3:05 Royal Ascot Tips

William Haggas won this race two years ago with Desert Hero who went on to be a Group horse & his Merchant looks very much of that ilk. Running over this trip for the first time, he won at York's Dante meeting very easily, a race which is working out.

One of my favourite races of the meeting and a race that often produces a Group performer. Sing Us A Song has shown gradual improvement upped in trip to 1m2f and his pedigree, being by Camelot and out of a Galileo mare, indicates there could be more improvement at this 1m4f trip. The trainer Ralph Beckett won this race last year with a similar sort.

2/12 winning fvs, 5/12 top 3 in the betting. 9/12 stalls 10+. 11/12 rated 88-94. Is a few in here who have front run previously and youd think a bunch of lighlty raced 3 year olds will be abit unruly here however no gurantee of a pace collapse. Nonetheless here at Ascot its very diffuclt to make all so can rule out a few based on that. Gunship beat Merhant on debut, level weights by a shd. Now carries 1lb less than that one. The first 3 in that maiden have all turned out to be decent handicappers and he finally notched another win last time out with Class 3 0.75L win (more comfy than the distance would suggest) from War Hawk who won twice since including on Derby day at Epsom. The team think a fair bit of him and had plans to target York then here. Racing post said post race 'hes going the right way with potental to rate higher yet, perhaps a patter level performer later in the season.' Bought by Qatar racing since and looks overpriced here, is a stellar ew bet to 5/6 places in some places.

Ryan Moore has opted to ride Serious Contender, a progressive type who should handle this trip well. However, his stablemate Light As Air finished only half a length behind him at Leopardstown, despite encountering plenty of traffic in running and shaping like one who will appreciate further. He boasts an exceptional pedigree, being by Wootton Bassett out of a Galileo mare, and is a half-brother to Continuous. The application of first-time headgear could sharpen him up, as he looked a little lazy last time out at Navan. Given the narrow margin in defeat to the favourite and the 14/1 available, Light As Air looks like solid each way value for punters, especially with bookies offering five places.

Lightening Mann finished 2nd in the London Gold Cup last time from a mark of 81 and although 4lbs higher here could still be well handicapped from a mark of 85. Prior to that he won on quick ground at Newmarket, with Merchant 1L back when giving the selection 5lbs. They meet on the same terms today after Merchant's win LTO, and the 4th that day has also won since which makes the form look strong enough. Quick ground suits him and he stays well. Has been bought by Australians presumably with a view to big prizes down under but can claim this en route.

This stables horses had a good first day at this meeting and this horse looks a good ew bet here today. A wide margin winner last time he looks the type to improve markedly after a month off the track and stepping up in distance today. Should certainly be vying for the places at least come the finish.

Very useful No Nay Never colt who strongly appeals as the type to do well in an assignment of this nature and is capable of causing a shock at his monster E/W price at the time of writing was last seen at Chepstow 29 days where winning shedding his maiden tag in the process now that may have been a two horse race but he showed what we needed to see and he has confirmed the promise he has been showing in previous races and worth noting the horse he beat last time out won next time out and seeing Ammes beat that rival by 2.25 lengths having showed plenty of ability in process of that he arrives here with much better claims than the market is currently suggesting and he is not the finished article yet so further improvment is due on the cards the cheeckpieces are also applied for the first time and they can have a positive effect jockey S De Sousa takes the ride on James Owen's inmate and can give Ammes a promising ride in this King George V stakes here at Ascot worth the E/W shout