Royal Ascot tips: Your best bets and NAP for Wednesday's racing at Ascot from Callum Jamieson

WE started with a profitable first day thanks to Addeybb's exploits in the lucky last – here's for more on Wednesday.

The rain has definitely got into the ground though and could change things on Day 2.

Nothing tickles my fancy in the opening Queen Mary from a betting perspective. Wesley Ward loves this race though and he'll be gutted the rain has come as that could be to the detriment of his pair in this – Kimari and Anna's Fast.

So onto the Queen's Vase and my strongest bet of the day.

NORWAY (Ascot, 3.05, NAP) should take all the beating for the imperious Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore. He's been found in the betting after Moore went for this chap over stablemate Western Australia, but still looks a decent price from a win perspective.

By Galileo you know he'll be going strongly at the end of the race and his run at Chester suggested he needed this longer trip before long.

His Derby run is easy to ignore, and as shown on the opening day with Circus Maximus, ignore Aidan's Epsom also rans at your peril.

This isn't a strong renewal of this Group 2 and O'Brien has a brilliant record in this race. Last year he won it with Kew Gardens and this horse has a very similar profile.

Next up is the red-hot Prince of Wales's and unfortunately it looks as if the magic eight runners will become seven with Sea Of Class's participation in the balance after Tuesday's rain.

It's a shame as it lessens the appeal of an each-way bet on ZABEEL PRINCE (Ascot, 3.40) with only the front two potentially being paid out on.

He's got a very odd profile for a top-level horse, but is still lightly-raced and has improved leaps and bounds this season. This extra distance should suit and I still rate his Earl Of Sefton win as one of the best races of the season in this category, despite its Group 3 status.

I also think he'll enjoy the ground plenty more than the variety of his rivals and looks wildly over-priced at double figures.

Ascot Day 2

3.05 – Norway (NAP)

3.40 – Zabeel Prince (EW)

5.00 – What's The Story (EW)

Finally we head to the cavalry charge that is the Hunt Cup. It goes without saying but there's no easy pickings in this, but I'm keen to take on the top two in the betting at the prices and with the draw not being kind to either on the face of it.

My each-way dart goes to WHAT'S THE STORY (Ascot, 5.00) for the flying Keith Dalgleish team.

He has plenty of form on soft ground and looks nicely treated off the back of his York romp recently. He was fourth in this last season off only 2lbs lower and that was on conditions that wouldn't have seen him to best effect.

A straight mile is perfect for him and in my book he looks to have improved since being gelded over the winter and he remains lightly-raced for a horse in handicaps such as this.

For more from Callum, catch his thoughts and tips for the great game on Twitter here

Source: Read Full Article