Royal Ascot

Timeform UK SmartPlays: Wednesday 19 June

Horses Ascot
Royal Ascot continues on Wednesday

"...having already won a Group 1 at this track, she has plenty in her favour..."

Timeform on Magical

Timeform pick out their best back, lay and smart stat bets on Day 2 of Royal Ascot...

Back
Magical - 15:40 Royal Ascot

Potentially the race of the meeting with little to choose between the high-class principals, but it is Magical who appeals as the most solid option having won with plenty of authority on all three of her outings in Ireland this season, and any further rain won't bother her. She has race fitness on her side, and having already won a Group 1 at this track, she has plenty in her favour. Sea of Class is just about the pick on form on her return and rates the chief threat, though this shorter trip could leave her vulnerable, while both Crystal Ocean and Waldgeist also command respect.

Lay
Final Song - 14:30 Royal Ascot

Final Song has found herself favourite for the Queen Mary following her impressive winning debut over this C&D last month, proving much too good for her rivals. There should be plenty more to come from her, but she does have a fair bit of stamina in her pedigree, and could find one or two of these too speedy, namely the American raider Kimari. She looked very good when winning on debut by 15 lengths at Keeneland in April, recording an impressive TimeformUS speed figure, and she could be a tough nut to peg back.

Smart Stat
Rawdaa - 16:20 Royal Ascot

2 - Sir Michael Stoute's number of winners in past 10 runnings

Sir Michael Stoute has a good record in this race at Rawdaa looked better than ever when running Lah Ti Dar close in the Middleton Stakes at York last time. That effort came over a mile and a quarter, but she shouldn't be too inconvenienced by the drop back to a mile here on a track that presents a stiff finish. She sets the standard on form in what looks an open renewal and should be backed accordingly.

Check out the Betfair Royal Ascot podcast, where Kieran O'Connor was joined by Joseph O'Brien, Gary O'Brien and Barry Orr to preview the finest five days in the flat racing calendar

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