Camelot and Al Kazeem resume rivalry in Prince Of Wales’s Stakes

The second day of Royal Ascot begins with a quality field of 21 going to post for the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at 2.30. It is hard to argue with classic form and Gale Force Ten chased home his stable companion Magician in the Irish 2000 Guineas.

The home team is led by Richard Fahey’s Free Handicap winner Garswood. The colt could do no better than seventh at Newmarket but looks certain to be suited by this drop back to seven furlongs. Fahey saddled the runner-up in both juvenile events on the opening day and has his string in fine form.

The Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at 3.05 sees Chigun attempting to go one better than her stable companion Tiger Cliff who was second for Lady Cecil in the Ascot Stakes yesterday. She will have the support of the huge Ascot crowd that is desperate to see a winner for the stable after the sad passing of Sir Henry last week.

She faces stiff opposition from Irish raider Duntle as well as the consistent Dank and Thistle Bird. HH The Aga Khan’s Sarkiyla is another to consider in a fascinating contest.

The feature race on the card is the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at 3.45. Roger Charlton is optimistic that Al Kazeem can confirm the form of his recent surprise victory over Camelot. The latter represents the Aidan O’Brien stable that enjoyed two successes on the opening day.

The Fugue has to come into calculations after her impressive victories as a three-year-old over this trip. She would almost certainly have won at the Breeders’ Cup with a clear run and will be held up for a late swoop. The French raider Maxios is another who likes to come from off the pace.

The Royal Hunt Cup at 4.25 is a notoriously tricky handicap for punters to solve and the ante-post favourite is Andrew Balding’s Stirring Ballad. She was progressive last season and has been running well in listed races.

Prince Of Johanne and Excellent Guest were first and second last year and return in peak form whilst Fury appears well handicapped if the first time blinkers have the desired effect. There has also been good money for John Gosden’s Trade Commissioner and Frankie Dettori’s mount, Burke’s Rock.

Beldale Memory has been favourite for the Queen Mary Stakes (5.00) ever since she destroyed a smart field at York. Her chief rival could be Clive Brittain’s Rizeena who made all to win the National Stakes at Sandown, a race that is usually an excellent trial for Ascot.

The Sandringham Handicap closes day 2 at 5.35 with Richard Hannon’s Zughira carrying top weight after finishing an excellent fourth in the French Guineas. Waterway Run was just behind in sixth that day and also has place claims.