ROYAL ASCOT DAY TWO PREVIEW - 15/06/22

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Ascot - June 14 2022
Ascot 13:30
3(17)
Daniel Tudhope

Dramatised

J: Daniel Tudhope
T: K R Burke
N/A
Age: 2
Weight: 9-2
OR: N/A
Days: 47

The first race of the afternoon on the day two of the meeting is the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes and we are siding with the Karl Burke trained Dramatised.

Looks a really promising two year old being extremely green on debut when hanging all over the place over 5f at Newmarket, but showed an emphatic turn of foot to take the race easily in the final furlong.

The form of the race has worked out well with the three behind her all franking it next time out and she should improve again.

Drawn well also.

Ascot - June 14 2022
Ascot 14:05
10(4)
Cieren Fallon

Emotion

J: Cieren Fallon
T: John & Thady Gosden
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 8-13
OR: 91
Days: 26

The second race of the afternoon at Royal Ascot on Day Two is the Group Two Queen’s Vase stakes seeing plenty of the players stepping up in trip and we are siding with one of them.

The outsider in this one makes big appeal with Emotion for John & Thady Gosden deserving to be given the benefit of the doubt off the back of his last run.

An emphatic 16 length winner on her second start this season at Kempton on her first try at 12f, she was dropped down in trip to 10f last time out on soft ground and although finishing behind some nice types, always looked to need further.

Now trying 1m6f for the first time and her pedigree suggesting she will love the extra two furlongs being related to a Group One Prix du Cadran winner, she might just be the play in this at 25/1.

Ascot - June 14 2022
Ascot 14:40
1(2)
Ryan Moore

Bay Bridge

J: Ryan Moore
T: Sir Michael Stoute
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-2
OR: 121
Days: 20

The feature event of the day on Wednesday is the Group One Prince Of Wales's Stakes over 1m2f and we can't get away from the favourite Bay Bridge.

Highly progressive for Sir Michael Stoute winning five on the bounce now and he certainly deserves his chance in Group One company.

The way he put away Mostahdaf at Sandown last time out was frightening in the Brigadier Gerard stakes and he looks a bit of a freak that will only improve again.

Shahyar looks the danger but with Bay Bridge's progressive nature and the yard running at a 30% strike rate he looks to hold the leading chance.

Ascot - June 14 2022
Ascot 15:20
1(5)
William Buick

Saffron Beach

J: William Buick
T: Jane Chapple-Hyam
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-7
OR: 115
Days: 81

The final Group Two race of the afternoon is the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes over a mile for fillies' And mares and we can't look past the Jane Chapple-Hyam.

Landing the Group Three Atalanta Stakes in August last year really put her on the map and she kicked on from their when making it back to back wins over a mile at Newmarket when taking the first Group One of her career in the Sun Chariot Stakes.

Making her seasonal debut in March this season in the Group One Dubai Turf at Meydan she finished a very good fourth and saved for this since then makes her a big player.

Ascot - June 14 2022
Ascot 16:00
27(15)
James McDonald

Dark Shift

J: James McDonald
T: Charles Hills
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-1
OR: 91
Days: 24

One of the trickiest events of the festival is the Royal Hunt Cup over a mile and having seen a special horse in Real World land the race last year, we have hopefully picked out a similar type.

The first selection is the Charlie Hills trained Dark Shift who has plenty going for him in this event, loving racing at the Berkshire track.

He looks to be one of the more likely winners of the race off the back of what he did last time out winning over 8.5f at Nottingham and off only 5lb higher and being a course and distance winner he holds every chance.

Dark Shift is also a winner over 6f and 7f at the track, he absolutely loves it at Ascot and that looks a big factor as to why to get behind him.

Ascot - June 14 2022
Ascot 16:00
26(17)
Frankie Dettori

Totally Charming

J: Frankie Dettori
T: George Boughey
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-1
OR: 91
Days: 12

At a bigger price is the George Boughey trained Totally Charming that could continue his smart run of form having performed extremely well on his last two runs which sees him seeking a hat-trick on Wednesday.

A winner over a mile two starts back at Lingfield in a Class 3 Handicap off a mark of 87, he then went Epsom during the Derby meeting and emphatically took a Class 2 Handicap over 8.5f.

Up again another 5lb he has to be taken serioiusly.

Ascot - June 14 2022
Ascot 16:35
12(2)
Ryan Moore

Little Big Bear

J: Ryan Moore
T: A P O'Brien
N/A
Age: 2
Weight: 9-5
OR: N/A
Days: 39

The penultimate event of the afternoon could bring one of Aidan O'Brien's best chances of a winner across the week with Little Big Bear dominating the betting in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes.

Finishing second to the smart Tough Talk on debut at the Curragh over 6f and then last time out was dropped to 5f and looked highly impressive landing a Maiden by 5 lengths.

He looks better than a Listed horse and could be a bit of a hot pot for a stable known for chucking decent horses into lesser races at this meeting.

Ascot - June 14 2022
Ascot 17:10
19(14)
Kieran Shoemark

Improvised

J: Kieran Shoemark
T: David O'Meara
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 8-9
OR: 84
Days: 10

The final event of the afternoon is the Kensington Palace Stakes over a mile and the horse that takes the eye is Improvised for David O'Meara.

Has been tried over 6f and 7f during her career and every time she has ran over the longer distance she has given her best running.

Last time out at Musselburgh in a Listed Fillies and Mares' event she finished a very smart second behind a nice type for Karl Burke.

Running off the same mark of 84 she is effectively 10lb well in and looks a nice price at 7/1.