Royal Ascot Day 2 tips: ITV Racing selections

Telegraph

3 hours ago

Day two of Royal Ascot features the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes, plus three Group 2 contests and we have verdicts and tips for all seven races.
The action is on ITV1 (1.30-6pm) and ITV4 (5.50-6.30), as well as Sky Sports Racing. If you're thinking of placing a multiple bet, check out these Lucky 15 and each-way suggestions for day two.
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Royal Ascot Day 2 tips – Ron Wood's selections
NAP:
Shackleton (3.05, Ascot) @ 3/1 with William Hill ⭐⭐⭐
Next best:
Old Is Gold (6.10, Ascot) @ 11/2 with William Hill ⭐⭐⭐
Others:
Lennilu (2.30, Ascot) @ 15/2 with William Hill ⭐⭐⭐
Cinderella's Dream (3.40, Ascot) @ 7/4 with William Hill ⭐⭐⭐
Ombudsman (4.20, Ascot) @ 9/2 with William Hill ⭐⭐
Silawi (5.00, Ascot) @ 20/1 with William Hill ⭐⭐
Julia Augusta (5.35, Ascot) @ 22/1 with William Hill ⭐⭐
Odds provided by William Hill and correct at the time of writing. Stars denote strength of selection (maximum five).
2.30 Ascot – Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2, 5f)
This big-field two-year-old fillies' contest could go to the US-trained LENNILU, who has won both of her starts in the States, most recently a turf race at Gulfstream Park that was won two years ago by Crimson Advocate, who then landed this event.
3.05 Ascot – Queen's Vase (Group 2, 1m 6f)
A low draw is handy in this race, so SHACKLETON (NAP) looks well berthed in stall three, and he's a likely improver for Aidan O'Brien, who has trained five of the past 10 winners of this race.
Shackleton was a beaten favourite in a Group 3 race over 1m 2f at the Curragh on his reappearance, but this step up in trip is in his favour.
3.40 Ascot – Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2, 1m)
CINDERELLA'S DREAM has strong claims even under a 3lb penalty. She steps down in trip but has a good change of pace and most of her main rivals ideally want further.
This Charlie Appleby-trained filly was as good as ever in winning the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes over 1m 1f at Newmarket on her previous start.
4.20 Ascot – Prince of Wales's Stakes (Group 1, 1m 2f)
There's not much to choose between a few of these, but maybe OMBUDSMAN is the answer for John and Thady Gosden.
He won his first four starts last year and the form of the last two of those victories, gained in France, is good. Indeed, when he won a Longchamp Group 3 in September he had Map Of Stars behind him in fourth and that horse is about the same price as him for this race.
Ombudsman was beaten into second place in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on his reappearance, but he was conceding 3lb to a good winner and the first two pulled clear. He should be better for that outing.
5.00 Ascot – Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap, 1m)
SILAWI won well at Windsor on his recent stable debut – when returning from five months off – and he's still well weighted under his penalty.
He's dropping down from 1m 2f, but his proven stamina is no bad thing in this big-field contest up the stiff straight track and this well-bred five-year-old, who is by Dubawi and out of a dual Group 1 winner in Silasol, may be capable of his best performance yet.
5.35 Ascot – Kensington Palace Stakes (Class 2 Handicap, 1m)
JULIA AUGUSTA, who finished sixth in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes at this meeting last year, faces a lesser assignment now and she shaped well enough at Epsom on her reappearance to think she could be the answer in an open fillies' handicap.
6.10 Ascot – Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed, 5f)
OLD IS GOLD (NB) shaped well on his debut when third over course and distance and he confirmed that promise when winning a decent race at Beverley in a sharp time, going half a second quicker than a fillies' race over the same trip.
The runner-up from the Beverley race is in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes here on Thursday and the third horse was a respectable seventh in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes on Tuesday.
Last year's winner of the Beverley race went on to win the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes. In addition, Old Is Gold's trainer Andrew Balding saddled the winner of the Beverley event in 2022, Chateau, who went on to finish fourth in the Windsor Castle Stakes, and there's a fair chance this selection can go a few places better.
Star ratings explained
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - confident selection
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - strong fancy
⭐⭐⭐ - fair claims
⭐⭐ - tentative choice
⭐ - minimum confidence
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