Jim Crowley Royal Ascot day two rides blog: 'I really do think he's got a massive chance'

With a big week of horse racing upon us, Jim Crowley shares his Royal Ascot day two rides blog with Coral bettors.

Hallelujah U will be a big outsider here, but he won on good to firm at Thirsk last time, over a mile and a half, and that obviously impressed connections enough to have a go at this.  It is a step up both in class, from handicap company to Group 2, and trip, a further two furlongs in distance, but if he can see it out, he could outrun his odds.

This is one of the rides of the week as far as the Shadwell team are concerned, and he's returning to the scene of his Champion Stakes victory last autumn.  That was on soft ground, but he does have decent form on a quicker surface - which it obviously will be here – so we don't have any great ground concerns despite the lack of recent rain.

He travelled beautifully into the Tattersalls Gold Cup last time, I did think we were going to pick Los Angeles off but the lack of a recent run just found us out right at the business end of that race.  He will come on for that run so much, and as a result, I really do think we've got a great chance of reversing placings with the Ballydoyle runner.

As you’d expect for a race like this, the opposition is more than just one horse though. See The Fire was really impressive at York last time, and it’s not a surprise connections have decided to supplement her.  Map Of Stars and Ombudsman are also big players, however I really wouldn't swap my fellow for any of them.

In an ideal world we would have been drawn a little bit lower than stall eight of nine, however the plan will be to take my time with him anyway, so from that draw I should be able to drop him in and hopefully get a good position.  I really do think he's got a massive chance.  

I thought this filly ran better than her finishing position of fourth suggested last time, and the time before that she won well on good to firm ground, so a quicker surface here shouldn't hold any fears.  It’s a typically competitive Royal Ascot handicap with a few unexposed types lining up, but on her best form she could have an each-way chance.

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