3:40 Royal Ascot Tips

Inisherin won this race last year and returns with a strong chance of repeating the feat, but I’m siding with Lazzat, who caught the eye last summer when storming to victory in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville, pulling clear by an easy three lengths. Since then, he’s been tried over longer distances with respectable efforts, but this is a horse with natural speed, and his profile suggests that anything beyond seven furlongs may stretch him, so this stiff six furlongs looks ideal. Trainer Jerome Reynier dropped him back to sprinting last time out at Chantilly, and he looked right at home, winning comfortably in a quick time. Wathnan Racing wasted no time snapping him up with this target in mind, and he’s well drawn, close to where the early pace is expected. With further improvement likely, he could prove to be an unexposed Group 1 sprinter in the making and land the spoils at around 3/1.

The 4yo was a smart 3L winner of a 14 runner Group 1 race at Royal Ascot last year, over this 6f trip on fast ground. Big return run when winning a Group 2 after 8 months off the track - high RPR rating - he doesn't meet that runner-up again but that pair had pulled a nice 4L clear of the rest. Should be better for the run and now has William Buick in the saddle for this Group 1.

Satono Reve is a very speedy type who will take some beating. Japanese horses tend to be underestimated in this country and it will take a good one to lower his colours here.

I absolutely love the make up of this race, with some international form lines into the mix, I could ponder it all day. There are a few legitimate stars in here, no less the Japanese horse Satono Reve. After much deliberation I was happy to side with Topgear, who dazzled at Newmarket in October. He’s run a solid race first time out, with Lake Forest doing at least something for that form earlier in the week. He looks to be like he’ll appreciate a sounder surface, for all he has to prove that. He’s out of an American dam that acted on firm ground, so I’d say there’s more than a fair chance that he does. The overall lack of pace in here can set it up for one to strike from the front, and a few of these get further so should be staying. I’ll hope that it’s Topgear, as he left a real impression on me with his effort at Newmarket, and that sound reappearance in hand he can take a step forward again to confirm his improving status.

Elite Status has always looked a very good horse and he had a pipe opener for this when 4th behind Inisherin at York. He looked like he needed that and he can be in the mix for this race at a decent price.

Won over 7 furlongs on good to firm ground at Lingfield last month and the second and third have won since to boost the form. Likely to benefit from an expected strong gallop dropping in trip.

I get the impression that this horse has been prepared specifically with this race in mind,judged on his reappearance races since last year and the pattern of racing leading up to today. He has something to find on official ratings but he is a course winner here and the application of headgear today is an intriguing addition. Regular rider Rossa Ryan on board again can't be a bad thing so expect a big race from Annaf today.

It’s all about the start for GRAND GREY, who blew it at the Curragh latest after shaping well when 2nd to Sajir in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes at Newmarket prior. Jockey Jamie Spencer has placed once in two rides (50%) when aboard & Grand Grey has placed four times in five runs (80%) on good-to-firm or similar going. Lively outsider.