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Horse racing tips

The Punt Daily: Tom Collins with three to follow at Royal Ascot

Hydrangea: looks to have a gilt-edged chance of winning the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes
Hydrangea: looks to have a gilt-edged chance of winning the Duke Of Cambridge StakesCredit: Mark Cranham

BIG-RACE BANKER

Hydrangea(3.40 Ascot)

Aidan O'Brien's filly, who has to give weight all round, looks a class above her rivals here and is probably the most solid market leader of the week (Stradivarius would be but he's not favourite!). The daughter of Galileo proved she was Group 1 class last year with two victories at the highest level, including on Champions Day here in October when smashing Bateel by two lengths. Her return to action behind Opal Tiara at the Curragh was very encouraging given how much O'Brien's horses come on for their reappearance and she should land this prize.

DARK HORSE

Servalan(2.30 Ascot)

I watched Wes Ward's Chelsea Cloisters on her debut at Keeneland and wasn't really taken by her, despite the easy winning margin, and consequently I'm happy to take her on. I like Shades Of Blue but her price is a little short for me and instead I'll be having a bit each-way on Come On Leicester and Jessica Harrington's Servalan. The latter, who impressed when an unlucky second on debut at Dundalk, won well in a Naas Listed race when last seen and looks the perfect sort to go close in the Queen Mary. Provided she can hang with them early, her stamina should come to the fore and Colm O'Donoghue can enter the winner's enclosure.

EACH-WAY PLAY

Firmament(5.00 Ascot)

I'm an avid follower of Firmament when he runs at Ascot as he handles the track so well and, now dropped down to a mark of 101, 8lb lower than the rating he ran off all of last season, he looks primed to run a huge race from a nice draw in the Royal Hunt Cup. There's plenty of pace drawn on Firmament's side, although Zhui Feng will probably take the whole field along on the other side of the track, and Danny Tudhope should be able to pull him out late having had a nice run into the race. He runs his best races in big fields, ran well when beaten just under four lengths in the Victoria Cup from the wrong side of the track and David O'Meara is a man to follow in these kind of races.


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Published on 20 June 2018inHorse racing tips

Last updated 17:53, 19 June 2018

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