Slow ground, no problem: four runners who could revel in the soft at Royal Ascot

With the rain falling heavily at Ascot, here are four horses who might thrive at the royal meeting on Wednesday

Harpo Marx
Queen's Vase Stakes (3.05)
Aidan O'Brien

Named after Arthur 'Harpo' Marx, this son of Galileo may find himself laughing at his rivals if soft ground prevails in the Queen's Vase Stakes.

The Aidan-O'Brien-trained two-year-old has been something of a work in progress and appeared an unfortunate loser behind stablemate Il Paradiso two runs ago.

With a maiden triumph seemingly a formality, Harpo Marx then had to dig deeper than expected to produce a first victory at Tipperary on soft ground. That experience should stand him in good stead as he steps up to a mile and six furlongs for the first time, which looks destined to suit.

Magical
Prince of Wales's Stakes (3.40)
Aidan O'Brien

One or two of Magical's rivals will be fearing a slow-ground running of the Prince of Wales's Stakes but it is clear such circumstances will not inconvenience the Aidan O'Brien-trained filly, who won the Champion Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on soft last season.

Magical rates a rock-solid contender and another bold bid is firmly expected.

Di Fede
Duke of Cambridge Stakes (4.20)
Ralph Beckett

The Ralph Beckett-trained four-year-old clearly has something to find with the key market protagonists on form but soft ground will present no issues to this Shamardal filly.

She disappointed at Chester last month but had rounded off her three-year-old campaign with an ultra-stylish win in an Ascot Listed race on soft ground.

Raising Sand
Royal Hunt Cup (5.00)
Jamie Osborne

Jamie Osborne's hardy campaigner Raising Sand is an Ascot regular and, not only does he thrive at the track, his resume suggests he relishes some dig underfoot.

He was a two-length winner of the Challenge Cup at Ascot last season and boasts a golden piece of handicap form in 2017 which ties in with the last two Queen Anne heroes, Lord Glitters and Accidental Agent.

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