Royal Ascot Day 1 Tips: Kevin Blake fancies Force to get us off to a flyer

It's here! Royal Ascot has finally arrived and I can't wait to get stuck in. The five days represents one of the great challenges for those that love a bet. Short-price favourites tend to be in relatively short supply, the fields are notably big in the main and the handicaps represent some of the fiercest puzzles in the entire racing calendar.

It can be a lonely place when winners are proving hard to come by, but there is nothing quite like it when things are dropping right. I'll do my best to guide you through the week and hopefully we can land a few big shots over the coming days.

Hannon's horse can prevail

The 15:05 Coventry Stakes is always billed as the highest class contest of all the juvenile races at Royal Ascot. The one I've liked for the race for quite some time is the Richard Hannon-trained Persian Force and I see no reason to change my view.

The son of Mehmas burst onto the scene in the very first two-year-old race of the British Flat season in the Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster back in March. The market was making all the right noises about him prior to the race and he lived up to those expectations and more, bolting clear of his rivals in the final furlong to record an impressive 4¾ lengths victory.

The visual impression that he created was very much backed up by the evidence offered by the clock, with him producing a very noteworthy performance in that regard.

He faced another promising rival that had run big on the clock on debut in the shape of Holguin on his second start in a conditions race at Newbury, but he saw him off with authority in another taking performance.

The form he has shown stands up to scrutiny, the clock very much paints him in a favourable light and he appeals as being a particularly sharp juvenile that may have an edge over some of the promising but longer-term prospects in the field. He ticks an awful lot of boxes and will hopefully run a very big race.

Big price fancy in the Palace Stakes

The 16:20 St James's Palace Stakes is one of the highlights of a blockbuster first day and the 2000 Guineas winner Coroebus obviously sets a very high bar for all his rivals to come to.

While the round mile might well suit him even better than a straight mile, his draw in stall two could well present some traffic problems for William Buick and there may be some value to be had in looking at an alternative at a bigger price.

The David Simcock-trained Light Infantry is one that I've had in mind for the race for a few weeks and he still makes plenty of appeal at a big price.

He created an excellent impression as a two-year-old when winning both his starts, overcoming his inexperience to win the Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury on the second occasion.

His connections threw him into the deepest of waters for his seasonal return in the 2000 Guineas, but he acquitted himself very well in difficult circumstances. Dropped in last and stumbling early, he was still in last position two furlongs out. Jamie Spencer decided to take him near side to follow Native Trail, but that side of the track seemed to be unfavoured on the day compared to the far side where Coroebus delivered his challenge.

Despite this, Light Infantry produced one of the faster closing sectionals in the race to come home strongly and be beaten just 6¾ lengths. That run should bring him on both in terms of fitness and professionalism and it wouldn't surprise to see him produce a career-best effort here which might be enough to get him involved in the finish.