Only one Group One on the second day of Royal Ascot, the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at 3:45.

Aiden O’Brien sends out Duke Of Marmalade who, following an impressive 3 year old season has seemed even better this year winning high class races at Longchamp and The Curragh and deserves to go off favourite.

However I don’t think he will have everything his own way with two of his rivals having a good chance to put him in his place.

Literato from Godolphin, if running to his best form of last year has the ability to win this race. The negative is his last two runs have been appalling, running well below form.

Ask from the Sir Michael Stout yard is another high class performer and I believe he still has to show his full potential and at 8/1 is a good each way bet.

The Group Two Windsor Forest Stakes at 3:05 is an interesting contest where the French raider Sabana Perdida will go off favourite. Third in last years renewal she showed further improvement when winning at Lingfield on her seasonal reappearance.

Gerard Butler’s Baharah was disappointing last time out at Epsom when fifth in the Princess Elizabeth stakes, however she has excuses as she ended up being badly placed. At her best she has the ability to take the race.

In the other races the unexposed Calming Influence looks to be a good price in the Jersey Stakes.

The Royal Hunt Cup is one of the more challenging races of the week with 30 runners charging down the straight mile. Bankable will go off a hot favourite but at 7/4 is far too short a price. The question is what will win the race – if my arm was twisted a long way then I may have a few pence each way on Pride Of Nation.

The tricky Queen Mary Stakes could go to Bahamian Babe.

The finale of the second day is the Sandringham and another tricky one to decipher and I fancy one of the longer price contenders, Illusion .  

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