Ascot Wednesday Preview - 01/05/19

To start the card off we have the Class 2 Royal Ascot Trial Conditions Stakes over five furlongs and we have gone for the American Raider Lady Pauline to land the spoils.

This Wesley Ward trained two year old filly is a half sister to the Royal Ascot great Lady Aurelia and from her first run looks to be very much like her sibling.

On her debut at Keeneland she was a runaway winner of a sprint event that sent excitement into the racing world. If she can back that up and be as good as her half-sister, we could be looking at the next sprinting superstar.

The second race of the day sees the Class 3 Royal Ascot Trial for Fillies over a mile and we have gone for the Roger Charlton trained Fashion's Star.

This three year old has made a very promising start to life as a racehorse when on debut last year at Newbury she got off the mark in a Class 2.

This sets the standard in this contest and even with stepping up slightly in trip, if going well fresh from a break she will be hard to beat and could be a potential superstar for the yard.

This first big race of the day is the Group 3 Longines Sagaro Stakes over 2 miles and in this contest we have for the Mark Johnston trained Dee Ex Bee.

This four year old had a hit and miss three year old season but now older looks to be steeping up in trip and from the way he ran at the back end of last season it is sure to suit.

Dee Ex Bee finished second in the Epsom Derby last year which is great form and now being stepped up in trip could take him down a different route this season.

Has mixed it in better company than this and is a very interesting watch at this distance.

Another feature race of the day is the Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes and in this Group 3 contest we have gone for the unbeaten Calyx.

This John Gosden trained three year old has only had two starts to date but is yet to be beaten and now more mature and hopeful having a full season ahead of him, he could be Group 1 material.

He started his campaign last season at Newmarket where he looked a bright spark and confirmed that Potential in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot when beating a field of 23.

He then suffered an injury setback which ruled him out of the rest of the season but his trainer said he is fit and ready to go and this looks a perfect platform to start his three year old career.

The penultimate race of the day sees the Class 4 Handicap over five furlongs and we have gone for the Robert Cowell trained Leo Minor.

This five year old gelding has been hit and miss in better events than this one but the last time he was in a Class 4 event with William Buick on board they went on to win.

In the six events before his last win he has been running in Class 2 and 3 races over the same distance and this drop in Class looks sure to see him go better.

The final race of the day is the Class 4 Apprentice Handicap over a mile and we have two selections in this one with the Paul Cole trained Medieval and Eve Johnson Houghton's Key Player.

Starting with Medieval and this five year old has shaped like there is a big run set to come and coming back on to turf after gaining support in the market on his last all weather start, he has a right chance.

The second selection in this race at a bigger price is Key Player and this four year old won a novice event a year ago and has not quite fired since. She is swapping blinkers for Cheekpieces and this may bring the best out of him.