Day two of Royal Ascot takes place on Wednesday 18th June and there are seven spectacular races throughout the afternoon with the action getting underway at 2:30pm and going right through until 6:10pm. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers looks at the coveted action and picks out his best bets on the card…
3:05pm Royal Ascot – Queen’s Vase
Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore teamed up for victory in the Queen’s Vase last year with Illinois and the Ballydoyle duo could well taste victory in the three-year-old staying contest, as SHACKLETON could prove to be a very smart stayer. Sent off favourite for the Group 3 Zetland Stakes at the end of last season, the Camelot colt could only finish third, but he is one that should relish this real test of stamina.
Fourth out of five on his comeback run in Group 3 level this season at the Curragh over 1m 2f, he is sure to come on significantly for that first run of the campaign and 1m 6f 34y could see him sparkle. He has a win on his CV on good ground, so the quick surface shouldn’t be a problem and he looks one that could blossom stepped up in trip and can simply outclass his rivals here.
4:20pm Royal Ascot – Prince Of Wales’s Stakes
Los Angeles and Anmaat fought out a thrilling finish of the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last time out with the former just prevailing. Now the pair are well fancied to claim victory in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, which is the feature race of the day at 4:20pm at Royal Ascot. However, there’s a fascinating French-trained raider in the shape of MAP OF STARS, who can down the pair in this valuable contest.
Francis-Henri Graffard’s star already has Group 3 and Group 2 wins to his name this season and was just touched off in the Group 1 Prix Ganay last time out by the classy Sosie. That race was on soft going, so a return to quicker ground on Wednesday should see him improve on that effort and he could well have a bit too much speed for the two market leaders. You have to go back to 2010 and Andre Fabre’s Byword for a French-trained winner, but Map Of Stars can etch his name into the illustrious roll of honour and claim a victory for Europe.
5:00pm Royal Ascot – Royal Hunt Cup
With two wins in the Royal Hunt Cup in the last four years, the Godolphin operation have a fine recent record in the 1m cavalry charge that comes up at 5:00pm. Solely represented in the 2025 renewal, the boys in blue will unleash the top-weighted ARABIAN LIGHT, who is looking to hand Charlie Appleby his first win in the race.
Not out of the first three in his six career starts, the Kingman gelding has been victorious in a trio of those contests and he could be more than capable of defying a mark of 106 here. Last seen over 1m 1f at Newmarket, he just tired in the closing stages of that contest, so a drop back to one mile here should see him at his best. Prior to that run at HQ he won impressively in Meydan and with the sun on his back again he can sparkle and claim this prize at a decent price.
5:35pm Royal Ascot – Kensington Palace Stakes
A hugely competitive renewal of the Kensington Palace Stakes will be the penultimate race on the card at 5:35pm and the fillies’ handicap could well be dominated by those towards the top of the handicap. John & Thady Gosden’s Rainbows Edge is favourite for the contest, at the time of writing, and will have the burden of top weight and looks to be a key player, while Snellen and Arisaig have some decent form in the book and warrant respect.
However, Harry Charlton’s AROLLA has shown huge promise to date in Listed company and a drop back to handicap company for this contest should see her get her head in front again. Second to a smart rival at Musselburgh last time out, the daughter of Kingman will excel in this sort of big-runner handicap and if Colin Keane can maintain a prominent position through the early stages then she can unleash a blistering turn of foot to get her head in front where it matters.
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