DAY TWO PREVIEW:ROYAL ASCOT'S second-day highlight, the Prince of Wales' Stakes, has a history of throwing up genuine champions since it was promoted to Group One status nine years ago, but there could be a value bet this afternoon in Tazeez springing a surprise.
On form, the apparent outsider of John Gosden’s two runners is fighting an uphill battle, but the fast ground should favour him.
Tazeez finished last in the Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp last month and has acres of ground to make up on the impressive winner of that race, Never On Sunday.
That horse represents the most in-form team in Europe right now, Jean Claude Rouget and Christophe Lemaire, and along with last year’s Prix du Jockey Club winner, Vision d’Etat, comprises a formidable French challenge. However, both French stars have shown their best on soft ground and don’t look value for their prices today.
Most of the rest of the field would probably prefer a softer surface as well, including Gosden’s other runner, Virtual, who tackles a trip past a mile for the first time.
The ante-post favourite, Tartan Bearer, won a Dante on quick ground last year and returned to action with a narrow success at Sandown.
But his reputation lies principally on a second to New Approach in last year’s Derby and he didn’t look the same horse at all subsequently at the Curragh.
Tazeez has no piece of form that comes even close to that, but before Longchamp he was impressive at Newmarket and does have the going in his favour.
In contrast, Lush Lashes is the proven article and Jim Bolger’s star looks a worthy favourite in the Group Two Windsor Forest Stakes. A Group One winner from a mile to a mile-and-a-half last season, she ran an okay third to Casual Conquest on her first start of 2009 and should be sharper this time around.She’s Our Mark is another Irish runner in this race, and with just two other Irish-trained contenders – Quinmaster and Luisant in the Royal Hunt Cup – it is a comparatively quiet day for Irish horses.
Don’t Tell Mary could strike a blow for the Tom Dascombe team in the Queen Mary Stakes. Impressive at both Bath and Beverley, the filly looks capable of a big step up.
In the Hamdan Al Maktoum colours, double Newmarket winner Infiraad looks to have an eye-catchingly progressive profile.
The Irish challengers for the Hunt Cup look to face an uphill battle, so there may be some each way value with the Windsor winner Light From Mars.
ROYAL ASCOT, Day Two: Brian O'Connors tips
2.30Infiraad
3.05Lush Lashes
3.45Tazeez
4.20Light From Mars
4.55Don't Tell Mary;
5.30Moneycantbuymelove
