ROYAL ASCOT DAY 2 BEST BETS -Wednesday, 17 June 2026

Race 1 QUEEN MARY STAKES (Group 2)

No22 SENORITA BONITA
Trainer: Simon Crisford – Jockey: William Buick

SENORITA BONITA can return to a ‘bravo senorita’ welcome in what could be one of the better recent renewals of this 1000 metres dash. The field is stacked with speed, including four American challengers and a number of others that like to lead. This could play into the hands of my selection who though having only a short head in hand on her first run at Nottingham was heavily supported, and along with runner-up Fast Track came clear of the remainder. VICTORIOUS brings an unblemished CV to the party after scoring in a Naas Group 3, and rates a danger to all granted her all conquering connections while WILD BLOSSOM represents an outfit with a very good recent record in the race and enters calculations as a big threat to the selection. The Mehmas filly powered to a ten lengths triumph on debut at Carlisle though it’s hard to guage the value of the form, whereas any of the US quartet of ARMOR SUPREME, MORE CHAMPAGNE, RUIVA and CELTIC DISPUTE could be good enough. The last named filly represents veteran handler Patrick Biancone with Christopher Soumillon in her irons. France fields just one runner in the Francis Graffard-trained DRAZNDA who opened her account on Chantilly debut on much different ground than she will experience today. It’s a big step up for the grey, but as the French rarely target this contest respect is the requisite word.

Prediction: 1st SENORITA BONITA, 2nd Wild Blossom, 3rd Victorious, 4th Celtic Dispute, 5th Drazinda

Race 2 QUEEN’S VASE (Group 2)

No4 LIMESTONE
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien – Jockey: Dylan Browne McGonagle

LIMESTONE grittily wore down ASAKIR in a Listed race at Navan to show that there’s nothing porous about the mental make and shape of the New Bay colt. Going into that race he was more streetwise than his opponent for whom Johnny Murtagh now adds cheek pieces, but my selection was completing a hat-trick, and for this stamina test it usually pays to support horses with points on the board. I therefore expect those placings to be confirmed and will introduce POINT OF LAW and GALIYAN into the equation as live dangers. The former is one of a handful of horses with good chances this week owned by the King. The one reservation is that James Doyle will need to temper his mount’s enthusiasm to race freely, which was evident in his success on second start at Newbury. GALYAN is also lightly raced and relished stretching out to a mile and a half to score easily on second start at Chester. He’s also taking a big step up, but Andrew Balding knows what it takes to win this race and I’ve received positive vibes about his work at Park House Stables.

Prediction: 1st LIMESTONE, 2nd Galiyan, 3rd Asakir, 4th Point Of Law

Race 3 DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE STAKES (Group 2)

No3 BLUE BOLT
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Colin Keane

I thought BLUE BOLT was a shade unlucky not to land the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket where she made up a lot of ground in the closing stages and was racing wide apart from the filly that beat her. She made a no nonsense return to the fray with victory in a Listed race at Goodwood and has reportedly strengthened up since that triumph. A wide draw is not ideal for the selection, but she remains open to progression ahead of this match up with FRIENDLY SOUL. The last-named mare compiled a sequence of victories in 2024 that reached a crescendo in the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp. Injury then got in the way of the George Strawbridge-owned mare who missed the whole of the 2025 campaign and was pulled up after hitting a patch of false ground on her return to action at Haydock. Happily she was none the worse for that scare, while she looked to be cantering all over her rivals at the time. While I fancy Blue Bolt and Friendly Soul as the probable exacta combination, value seekers could accommodate KON TIKI who has a very good overall career record and will surely step up from a solid run in defeat when returning in a Listed race at Goodwood for Jane Chapple-Hyam.

Prediction: 1st BLUE BOLT, 2nd Friendly Soul, 3rd Kon Tiki

Race 4 PRINCE OF WALES’S STAKES (Group 1)

No6 OMBUDSMAN
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: William Buick

Aside from the Gold Cup this is to connoisseurs the race to savour at the meeting, and fittingly for that accolade it brings together a mouth watering match up between OMBUDSMAN and the Arc winner DARYZ. John Gosden will have welcomed the dry weather over the past few days that has turned underfoot conditions in favour of last season’s Juddmonte International winner Ombudsman. The Night Of Thunder entire is unbeaten in two this season, scoring at the Dubai World Cup and then landing the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown. He gave Clarehaven its highlight of the 2025 Royal meeting with victory in this race and is in the form of his life going forward for the repeat. DARYZ had the Indian sign on MINNIE HAUK when edging her out in the Arc and then made a perfect return when coming home unchallenged in the Prix Aga Khan IV at Longchamp. Minnie Hauk disappointed when out of the frame in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and therefore arrives with questions to answer. SEE THE FIRE is the only other distaffer in the field, and if there were to be an upset she might be the one to provide it.

Prediction: 1st OMBUDSMAN, 2nd Daryz, 3rd See The Fire, 4th Minnie Hauk

Race 5 ROYAL HUNT CUP HANDICAP

No13 JAGGED EDGE
Trainer: Stephen Thorne – Jockey: Colin Keane

With my original fancy MEZCALA failing to make the cut one that jumps off the page in this betting extravaganza of the day is JAGGED EDGE. The Blue Point gelding scored twice in a select campaign for Dermot Weld before joining his current trainer for whom he made the perfect start when scoring at Naas. On that occasion he found extra when coming under pressure which is a quality that should assist him at the finish. MISTER WINSTON benefitted from waiting tactics to overcome trouble in running to score going away at Epsom and could well have a say if this doesn’t come too quickly for him. CLASSIC brings solid recent form to the table for Richard Hannon after a smooth conversion at Newbury while his stablemate LINWOOD also needs respecting following an improved display to take out the Newbury Spring Cup for owner Fitri Hay. ARCHIVIST has Australian James McDonald doing the steering and enters calculations returning from a break since his success off the same mark in Dubai.

Prediction: 1st JAGGED EDGE, 2nd Classic, 3rd Linwood, 4th Archivist, 5th Mister Winston

Race 6 KENSINGTON PALACE HANDICAP

No15 OOLONG POOBONG
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Jamie Spencer

There has been some interest in OOLONG POOBONG for this fillies’ and mares’ handicap and I’m not surprised. Training issues have slightly impaired her progress but she scored on the second of only three 2025 starts and this is her second run of 2026. On her seasonal return the Make Believe filly wasn’t beaten far despite needing the race at Thirsk, for which she’s been dropped 1lb. RADIANT BEAUTY arrives off a light campaign that saw her score easily over course and distance last month. She was handed a 6lb rise but with Ryan Moore in her saddle appeals as James Owen’s best chance of a winner at the meeting. STATEIRA is an honest performer from a stable that landed the contest 12 months ago. She creditably finished third in a Group 2 at the Curragh which stamps her as the best filly in the field, countered by the task of carrying top weight and giving upwards of 5lb to her foes. The dark horse in the race is the William Haggas-trained ALOBAYYAH who though beaten by Radiant Beauty last month has more scope than her rival, and could turn the tables.

Prediction: 1st OOLONG POOBONG, 2nd Stateira, 3rd Radiant Beauty, 4th Alobayyah

Race 7 WINDSOR CASTLE STAKES (Listed)

No17 SERGEI DIAGHILEV
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore

Wootton Bassett colt SERGEI DIAGHILEV brings a tall home reputation to the track following an eye taking initial success at the Curragh. His short price is largely due to his trainer’s excellent recent record in this race, but with improvement guaranteed he looks the one to beat. CONTROLLA finished runner-up in a Group 3 on her own Introduction at Naas. It was a commendable effort which makes her the form pick, and the main danger to my selection.
Bearing in mind that anything can happen in the 25-runner nightcap, others to include for exotic permutations are BOLETO, KING OF CLOUGHAN and A BEAR AFFAIR.

Prediction: 1st SERGEI DIAGHILEV, 2nd Controlla, 3rd Boleto, 4th King Of Cloughan, 5th A Bear Affair