Rest of Royal Ascot

The best bet at Ascot today is probably Jim Bolger´s Cuis Ghaire (Kevin mannimg) in the opening Albany Stakes (Grouip Two) for 2yo filles over 6 furlongs at 15.30 CET. She has both her starts, both at Naas, in good style and was particularly impressive ladt time out . The Group Two Edward VII Stakes for 3yo´s over 1 1/2 miles at 16.05 is a traditional Derny compensation race, though surprisgly none of Epsom field shows up today. The much-improved handicappers Conduit (Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore) and Bronze Cannon (John Gosden/ Jimmy Fortune) are takinmg a big leap in class, but could well be up to the task. All the Aces (Michael Jarvis/ Philip Robinson) and Aian O´Brien´s Hebridean (Johnny Murtagh) are the obvious dangers. The Queen´s Vase (Group Three) for 3yo´s over 2 miles at 17.55 is always tricky, as none of the runners are proven over the distance. Mark Johnston has won this race four times already this century and saddles two runners, Captain Webb (Joe Fanning) and Age of Reason (Kerrin McEvoy), while the German-owned Unleashed (Ted Durcan) is an interesting runner for Henry Cecil. How that Ryan Moore has broken his Royal Ascot cherry, he could go close on Stoute´s Patkai, while John Oxx´ Ebadiyan (Mick Kinane) looks guaranteed to stay the trip and is a danger to all. The two handicaps are as wide open as always and have the usual huge fields. 16 run in the Wolferton Handicap over 10 furlongs at 17.20 and no fewer than 30 in the Buck House at 18.30. Our very tentatoive short kist for these two races comprises Buccellati, Monte Alto and Many Volumes in the former event, and Docofthebay (if he turns out again after his close second in the Royal Hunt Cup), Dabbers Ridge and Bianti in the latter.