Royal Ascot 2015: Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes preview (17.00)

Warrior Of Light has posted two solid efforts this season and looks decent value to gain a deserved success in a fiercely competitive renewal of the 1m 4f Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The David Lanigan-trained gelding has always been held in high regard and showed progressive form throughout last year when winning twice.

In the last of those successes, Warrior Of Light made all on fast ground at Ffos Las to beat Quest For More by two lengths, and the runner-up is a useful sort who has won twice since.

Warrior Of Light then failed two shine in his last two starts of 2014, but left those runs well behind on seasonal reappearance when third to Razor Wind at Doncaster.

The four-year-old held every chance inside the final furling until being unable to find any extra close home as lack of fitness took its toll, and finished 1 3/4 lengths behind the runner-up Ajman Bridge who he now meets on 3lb better terms.

That may well be enough to turn around the placings, and Warrior Of Light backed up that run with an excellent neck second to Mutalis Mutandis at Windsor.

The form of that race has been boosted by the winner going on to land a Listed contest at Nottingham, and it was an effort which suggests Warrior Of Light should be capable of winning races off his current mark of 97.

Connections are also now fitting Warrior Of Light with cheekpieces for the first time, and if they have the desired effect the son of High Chaparral looks weighted to run a huge race in the hands of Ted Durcan.

The aforementioned Ajman Bridge has since gone on to finish a good third in a hot handicap at York and looks sure to go well, but the Luca Cumani-trained gelding is on along losing run and the unexposed Igider may prove the biggest danger to Warrior Of Light.

Trained by Roger Varian, the four-year-old has won two of his five starts, and looked a handicapper to keep onside when romping to a five length success in a 1m 4f contest at Doncaster 13 days ago.

Igider relished the fast ground and drew clear in impressive fashion, and although now 9lb higher in the weights the son of Teofilo is clearly on an upward curve and it is unlikely to be enough to stop him going very close.

Coral betting tip: Warrior of Light should shine through for punters who back him.