Stephen Harris’ Royal Ascot Day 1 Tips

Jerome Reynier’s money-spinning globetrotter comes to Royal Ascot on the back of a valuable Group 1 win at Meydan in March (returned 20/1 but no fluke about it) and has already proved himself on these shores with a cracking Champions Day effort at this track last October.

He has won an impressive six of his 14 career starts so far against mainly high-class opposition, and the slight easing of the ground over the last few days has certainly increased his chances of landing a prestigious Royal Ascot prize.

Tom Clover is very much a young trainer to follow over the next few seasons, and his prolific stable star is worth forgiving a disappointing seasonal reappearance at Haydock in May (weakened on the very deep testing ground on his first run in seven months).

This better surface seems sure to suit, and he has been targeted at this valuable prize ever since that below-par return effort (with the booking of the top-class James Doyle certainly increasing confidence he will go very close).

This prolific French raider comes here firmly on the upgrade after four impressive wins since January at a lower level, and the recent rain showers easing underfoot conditions have certainly increased his chances now tackling some proven Group 1 performers.

He makes plenty of each-way appeal at the current double-figure price under the top-class Christophe Soumillon, with plenty of question-marks surrounding his rivals at the head of the betting.