Punters and bookmakers head into battle on day two of Royal Ascot with honours even after yesterday's score draw.
Frankie Dettori's opening day treble, which included victories aboard 2/1 and 9/4 favourites Calyx (G2 Coventry Stakes) and Without Parole (G1 St James's Palace Stakes) respectively were welcome winners for punters. However, the bookies fought back in no part thanks to the 33/1 success of Accidental Agent in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes, in which the well supported 11/4 favourite Benbatl was out of the money.
In the opening race of the day, the G2 Queen Mary Stakes (2.30pm), US handler Wesley Ward bids to record his fourth success in the five-furlong contest with Chelsea Cloisters. The daughter of First Samurai was one of 10 two-year-old winners for Wesley Ward at Keeneland's spring meeting in April and heads the market for the day two curtain-raiser. However, Chelsea Clositers is weak in the market this morning, with Betway pushing the filly out to 10/3 from 9/4. Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Jessica Harrington is seeking a first success at Royal Ascot and her Naas scorer Servalan is the each-way pick for punters at 8/1 from 10/1 with Paddy Power, William Hill, Betfred and bet365.
Aidan O'Brien holds a strong hand in the Queen's Vase (3.05pm) over a mile and six furlongs with Investec Derby ninth Kew Gardens and Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial sixth Nelson sharing favouritism with Betway at 7/2, with the latter being the best backed horse in the race with the firm.
The G2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes (3.40pm) is another puzzle for punters to solve with Aidan O'Brien's Hydrangea, second on her reappearance in a G2 contest at the Curragh, the market leader. However, Ryan Moore's mount is another weak favourite and is 7/4 from 13/8 with William Hill. William Haggas' Urban Fox has attracted each-way support into 8/1 from 10/1 with bet365 and 7/1 from 9/1 with Ladbrokes, whilst Martyn Meade's Wilamina is 7/1 from 9/1 with Ladbrokes.
For bookmakers, the most important race of the day is the 10-furlong G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes (4.20pm). The John Gosden-trained Cracksman, unbeaten in his last five starts, ended 2017 as the world's highest rated three-year-old, achieving a rating of 130 following a devastating seven-length victory in the G1 QIPCO Champion Stakes over the same course and distance on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot in October. The four-year-old son of Frankel is 4/7 from 8/13 with bet365 and Paddy Power, 8/15 with William Hill and Betfred, whilst Coral and Ladbrokes go 4/9.
The ultra competitive Royal Hunt Cup Heritage Handicap (5.00pm) is always a lively betting heat and Irish raider Saltonstall, owned by Godolphin, has been well punted this morning into 9/1 from 12/1 with Betfred and William Hill. Betway, who are paying seven places (1/5 odds) in the mile event, have shortened Kynren into 16/1 from 20/1
The concluding race on day two, the G3 Jersey Stakes (5.35pm) is another trappy affair for punters to sort out, but Aidan O'Brien's Could It Be Love is solid in the market at 4/1 from 5/1 with William Hill. Frankie Dettori, John Gosden and Khalid Abdullah teamed up to win the final race yesterday with Monarchs Glen (Wolferton Stakes) and Newmarket scorer Purser is a market mover with Betfred and Betway into 12/1 from 16/1.
Betway spokesman Ben Cleminson said: "Frankie had a great day yesterday but getting Mirage Dancer beat in the last meant we still ended up ahead as he was the best backed horse of the day.
"Cracksman is of course the horse we need to get beat today and if he is beaten, then we will be in profit again."
Ladbrokes' Nicola McGeady commented: "Frankie fever has swept the nation. All of his mounts today are popular and if they all win, we won't be here tomorrow."
