American Gulf (Paul & Oliver Cole)

Coventry Stakes, Tuesday - 20/1

I thought the market for the Coventry looked rather lopsided, and there are two in the race who look markedly overpriced given the promise they’ve shown.

One of those is Marble Hill Stakes runner-up Power Blue, who won’t need to improve much on that effort behind the hugely promising Albert Einstein to take a hand. I know he’s had three runs already, but he’s improved each time and his experience will stand him in good stead and 25/1 is very tempting.

What is even more tempting, however, is the 20/1 available about easy Windsor winner American Gulf, who made a big impression when clearing away from a fair field at the Thames-side track, offering plenty more to come despite knowing his job.

What impressed me most was how relaxed he was in the race, showing speed to dispute the lead from the start, but not looking all out to do so by any means, and the stiffer track at Ascot will surely suit him even better.

An Ardad half-brother to Master of War, who was runner-up in both the Richmond Stakes and Mill Reef Stakes for Richard Hannon, he’s bred to be smart as well as precocious and looked a very nice prospect from what I saw first time up.

The Coles don’t tend to rush their juveniles these days, but Paul used to be the foremost handler of two-year-olds at this meeting, training 11 winners of juvenile races at the meeting, including a hat-trick in 1991 courtesy of Dilum (Coventry Stakes), Fair Cop (Chesham Stakes) and Magic Ring (Norfolk Stakes).

The yard has only had a couple of juveniles out so far this season, but both have won at the first time of asking, which augurs well for the stable’s fortunes this summer.

True Love (Aidan O’Brien)

Queen Mary Stakes, Wednesday - 14/1

Zelaina made a big impression on debut at Nottingham and is a warm favourite for the Queen Mary, and I don’t really want to crab her, but the double-figure quotes about the useful True Love means she makes more appeal, with this race likely to suit more than the Albany Stakes.

Runner-up on both starts to date, she improved from debut and was collared late by stablemate Gstaad in a 5f 180yd maiden at Navan on her second outing. The winner looks a smart prospect and the pair pulled almost four lengths clear, so I’d be taking the positives from that outing, for all she was beaten favourite on the day.

In my view, True Love was just outstayed and the drop back to 5f looks ideal. Her second to Lady Iman on debut has worked out well, with that filly (who had an experience edge) winning a Group 3 at Naas subsequently, while she was just ahead of the aforementioned Power Blue in that contest.

She showed good speed to go clear over a furlong out at Navan before Gstaad ran her down and the collateral form gives her a similar chance to the hot favourite.

Trawlerman (John & Thady Gosden)

Ascot Gold Cup, Thursday – 4/1

Is Illinois the right favourite for the Gold Cup? That’s the fundamental question to answer here and, while the stats say he is, I’m far from convinced.

He’s been elevated to the Ballydoyle number one after the retirement of Kyprios, but he lacks experience at staying trips and, while he has a similar profile to previous winners of this race from his stable, I don’t think his form entitles him to be as short in the market as he is.

It would be harsh to say that Illinois was outstayed in the St Leger, but he didn’t improve on the form that he had shown when winning the Great Voltigeur, and he merely needed to match that effort to win the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay over a mile and seven furlongs at Longchamp on his final start.

He did hint that day that a step up to 2m and further would suit this year, and duly won the Ormonde at Chester, albeit stepping back in trip for that success.

I do respect Illinois, but Trawlerman has achieved more, and has already shown that Ascot suits him really well, beating Kyprios in the Long Distance Cup and beaten only a length by him in this race last year.

He lacked a prep run in 2024, but won the Henry II Stakes at Sandown last month and will be ready to give his all again. The boys with their stats books will tell you that a seven-year-old can’t win this, but Trawlerman can give the anoraks a bloody nose.

Shadow of Light (Charlie Appleby)

Commonwealth Cup, Friday – 7/4

Surely connections of Guineas third Shadow of Light will favour the Commonwealth Cup over the St James’s Palace Stakes, especially as Ruling Court has been rerouted from the Derby for this.

Crowned European champion two-year-old after winning the Middle Park and Dewhurst last term, Shadow of Light has always looked like he has more speed than stamina.

He travelled best of all for some way at Newmarket last month, only to be reeled in by a couple of stronger stayers at a mile.

His entries for the future include two at six furlongs and two at a mile, but the shorter trip looks ideal for him. This brother to Earthlight would enjoy a definite class edge in this contest.

Jarraaf (Owen Burrows)

Wokingham Handicap, Saturday – 12/1

The Owen Burrows-trained Jarraaf was a little disappointing on his reappearance at Salisbury, but that run would have helped put an edge on him, while preserving his mark for this Heritage Handicap.

The son of Zoustar is an unexposed four-year-old with the scope to progress further and he has saved most of his best efforts for Ascot, winning back-to-back handicaps over course and distance last summer before a career-best effort to finish third in the Group 2 Bentinck Stakes in the autumn.

A repeat of that might well be enough to defy his current mark back in a handicap, but I’d be fairly confident that Jarraaf can progress again, and he makes plenty of appeal at a price that is available in several spots.