David Probert Royal Ascot Day Two blog: 'He has the ability to get involved at the finish'

Leading jockey David Probert presents another exclusive blog with Coral, previewing his rides at Day Two of Royal Ascot.

Metal Merchant is a cracking horse, and he’s been in excellent form all year. We needed a few to come out to ensure we got in the race, and thankfully we’ve squeezed in which I’m really happy about.

It’s obviously an extremely competitive race, but he’s won over this course and distance before, and I think the form of his win at Newbury two starts ago entitles him to be very competitive, even in a contest as strong as this.

A lot will of course depend on the draw, but hopefully we’ll be absolutely fine in stall 8, and assuming that there’s no major track bias, I think he has the ability to get involved at the finish.

I ride Arabian Cobra for my fellow Coral ambassador Hugo Palmer in the Windsor Castle, and I’m looking forward to getting on him for the first time here.

I rode against him at Haydock last time when winning on the yard’s other runner Dubai Bling, and Arabian Cobra wasn’t too far behind us in fifth. He looked a very uncomplicated ride that day, and that is exactly what you want in a race like this.

 He’s obviously got a bit to find on form, and he looks set to go off a big price, but he’s one of the most experienced runners in the race, so hopefully he can put that experience to good use.

Hugo has his two-year-olds in good form, and he should have the pace to be able to hold his position, so I’m hopeful that he can run a respectable race.

Auguste Rodin is an exceptional horse on his day, and he’s clearly the one to beat if putting his best foot forward. He doesn’t always do that though, and I’d love to see Inspiral win with Kieran Shoemark on board. 

She does need to bounce back after a slightly disappointing effort in the Lockinge, but she might just step forward with that outing under her belt.

She did look like she’d improve for the run, and she is a very high-class filly on her day, so it would be great to see her back in the winners’ enclosure at Royal Ascot.

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