Royal Ascot clues: horses to note from the Derby meeting

With the Investec Derby festival done and dusted for this year, all eyes will now turn to Royal Ascot this month. Several horses brushed up their credentials for the royal meeting on the Epsom Downs and we take a look at their performances over the weekend.

Chief Ironside
Royal Hunt Cup

Chief Ironside outran his odds of 16-1 when finishing a two and a quarter lengths third to Zaaki in the Diomed Stakes on Derby day. Previously beaten 18 lengths in the Group 2 Huxley Stakes at Chester, this was an improved effort from the four-year-old and trainer William Jarvis pointed him in the direction of the Royal Hunt Cup.

A general 20-1 shot for Royal Ascot's mile handicap, the son of Lawman has some useful form to his name, including a third behind Lord Glitters in a York Group 3, and may have more to give on a more conventional track.

Anna Nerium
Duke of Cambridge Stakes

The daughter of Dubawi returned to the winner's enclosure for the first time since August when running out a game victor of the Princess Elizabeth Stakes.

Anna Nerium: could target the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal AscotCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Second to Wilamina in the Group 3 contest last year, she was only eighth in a Listed race at Kempton in April but seems to have found her stride in her last two runs.

Trainer Richard Hannon did not dismiss the idea of a tilt at Royal Ascot and she can be backed at 8-1 for the Duke of Cambridge Stakes on the second day of the meeting.

Salouen
Hardwicke Stakes

Sylvester Kirk's hugely popular five-year-old came within a head of beating the brilliant Cracksman in last year's Coronation Cup and did connections proud once again with a fine third behind Defoe on Friday.

The son of Canford Cliffs, the winner of nearly £500,000 in prize-money, could now return to Ascot for a crack at the Hardwicke Stakes, for which he is a general 16-1 chance. Having emphatically landed a Listed contest at the track on his seasonal bow, Ascot should pose no problems for him and another bold bid can be expected.

Blue De Vega
Wokingham Handicap

The six-year-old finished a half length third behind Ornate in the Dash and could now turn his attentions to the Wokingham on the final day of Royal Ascot.

Blue De Vega (black cap): third in the Dash on Derby dayCredit: Mark Cranham

Despite being checked a furlong out, the gelding rallied well to collar the eventual fourth and fifth, Eeh Bah Gum and Muthmir, for a top-three finish.

Assistant trainer Ed Bethell added afterwards that the Wokingham could be a potential target for the admirable son of Lope De Vega at the Berkshire meeting.

Space Blues
Jersey Stakes

Godolphin did not manage to add another Derby success to Masar's triumph last year, but they still came away with two exciting prospects for Royal Ascot.

Space Blues, who defeated subsequent Listed winner Private Secretary on debut, looked every inch a Jersey horse in the making after heading Urban Icon in the Surrey Stakes.

Connections sounded keen to give the son of Dubawi a chance at the royal meeting and he would not look out of place over the seven furlongs of the Jersey.

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