Royal Ascot pointers

WITH little time for the season to settle at all, Royal Ascot has a very different look. Entries are in for the first two days as I write, and that gives a little scope to size up the depth of the key races. Here are a few who may be of interest, all being equal:

Trefoil (Ralph Beckett)

Ribblesdale Stakes, Tuesday

The Ribblesdale contains many unexposed fillies, with two of the market leaders coming straight out of maiden wins. I prefer the chances of Trefoil, who was better than the bare result in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket last weekend, and I’m hoping a 10-day turnaround is enough for her.

She kept on stoutly behind the winner at Newmarket, and will benefit from the step up in trip, while Ralph Beckett tends to send his best middle-distance fillies to Nottingham as juveniles, making her win there on her debut look all the more interesting.

I hope that form is franked by Oriental Mystique at Newbury on Saturday, and am essentially related contingencies with my high view of that contest.

Glass Slippers (Kevin Ryan)

King’s Stand Stakes, Tuesday

Battaash ought to win the King’s Stand, but his failure to score here in the past despite being clear on ratings means that opposing him is always more attractive, and alternatives are very thin on the ground. With Sceptical an unlikely runner, that makes options thin on the ground.

Oxted is another who will be better in the Diamond Jubilee, while Liberty Beach has a much stiffer task than when unpenalised in a listed race for fillies at Haydock last Sunday. Prix de l’Abbaye winner Glass Slippers, who had Battaash well behind, almost picks herself, therefore.

Bodyline (Sir Mark Prescott)

King George V Handicap, Wednesday

I napped this strapping gelding at Yarmouth when he was second to a handicap blot at 16/1, and the fortnight he’s had to recover from that improved effort will be perfect.

It’s almost ironic that Sir Mark Prescott has horses forward enough to run at this meeting given he would normally only be taking the wraps off his handicappers in the middle of June in most seasons.

But he has his horses in fine form as results show, and this son of Australia will be very well suited by the step up in trip, and has pretty much the best form on offer, accepting that the race is full of totally unexposed sorts.

He fits that bill as well, and is the type to keep progressing with experience. A 3lb rise for that Yarmouth run is very fair, and I think 20/1 underestimates his chance. Luke Morris is booked, and his participation looks almost certain.