Get all of our race-by-race tips and picks from day two of Royal Ascot 2024.
ASCOT
Race 1 – KASSAYA 17/2
Andrew Balding’s KASSAYA might prove some value in the Queen Mary.
A half-sister to the yard’s 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean, this filly looks all speed and while he was by Frankel, providing some stamina, Kassaya is by Kingman, which is giving that added boot to the dam’s side, which is all speed.
She looked sure to win on debut but threw it away by running green and swerving left. She made no mistake next time, however.
Race 2 – HIGHBURY 28/10
HIGHBURY is a strong fancy in the Queen’s Vase. Given the type of horses his Coolmore masters breed, it is no surprise Aidan O’Brien has a good record in the Group Two, winning it four times in six years between 2015 and 2020.
The decision to shave two furlongs off the two-mile distance in 2017 has helped the race grow in stature, with such classy winners as subsequent St Leger winner Kew Gardens, Santiago, who won the Irish Derby on his next outing, Eldar Eldarov, an English and Irish St Leger hero, and of course, the brilliant Stradivarius.
There is every chance Highbury could follow suit, as he looked a hugely promising colt when winning by seven and a half lengths at Leopardstown in May.
Wayne Lordan could not pull him up that day, so stamina is of no concern and the distant second has come out and won since, as has the fourth.
Race 3 – OCEAN JEWEL 13/2
OCEAN JEWEL looked a different proposition on her first run at four when winning the Lanwades Stud Stakes in cosy fashion.
She contests the Duke of Cambridge Stakes and with the favourite Laurel not having yet run this season, she looks another who has been overlooked in the market.
Race 4 – AUGUST RODIN 15/10
AUGUST RODIN can capitalise on the absence of White Birch and return to winning ways in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, the highlight on day two at Royal Ascot.
O’Brien’s charge was a clear second best behind the John Murphy-trained grey in the Tattersalls Gold Cup but his handler felt the rain-softened ground went against him that day and was eyeing revenge anyway.
A dual Derby winner, Auguste Rodin also won the Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf in a stellar three-year-old season, so it was a brave call from ‘the lads’ to keep him in training.
It could have been described as something else entirely when he bombed out on his return at four in the Dubai Sheema Classic but connections were not too disappointed, as he had done the same in the 2000 Guineas and King George.
Even in defeat, last month’s Curragh effort was far more encouraging and O’Brien has made no secret of the fact that he expects the son of Deep Impact to come on again for that run.
Connections are clearly confident Auguste Rodin is now ready to show his true worth again and with a sound surface in his favour, that is good enough for us.
Race 5 – WILD TIGER 8/1
WILD TIGER is incredibly lightly raced for a five-year-old, with just five runs to his name, of which he won all three of those within the UK. Oisin Murphy retains the ride having won on Wild Tiger at Goodwood last time.
This is a step up in class for Saeed bin Suroor’s son of Frankel, but he has run well in decent races in Meydan and has scope to improve further and complete an impressive hat-trick.
Regheeb has only had seven career runs, winning a couple and placing in another two races. He has been running in lower-grade races, but his entries suggest he is highly rated by his stable.
Hollie Doyle has done well riding for Archie Watson, including at the Festival last year, and comes here in good form with a 16-percent strike rate over the last fortnight.
Regheeb does need to improve to win in this company, but he has scope for progress, and a particularly good high draw can only enhance his chances.
In a race of 30 runners, it is prudent to have more than a single horse running for you, so suggest an each-way bet on both Wild Tiger and Regheeb.
Race 6 – SUMMER OF LOVE 13/2
This meeting is a lot quieter these days for Saeed bin Suroor, but he has a live chance in the Kensington Palace Stakes with Summer Of Love, for whom Christophe Soumillon is an eye-catching booking.
Race 7 – SHADOW ARMY 11/2
The dogs were barking about Richard Fahey’s SHADOW ARMY before his York debut and he duly obliged, although it was hard work.
However, the form has really worked out, as the second, Francisco’s Piece, is now a Listed winner in France, so Shadow Army rates a bet in the Windsor Castle.
