5:35 Royal Ascot Tips

Has only had 4 career starts to date with 1 win at Lingfield on good to firm in class 5 maiden over 7f & then 2 placed efforts on soft at Redcar in class 4 & then an encouraging run after 202 day break when finishing 2nd at Sandown on good in class 2 over 8f 57 days ago beaten 0.75L by Fifth Column but staying on well at the business end so today's extra 2f should suit , yard a bit quiet so far at meeting a bit of a worry .

Best Secret looked a class apart when winning what appeared to be a competitive handicap at Longchamp, drawing clear effortlessly by three lengths. That performance caught the attention of Wathnan Racing, who swooped in with a significant purchase and promptly targeted him at this contest, where he appears to be well-handicapped off a mark of 95. In that Longchamp win, he trailed the field before making smooth headway to take command and sweep past rivals with ease. The form of that race has already been franked, with a couple of subsequent winners and others running well next time out. The pace here looks strong, and while he’ll have to come from off the pace, that could play to his advantage as hold-up horses are often favoured over this course and distance. With James Doyle choosing to ride, and a current price of around 7/1, he looks a fairly priced contender and may just be the answer to what looks a tough puzzle.

The stable is in good form so SALLAAL must be noted, who is open to improvement after beating Arctic Grey & 3 others in a Novice Stakes at Hamilton 7 weeks ago. Jockey Ray Dawson has won once in one ride (100%) when aboard & Sallaal has also won once in one run (100%) on good-to-firm or similar going. One to watch.

In the each-way market, the list of contenders is long, with several making appeal to get involved. I’ll leave the London Gold Cup form behind, despite suspecting it's quite strong, and instead side with El Burhan, a horse who has been given plenty of time to mature by George Boughey, who won this race in 2022 with Missed The Cut and hasn’t had a runner in the last two renewals. That suggests he feels he has a realistic chance with this interesting type. A dual-winner at Yarmouth and Beverley last season, El Burhan signed off his juvenile campaign with an excellent third in a valuable big-field nursery at Goodwood, before being put away for the winter. He returned with an immediate success this season over 7½ furlongs at Chester, keeping on steadily without being flashy. His pedigree and racing style suggest he needs time to warm up, and he should be an even better proposition over today’s longer trip. He’s been raised only 2lb for that Chester win, so there’s every reason to believe he remains well-handicapped, especially if he improves again for the step up in distance. At 12/1,he’s a solid each-way bet, particularly with bookies paying 5/6 places.

BASALT now sports the cheekpieces for the first-time on handicap bow, with the slightly shorter trip likely to suit after making a creditable reappearance when 5th to Amiloc in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood 4 weeks ago. He has won once in four runs (25%) for trainer Archie Watson. Lively outsider.