Rest of Royal Ascot

Another great day´s racing at Royal Ascot and very tricky for punters with large fields in every race, the biggestbeing the Royal Hunt Cup at 17.20 with 30 declared. Normally this mile handicap is the biggest betting race of the meeting, but today it has astonishingly probably the hottest favourite of the day in Bankable (Luca umani/ Frankie Dettori), who has won his last 4 races and is officially a stone ahead of the handicapper. In theory he is a good thing to win today, but he is certainly no value at the likely price, which is unlikely to drift in view of the excellent record of his trainer and jockey. Certainly Duke of Marmalade at a very similar price must be a better bet. This of course does not mean that Bankable will not win, he is by far the most likely winner. But at the prices, Docofthebay (Jamie Osborne/ Shane Kelly) makes more appeal. We´ll Come (Michael Jarvis/ Philip Robinson) and Lang Shining (Stoute/ Moore) also have their chances, while two horses with Group wins in Germany to their credit - Fight Club and Royal Power are interesting outsiders. Frankie Dettori also has a chance with Godolphin´s Il Warrd in the opening Jersey Stakes over 7 furlongs for 3yo´s, although his stable companion, the unbeaten Calming Influence (Kerrin McEvoy) woud appear to have better claims on form, while Aidan O´Brien´s Jupiter Pluvius (Johnny Murtagh) and Andrew Balding´s Dream Eater (Frannie Norton) also look dangerous. It is difficult to look past Heaven Sent (Stoute/ Moore) and Sabana Perdida (Alain de Royer-Dupré/ Christophe Lemaire) in the Group Two Windsor Forest over a mile for older fillies and mares at 16.05, while Destiny Dancer (William Haggas/ Jimmy Fortune) and Heart Shaped (O´Brien/ Murtagh) can dominate the Group Two Queen Mary for 2yo fillies at 17.55. The card closes with the listed Sandringham Handicap for 3yo fillies over a mile, which looks desperately difficult. Top-weight Eva´s Request (Mick Channon/ Mick Kinane), Festivale (John Dunlop/ Kerrin McEvoy) and Shabiba (Marcus Tregoning/ Martin Dwyer) are just 3 of many possibilities.