well in the Guineas. Probably wasn't suited by the dip and I'm not convinced he'll be suited be the round course here either as his sire Wootton Basett flopped on the round course. LUCKY VEGA looks a huge player back on a quick surface. Ran very well in the Irish Guineas despite the terrible ground but they report he didn't enjoy it. It just shows the class of him. He's clearly trained on as a 3yo and I think this could suit him. Brings some of the best form to the race.  Yard have a very good record at Ascot. My second selection is MOSTAHDAF. Has impressed me on every start this season, quickly rising through the ranks and deserves his chance in a group 1. Have been told by a contact close tot the yard to not abandon him. The race he won at Sandown last time was also won by Without Parole in 2018 before he went onto win this. Mostahdaf's sire Frankel won this race in 2011. Has the stall 1 draw and likes to be prominent so should get a good sit. People seem concerned that this is Poetic Flares 4th group 1 run in 6 weeks. I'm not Jim knows how to get them fit again and he's actually had a few weeks of since his last run now. His sire Dawn Approach, also trained by Jim Bolger won this race. I just wonder if he'll get away with ground this quick again. Also Kevin Manning lacks experience around Ascot. Brings the best form to the race but I think he could just find the form reversed with Lucky Vega from the Newmarket Guineas.

 

17.00 - Always a tricky race. One of my horses to follow this season Elysian Flame is entered here but the ground looks to quick for him this time after a good run despite interference in the Chester Plate. Ryan Moore and Willie Mullins have teamed up 3 times to win this and they team up with Mc Muldoon here. I worry the ground is on the quick side for him. Personally CAPE GENTLEMAN looks much more suited to this test on quick ground. Won round Kempton which is also a flat right handed track. Last flat race was in the Irish Cesarewitch and he won it. 14lbs higher for it but it was deserved as he won it easily. Trip should be fine he's won over this far over jumps. Ticks a lot of boxes. 4 of the last 9 winners of this have carried 9st 10lbs to victory. Irish raiders nit just Willie have a good record in this. Rayapour looks to have had a prep run for this. I wonder weather cut in the ground would be preferred however. Coeur De Lion is a personal favourite of mine in these race but would definitely prefer cut in the ground. JUST HUBERT is my 2nd selection. A stalwart in these races. Rarely runs badly in them. The quicker the ground the better and won over this far at Goodwood last season. That was a 0-105 handicap he won today it's a 0-100. 4lbs higher than that win but I think he's still on a winnable mark. Yard inform. Stall 19 not a problem, this race was won in 2019 and 2015 by horses drawn in 18 and 19. With a big field I'll also be playing a small each way on the well handicapped LOSTWITHIEL. Obviously may not be the only well handicapped horse in the race but he's well in and will be suited by the new trip and bigger field. Has already faced a lot of experienced rivals from these type of races and has beaten them or only just lost to them and that was down to lack of experience and looking around at crucial stages. Hollie on board should go well.

 

17.35 - Forest Of Dean possibly isn't quite up to this level on turf. Euchen Glen is unlikely to follow his win up last time. Father Of Jazz is interesting having been gelded but does need to prove himself on turf still. Victory Chime looks a pace angle from a wide draw. Fox Tal has some nice back form but doesn't really appeared to have trained on since his 3yo campaign. The time of Dawaam's win last time was slow. BLUE CUP has to a bet again after clearly being very well handicapped when winning easily last time. The likely pace angle being from the wide draw should help him from a low draw as it means he can be taken back nicely from there. Ground isn't an issue, good jockey on board. Plenty to like. The master of Royal Ascot saddles up Solid Stone here who won easily last time. The rest of them didn't really perform there and I do feel he was sort of gifted the race from a long way out. The horses behind who flopped that day have won since so the form looks strong but if they gave their true running against Solid Stone would he have won?. Patrick Sarsfield is intersting after a good prep run. Trip isn't an issue. He's never raced on anything this quick so that's maybe a negative. The main negative for me would be that he's 0-2 away from Ireland and yard have been in awful form this season. My 2nd selection here is FELIX. Drops from a very good group 1 back to listed company, was only beaten 3 lengths in that Dubai group 1 behind Lord North and that was impressive considering how far back he was throughout. He looks a big improver on turf. Yard have done well this season and champion jockey Oisin Murphy stays on board. Formerly trained by Sir Michael Stoute and Felix has certainly taken his form to a whole new level for Marco Botti this season. Should be enough pace in the race for him.

 

18.10 - This looks the race that Ryan and Willie team up and win this time with SALDIER. Really hard to see him beat here after the perfect prep run last week. Only 3lbs higher for that win, ground and trip all to suit. Ground looks on the quick side for On To Victory. There isn't an awful lot of pace in the race so one can assume the Mark Johnstone horses will be prominent, both have led in the past. with the lack of pace I think it suits the well handicapped and progressive THRONE HALL. He has shown a turn of foot so if they have to quicken from a slow pace, he should be prominent and I think he can quickly put a few lengths between him and his rivals. Bumped into the well handicapped Ilaraab twice now including last time out.  Well bred and the quick ground won't be a problem, should also be suited by a flat track. Plenty going for him and he runs for  Sheikh Mohmmed Obaid who win this race last year.

 

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Bets;

14.30 - Top Rank 16/1 EW Betfair

15.05 - Dhabab 6/1 EW 4places Bet365, The Acropolis 11/2 Ew 6places Skybet

15.40 - Oxted 9/1 Ew 4places Bet365, Kings Lynn 20/1 EW 4places Bet365

16.20 - Lucky Vega 6/1 Ew 5places Skybet, Mostahdaf 7/1 EW 5places Skybet

17.00 - Cape Gentleman 6/1 Ew 6places William Hill, Just Hubert 11/1 EW 7places Skybet, Lostwithiel 16/1 EW 7places Skybet

17.35 - Felix 5/1 Betfair, Blue Cup 7/1 EW 5places Skybet

18.10 - Saldier 11/4 Bet365, Throne Hall 10/1 EW 5places Betfair