Four horses who will appreciate the rain-softened ground at Royal Ascot

Following ten millimetres of rain at Ascot on Monday evening the ground has been changed to good to soft for the first day of the royal meeting. Here are four runners on Tuesday’s card who will benefit from the easier conditions underfoot.

Kaeso (1.15) - a horse who loves 7f at Ascot, his best form has undoubtedly come with a bit of juice in the ground as demonstrated when finishing runner-up to Raising Sand last July. He’d probably have won that valuable handicap ridden with a bit more restraint - he idles in front - and looks an excellent first mount of the meeting for champion jockey Oisin Murphy. Punters have already latched onto the going factor, and Kaeso is being well backed this morning.

Roseman (1.50) - this looks a wide-open Queen Anne, and the overnight rain is a significant boost to the chance of Roger Varian’s colt. He produced a career-best performance on heavy ground over a mile at Newmarket last back-end and, while he needs to step up considerably on that bare form to win this Group 1, the bit of dig underfoot enhances his chance of doing so.

Verdana Blue gets up on the line to beat Buveur D'Air in the Christmas HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Invitational (4.10) - this daughter of Poet’s Voice landed a Listed fillies’ event last November at Fontainebleau on heavy ground. Her Newmarket second to Richenza over 6f also came on ground described as soft so there is little doubt the rain that has fallen at Ascot will be of benefit to her.

Verdana Blue (4.45) - she acts well on fast ground, but one of her best performances over hurdles was achieved on good to soft at Kempton when landing the Christmas Hurdle in 2018 by a short head from Buveur D’Air. The overnight rain will certainly prove no inconvenience to a mare who looks to hold strong claims.

Ascot Tuesday card

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