Royal Ascot Day Two

Good morning/evening to you all I hope you enjoyed day one of Royal Ascot and found a couple of winners from the blog courtesy of Sole Power and the NAP Hootenanny. Day two features some top class action including the 2013 Arc heroine Treve as she does battle with Mukhadram and The Fugue, we are also treated to the return of Sky Lantern. We had a good day yesterday but the rising sun will bring round a new day and we must be prepared to go again.

As always we have a video preview prepared for you tonight, joining me on the panel are the regular lot of @Adamwebb121, @Mytentoryours and @Calummadell. You can watch the videos by clicking on the link below, we hope you enjoy our preview after a successful first day. If you have any questions regarding day three of Royal Ascot please leave them in the comments section below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxvRZZTtgOk

Now onto today's action!

Jersey Stakes - That Is The Spirit

Dave O'Meara takes another step up in class today with That Is The Spirit after winning a listed race at Epsom. We have only seen him on a racecourse three times but he has impressed more and more on each occasion and won off a mark of 90 and top weight on his second start. He took a big step forward last time out however when not particularly handling the Epsom track when making all and repelling the late challenge of Parbold, who re-opposes this afternoon. The biggest danger could however come in the form of Sudirman who needed the run last time out and should be spot on for today. He won the Group One Phoenix Stakes last year for which he carries a five pound penalty but we will find out how well he has progressed into a three year old today. That Is The Spirit to take all the beating however.

1st - That Is The Spirit
2nd - Sudirman
3rd - Mustajeeb

Queen Mary Stakes - Spanish Pipedream

The Windsor Castle field got blown away yesterday by Wesley Ward's first runner in Hootenanny and he has another exciting prospect here with Spanish Pipedream. Unlike her stablemate she comes to Royal Ascot unbeaten but this is only her second outing after blowing away her opposition at Keeneland. She showed tremendous early speed that day but matched that with a good turn of foot to put the race to bed in nice style. The main danger looks sure to be Tiggy Wiggy who was mightily impressive at Sandown in the National Stakes, the same race won by Rizeena before victorious in this race last year. But we side with Spanish Pipedream to provide America with their second winner of the meeting.

1st - Spanish Pipedream
2nd - Tiggy Wiggy
3rd - Harry's Dancer

Prince Of Wales's Stakes - Mukhadram

Mukhadram seldom runs a bad race and that was the case once more when he finished second in the Dubai World Cup and once again in this race last year. He found only Al Kazeem too good that day which is nothing to be ashamed of before being hampered late on when third in the eclipse after making the running. He used them tactics to full effect at York when beating Grandeur but could manage no better than fifth on Champions Day behind Farhh when held up. A return to his dominating tactics will suit him today and an easy lead looks assured which will benefit him greatly under Paul Hanagan. The obvious danger is last year's Arc winner Treve but The Fugue could also figure at the end on ground she will love, Mukhadram is taken to steal it from the front however.

1st - Mukhadram 
2nd - Treve
3rd - The Fugue

Duke Of Cambridge Stakes - Integral

Integral and Sky Lantern locked horns at the back end of last season with the latter coming on top, however she must give her rival five pounds today and comes here without a prep run. Integral however was seen at Newmarket on Guineas weekend when just losing out to Esoterique, but she lost nothing in defeat that day and is fancied to turn the tables as she is racefit. Sir Michael Stoute bought her along slowly last season culminating in defeat to the more experienced Sky Lantern and a dead heat in a Group Three at Sandown. This season should see her improve once more and it can start today with her first win in a Group Two.

1st - Integral
2nd - Certify
3rd - Sky Lantern

Royal Hunt Cup - Ayaar

Al Shaqab had a memorable day yesterday with Toronado and The Wow Signal and they can add a big handicap to their tally with Ayaar for Luca Cumani and Frankie Dettori. He was last seen when a staying on fourth in the Victoria Cup over a furlong shorter and off the same mark as today, suggesting today was always the long term aim. The return to faster ground looks a positive and with the stable in a good run of form he could be hard to beat with Artigiano looking a big danger for Godolphin.

1st - Ayaar
2nd - Artigiano
3rd - Short Squeeze
4th - Burano

Sandringham Handicap - Muteela

A more than muddling Sandringham up next with preference for the unbeaten Muteela after she won impressively at Newmarket last time out. She made all that day and had everything else in trouble with two furlongs to go and then quickened in good style to repel the charge of Pretzel. Her last two efforts have seen her make all the running which will be difficult today, but on debut she came from just behind the running proving her flexibility. Majeyda could be one that challenges the selection for the lead as she takes a step back in trip from her 1000 Guineas effort, but her Nell Gwyn run would see her go close. Queen Catrine is another to consider back on lightning fast ground but the progressive Muteela is taken for win purposes.

1st - Muteela
2nd - Queen Catrine
3rd - Majeyda


NAP - Spanish Pipedream
NB - Integral

Good luck today guys and ask always, happy punting!!