So I tipped two winners from four yesterday and hopefully we’ll remain in profit today although it looks a little trickier.
The main hot pot Integral should definitely do the business in the Duke of Cambridgeshire, a race she smashed the time record in last year, and I wouldn’t advise backing another filly to steal her crown.
Free Eagle has been sensational on his infrequent trips to the course. The very lightly raced Dermot Weld contender will blitz his rivals if on song in the Prince of Wales stakes, I just hope cobwebs don’t get in his way.
Ectot has been off the track for an even longer time but is another class performer, while The Grey Gatsby is not to be discounted in a race with a race fitness worry about the favourite.
The Queen Mary is a hard race to call, and Wesley Ward, who won this in 2009 presents a two pronged attack with Bruised Orange and Acapulco, but the market and Ryan Moore are opting for the latter. I like a Mark Johnson horse though, and the trainer got off he mark in the Coventry yesterday, and I’ll be hoping he’s in the winners enclosure with Rah Rah again.
My bet of the day is Ivawood, who was unlucky not to land a Group One last year, being beaten a nose. He’s run well over further distances this year, third to yesterday’s winner Gleneagles in the 2000 Guineas, but I think he’ll love coming back in trip, and we’ll see his blistering speed return.
Bookies will be in tears if the unbeaten Always Smiling wins the last as she’s been backed off the boards in the Sandringham. It’s a one horse book at this stage and although she’s up 11 from her last run, expectations are clearly that it won’t get in her way.
