Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for the second day of Royal Ascot 2023. The Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes the highlight of the day.
Royal Ascot 2023 - Day 2
Race 1 QUEEN MARY STAKES (Group 2)
No3 BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND
Trainer: Karl Burke – Jockey: Clifford Lee
Karl Burke took this out with Dramatised 12 months ago and appears hell-bent on staging a repeat with his triple entry of LADY PINK ROSE, GOT TO LOVE A GREY and BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND. Got To Love A Grey was supported in her outings at Nottingham and York and is very quick, but BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND put daylight between herself and her foes at the first-named course and is more in the mould of Dramatised, making her the potential spearhead.
Northern fillies appear set to do well and another must-include is the Hilary Needler Trophy winner MIDNIGHT AFFAIR. Another daughter of Dark Angel, she took out that prestigious trial with telling efficiency for Richard Fahey and has a high draw close to my selection. Ryan Moore’s mount BALSAM is a Listed winner in France, and has to be of interest in the silks of Al Shaqab Racing.
Prediction: 1st BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND, 2nd Born To Rock, 3rd Midnight Affair, 4th Got To Love A Grey, 5th Balsam
Race 2 KENSINGTON PALACE FILLIES’ HANDICAP
No3 CRYSTAL CAPRICE (Each Way)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Although her high draw could hamper her chance, CRYSTAL CAPRICE has a good record at Ascot and could prove the answer to the trickiest race on the card. The selection didn’t appear to get the trip when tackling a mile and a quarter at Ayr, but completed a fine hat-trick over this course and distance last September. She comes with risks attached, but if back to near her best would definitely take away a cheque.
TAMARAMA was partnered by Frankie Dettori to land a Class 4 on Polytrack which was her best effort in three outings for Ralph Beckett. She needs to improve to win, and the presence of the Italian will ensure her odds are shorter than they should be.
LADY EROS has drawn the rail for the John Gosden/Oisin Murphy combo following a smooth triumph under the same rider at Yarmouth. She goes into all permutations along with TARRABB, who also enjoys a low draw and is on a recovery mission after the support for her at Chelmsford was blocked by Riot.
Prediction: 1st CRYSTAL CAPRICE, 2nd Tamarama, 3rd Lady Eros, 4th Tarrabb
Race 3 DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE STAKES (Group 2)
No4 JUMBLY
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
JUMBLY faces a bunch of fillies that have interlocking form lines and could be the joker in this pack. The daughter of Gleneagles chased home Just Beautiful on debut for her trainer in the Group 2 Lanwades Stakes at the Curragh and if going forward from that can repel the challenges of POTAPOVA and PROSPEROUS VOYAGE. The selection has winning form here, and with few miles on her racing clock is the most progressive in the 10-runner field.
POTAPOVA didn’t appear to get the run of the race when keeping to the inner in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom. Her effort to finish fifth was better than it looked, and she can turn the tables on the winner Prosperous Voyage.
Prediction: 1st JUMBLY, 2nd Potapova, 3rd Prosperous Voyage
Race 4 PRINCE OF WALES’S STAKES (Group 1)
No2 BAY BRIDGE
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
LUXEMBOURG held BAY BRIDGE in a tight finish to the Tattersalls Gold Cup when Ryan Moore judged it perfectly from the front. There was no excuse for the runner-up, but he put in some quality work last week and I fancy him to turn the tables. He was a worthy winner of the Champion Stakes here last back end and can sit off the pace set by his Curragh conqueror, US challenger CLASSIC CAUSEWAY and ADAYAR to pounce late.
Adayar proved a clear-cut winner of the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes and with a King George on his CV from Lockdown has to be respected. If his yard was in better form he would have been first choice, but BAY BRIDGE is the one peaking at the right time, and can with a victory put himself in line for a big summer and autumn ahead.
Prediction: 1st BAY BRIDGE, 2nd Adayar, 3rd Luxembourg
Race 5 ROYAL HUNT CUP HANDICAP
No13 ASTRO KING ( Each Way)
Trainer: Daniel Kubler – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
There have been few more eye-taking readying runs for a big handicap than when ASTRO KING ran at York last month. On debut for his trainer, he came from way off the pace to be beaten just over a length and might well have won granted a clear run. He was placed in some good handicaps before a fruitless 2022 campaign and could be well in.
GHALY needs respecting for Saeed Bin Suroor with his alluring figures of 412/211. The Dubawi gelding goes well off a break, and with his stable amongst the winners can definitely earn under Oisin Murphy.
AERION POWER is another that if rolling back the clock could get into the shake-up. He’s troubled the judge in both outings for Sir Michael Stoute this season.
JIMI HENDRIX finished an excellent third in the Britannia over the same course and distance 12 months ago when trying to lead throughout. He took advantage of a depleted field to plunder the Newbury Summer Cup and can be forgiven a subsequent off day at Newmarket.
His stablemate SONNY LISTON needs keeping on the right side and should step up from an underwhelming first run for his trainer now equipped with blinkers and with Ryan Moore in the irons.
BLESS HIM made up an extraordinary amount of ground in the closing stages of this race last year. The veteran is sure to be ridden with similar restraint and remains a risky proposition, but one that could surprise if everything falls into place.
Prediction: 1st ASTRO KING, 2nd Ghaly, 3rd Aerion Power, 4th Jimi Hendrix, 5th Bless Him
Race 6 QUEEN’S VASE (Group 2)
No5 GREGORY
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Dettori’s best winning chance on Day 2 probably lies with the unbeaten GREGORY. The Golden Horn colt looked the part when grasping black type on his second of two starts at Goodwood where he looked better the further he travelled. He is going to relish the step up to a mile and three-quarters and should prove hard to beat.
PEKING OPERA can make it interesting in a contest the pair can dominate. The Galileo colt beat the useful Bertinelli to break his maiden, and came back to win a Listed race at Navan in the soft. There will be no issues for him ground-wise, and he’s representing top connections who usually field a good staying prospect in this.
CIRCLE OF FIRE enters calculations even though his colours have been lowered on both 2023 outings. His Lingfield Derby Trial effort against Military Order has been devalued, but one thing that is certain is Sir Michael Stoute will have him at concert pitch as he takes aim in the colours of the King.
Prediction: 1st GREGORY, 2nd Peking Opera, 3rd Circle Of Fire
Race 7 WINDSOR CASTLE STAKES (LISTED)
No3 BARNWELL BOY (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
BARNWELL BOY created a most favourable impression when powering home on his Goodwood introduction and rates one of the North’s best chances of victory this week. The son of Starspangledbanner is a taking individual with an impressive gear change, and can have the measure of JOHANNES BRAHMS.
The latter showed signs of inexperience when scoring on his own debut at Naas. The form has taken a couple of knocks, but it would be no surprise to see him making a good fist of following in the hoof prints of stablemate Little Big Bear.
SERGEANT WILCO is another leading candidate from Yorkshire. The Kevin Ryan-trained colt turned over a more experienced foe to open his account at Thirsk, and is well thought of by his shrewd connections.
Yet another from the North with a leading chance is BOMBAY BAZAAR, a dual scorer for Richard Fahey who will have learned track craft in those triumphs at undulating Beverley with its stiff finish.
1st BARNWELL BOY, 2nd Johannes Brahms, 3rd Sergeant Wilco, 4th Bombay Bazaar
