Royal Ascot Day 2 Tips: Four to back on Wednesday

There are four bets for the second day of Royal Ascot.

Royal Ascot Day 2 Tips

17:00 – 1m Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2)

Despite the big field, this looks a good opportunity for the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained FINEST SOUND (1 point win bet at 7/1) to record a third career success. Third to Palace Pier on his racecourse debut in 2019, this gelded son of Exceed And Excel enjoyed a good three-year-old campaign, winning at Haydock by 5.5-lengths before finishing second in the Britannia Stakes at this meeting. He ended last season with a below-par effort at York but has returned in fine form this year. Beaten by a short head on his seasonal reappearance, he went one better at Haydock last time out and has been raised just 3lbs by the handicapper.

At bigger prices, I am also taking a chance on EASTERN WORLD (0.5 point win bet at 20/1) and PATH OF THUNDER (0.5 point win bet at 25/1), who will need one to come out if he is to get in as first reserve. Both horses are lightly-raced and trained by Charlie Appleby. Eastern World will be looking to bounce back to the good form he showed at Meydan and will be suited by the return to a mile. Path Of Thunder comes here off the back of a second-place finish at Newbury and will be running off a very low weight (if he gets in).

18:10 – 1m Kensington Palace Stakes (Class 2)

Lights On just came out on top against Dreamloper at this course last time out and both should run well again. Oisin Murphy takes over on board the latter mentioned horse and that could be enough for her to reverse the form. However, slight preference is for STUNNING BEAUTY (NAP - 1 point win bet at 9/1), who took her record to three wins from just five starts when successful at Doncaster earlier this month. Both defeats to date came at Meydan, including in a Group 2 contest, and connections will be hoping she can build on the promise shown when winning her first two races by a combined distance of over 11-lengths. This lightly-raced daughter of Shamardal can continue to progress and Silvestre De Sousa can give a bold show from the front.