Stephen Harris' Royal Ascot Day 5 Tips

Aidan O’Brien’s team have generally been needing a run or two this season to put themselves fully fit (reportedly around six weeks behind their usual preparation after the extremely wet winter in Ireland), but his strapping four-year-old has been trained with this race specifically in mind since his break over the winter.

He has won four of his eight career starts so far, running a blinder in defeat when second over course and distance last June, and the much faster ground here should be no issue with Ryan Moore already at his imperious best here all week.

Karl Burke has enjoyed a real breakthrough season at the top level on the flat, and his useful sprinter is worth forgiving a lesser effort at York last time out on his season debut (weak in market and needed the run). He has run two crackers in defeat in hot sprints at this track in the past in big fields on decent ground, and he will be looking to weave his way through fast and late.

His latest effort means he is now a double figure price, and he makes plenty of each-way appeal under the excellent Clifford Lee.

Charlie Hills sprinter looked a shade unlucky not to land a hefty punt in this race in 2023 and should now be cherry-ripe after two runs so far this season. He shaped really well on his reappearance at Doncaster in April in warm listed company, and probably bounced second run back when well held at Newmarket next time out.

The rapidly quickening ground conditions should help him, and he has more than enough talent to defy this mark under Saffie Osborne with any luck in running.