Megan Nicholls Racing Preview: Royal Ascot Day 2 Tips
WEDNESDAY RACING TIPS
Ascot 2.30 – Queen Mary Stakes
For the Queen Mary I want to say Alta Regina (9/1) who won very impressively at Lingfield on her debut having been a breeze up purchase.
Wathnan Racing have a couple of runners here having only run once each, which would have been a hard decision for James Doyle who wasn’t actually aboard either of them on their debut.
He will compete on Wild Blossom in this opening race on day two, with James McDonald on Alta Regina who I thought showed plenty of speed for her first time out.
My each-way selection here is Crystal Queen (16/1) who was second on debut in a small field but won the Hillary Needler at Beverley very well.
I think that she’s still learning but is up against horses with only one run so having two will definitely play into her favour and with Colin Keane in the saddle this time around.
Megan’s Tip: Alta Regina WIN & Crystal Queen E/W
Ascot 3.05 – Queen’s Vase
In the Queen’s Vase, I’m going to go Limestone (3/1) ahead of Asakir.
They met last time out in Ireland with the former getting the better of him on that occasion and I think the same will happen again due to the ground drying.
I think Asakir is really talented but the soft ground would have been better for him.
If he handles it with the two pieces on he’ll go well, but Limestone managed to out-battle him to the line when they last met which does give him the edge here.
They both have a bit of experience; both proven with plenty of stamina and are improving types of horses – up in grade but I don’t think that will be too much of an issue.
But yeah, I believe those two will be battling it out again in the Queen’s Vase.
Megan’s Tip: Limestone WIN
Ascot 3.40 – Duke of Cambridge Stakes
In the Duke of Cambridge I like Catalina Delcarpio (15/2) who was third in last year’s Ribblesdale and looked to not quite stay that day.
Returning this season, she’s dropped back down to the mile which has clearly suited her. She won well in listed company last time and is ready for the step back up in grade.
The stiff track at Ascot will definitely be to her liking and I think there’s more to come from this lightly-raced daughter of Lope de Vega.
Paddy Twomey tends to send over a sort of select team to Ascot but like we saw with the winners last year, he’s clearly a very talented trainer who targets his horses well and wouldn’t be sending Catalina Delcarpio over if she didn’t have a bold chance.
So I like her chances here and the mile is set to suit.
Megan’s Tip: Catalina Delcarpio WIN
Ascot 4.20 – Prince of Wales’s Stakes
The Prince of Wales’s is the race of the week for me.
Ombudsman, Daryz, Almaqam, Minnie Hauk… it's an unbelievable renewal! I’m sticking with Ombudsman (5/4 fav) who was good in this race last year and ultimately proved himself at the very top level.
A nice return at Sandown, he had to knuckle down and battle to beat a race-fit Gethin and he did do so nicely.
He’ll be ridden for a turn of foot that’s very explosive for hopefully a nice, even gallop set with William Buick sat to stalk the likes of Daryz and any other challenge that may arrive late on.
We’ve got the first and second of The Arc, the recent Tattersalls Gold Cup winner, last year’s Juddmonte winner and the previous Prince of Wales’s winner coming back; to have these all meeting and clashing is so good for racing.
This is a really special renewal but I do think Ombudsman can come back out on top.
Megan’s Tip: Ombudsman WIN
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation
