4:20 Royal Ascot Tips

Illinois is a genuine Group 1 performer over 1m4f and if he gets this trip he looks like a banker for Aiden O'Brien, who is a master at producing these extreme distance stayers. He came a close second to the high class Jan Brueghel in the St Leger last year over 1m6f and he is a relaxed horse, so he has every chance of getting this extreme trip of 2m4f.

High class performer who was 2nd to Kyprios in this race last year having beaten him here on champions day the previous year. Easy victory at Sandown on reappearance and is very much the one to beat today with his old foe no longer around.

The top three or four horses in the market bring strong form to the table, and for me, it looks nearly impossible to separate them. There’s very little between them on paper and with no real each way angle at the current prices, I’m happy to take a swing at one at big odds. If any of the leading contenders underperform, which wouldn’t be too surprising given the long list of targets they’ll have later in the season, it could open the door for an outsider to sneak into the frame. Wonder Legend has a bit to find on official ratings, but he remains completely unexposed at this level and impressed with the way he progressed over staying distances during the winter. His best performance came last time out in the Marathon at Newcastle, where he turned a competitive handicap into a procession, winning in a notably fast time. By Sea The Stars and out of a Fastnet Rock mare, he’s bred to stay all day and could be the one to hit the frame at a big price. At around 33/1, he’s worth a small each way play.