The second-day crowd at Royal Ascot was denied a rare meeting of two Derby winners when Desert Crown was ruled out of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes this month, but it is a sign of the depth in the six-runner field that the feature event on Wednesday may well still prove to be the strongest contest of the week.
Adayar, the Derby winner in 2021, is joined by Bay Bridge and My Prospero, completing the 1-2-3 from last season’s Champion Stakes over course and distance, while Luxembourg, who was denied a run in Desert Crown’s Derby by injury, went on to land the Irish Champion Stakes last season.
Any one of the four would be a worthy winner but Luxembourg (4.20) arrives in the best form of all, having beaten Bay Bridge by half a length at the Curragh last month. That run was up to the level of his Champion Stakes success and with only nine starts in the form book so far, there is also a chance of further improvement as the season unfolds.
Ascot 2.30 A daunting field of 28 juvenile fillies to open the second afternoon but this is a race that has been won from stall 13 or below once in the past decade, which helps to narrow things down a little. There is still no end of possibilities, but the US-trained Crimson Advocate has an excellent draw near the rail, showed excellent gate speed at Gulfstream Park last month, stayed on well to go further clear in the closing stages and has John Velazquez booked to ride.
Ascot 3.05 Adelaise is in the early stages of her career with Joseph O’Brien, with only two starts for the yard and was an eye-catcher on her seasonal debut at the Curragh last month, finishing within a length of the winner despite being switched a furlong out. That was her first start for 244 days and she is off just a 1lb higher mark here.
Ascot 3.40 Unraced at two, Grande Dame progressed steadily last season and rounded off the campaign with a two-and-a-half length third in the Group One Sun Chariot Stakes. This could be the ideal starting-out point for a successful four-year-old career.
Worcester 1.35 Friary Rock 2.10 Oceans Red 2.45 Jeudidee 3.20 Sea The Clouds 3.55 Manimole 4.30 Choirmaster 5.09 Stiletto
Hamilton Park 1.50 Buford 2.20 Indication Spirit 2.55 That’s For Sure 3.30 Captain Vallo 4.10 Obama Army 4.40 Gone 5.15 Our Dickie
Royal Ascot 2.30 Crimson Advocate 3.05 Adelaise 3.40 Grande Dame 4.20 Luxembourg (nb) 5.00 Dunum (nap) 5.35 Circle Of Fire 6.10 Maximum Impact
Newcastle 5.19 Sun Festival 5.50 Mambo Sunset 6.20 Theatre Honours 6.50 Bashful 7.20 Blue Prince 7.50 Bonne Vitesse 8.20 Squeezebox 8.55 Macho Pride
Ripon 5.26 Indispensable 6.01 Bondi Bay 6.35 Khinjani 7.10 Mutaany 7.40 Zimmerman 8.10 Made Of Lir 8.40 Hot Scoop
Ascot 5.00 Dunum has a remarkable record since joining Natalia Lupini’s Irish stable at the start of last season, racking up five wins and two close second-place finishes. He was touched off in a big field at the Curragh last time after travelling well throughout and must be worth an each-way interest at around 16-1.
Ascot 5.35 The step up to 14 furlongs looks sure to suit Circle Of Fire, who did well in the circumstances to finish third in the Lingfield Derby Trial last time.
Ascot 6.10 Maximum Impact has been flawless in his two starts to date, winning both in a useful time, and can extend his streak to three.
