A competitive renewal of the Jersey Stakes (14:30), featuring many progressive and unexposed three-year-olds, kicks things off on the second day of Royal Ascot and we side with the John Gosden-trained Muwaary. Muwaary made plenty of appeal on pedigree ahead of his successful debut at Newbury - his dam is an unraced half-sister to the high-class miler Bahri - and he caught the eye of our on-course reporter with his physique, described as a 'good sort on looks'. Sent back to Newbury for his seasonal debut, Muwaary justified good market support to make a mockery of his opening handicap mark, winning in the style of a sure-fire pattern-race performer as he travelled with zest and showed a good turn of foot to win a strongly-contested event. Muwaary was upped markedly in grade, pitched straight into Group 1 company, as he contested the Poule D'Essai Des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) and he took another step forward in form terms as he finished a close-up fourth. He actually shaped better than the bare result at Longchamp, pulling hard in the early stages but keeping on well in spite of his early exertions, and the return to a strongly-run seven furlongs should provide the ideal test.
Integral (16:25) can enhance Sir Michael Stoute's excellent record in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes (formerly Windsor Forest Stakes) on the back of a good return behind the reopposing Esoterique in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket. Integral didn't make it to the course as a juvenile but she made up for lost time last season, winning comfortably on her debut at Goodwood before following up in a listed contest at Sandown. The step up to top company came too soon in the Nassau Stakes, but Integral proved her Group 1 merit by finishing a one-length second to Sky Lantern in the Sun Chariot Stakes on her final start of the season, and there is good reason to suspect that she can reverse the form with Richard Hannon's filly here. Integral receives 5 lb from Sky Lantern, has the benefit of race fitness on her side and, being a daughter of Group 1-winning five-year-old Echelon - can be expected to improve with age; she has ticks in all of the right boxes.
The Royal Hunt Cup (17:00) is traditionally one of the most competitive contests of the season, but there's a good chance that Abseil is still a fair way in front of his handicap mark and he should not be opposed. Abseil built on a highly promising debut when running out a comfortable winner of a Yarmouth maiden, and he shaped much better than the result would imply when a five-length second to the well-handicapped Here Comes When at Chester, his wide draw posing a severe impediment. Ryan Moore was forced to drop Abseil in from his wide draw, conceding first run to the well-drawn winner, but it was still impressive how Abseil picked off the rest of the field, and he confirmed himself a horse to follow with a ready success at Epsom, winning despite failing to handle the camber and hanging badly in the closing stages. Back on a more conventional course, Abseil should still have plenty left to offer, his strong-travelling style likely to be an advantage in a field this size.
Timeform UK SmartPlays:
All at Royal Ascot
Back Muwaary in the Jersey Stakes at 14:30
Back Integral in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at 16:25
Back Abseil in the Royal Hunt Cup at 17:00
