Perfect Power is undoubtedly the one to beat in the Commonwealth Cup on the penultimate afternoon of Royal Ascot.
The Richard Fahey-trained colt was a real star for his North Yorkshire handler last season, winning the Norfolk Stakes at this meeting from a good one in Go Bears Go, before being desperately unlucky at Glorious Goodwood.
He showed just how unlucky when picking up Group One prizes via the Prix Morny and Middle Park, and reappeared this season with a first try over seven furlongs in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury.
In winning there it was understandable that connections wanted to try the mile of the 2000 Guineas, but it was not a massive surprise that he did not stay.
This return to six furlongs should be much more his thing and it will take a pretty good one to beat him, all things being equal.
A red-hot renewal of the Albany Stakes can see Saeed bin Suroor back in the big-race limelight with Mawj.
Beautifully-bred as a half-sister to Breeders' Cup and French 2000 Guineas winner Modern Games, as well as Listed scorer Modern News, the Shamardal filly looked really smart with her winning debut at Newmarket over six furlongs last month.
Breaking well, she had to be stoked up a bit over a furlong out but once the penny dropped she fairly rocketed clear, winning by four and three-quarter lengths under just hands and heels.
Runner-up Believing, who reopposes, did the form no harm at all when winning at Wolverhampton, where she lost about 12 lengths at the start and still proved good enough.
Taking centre stage on the card is the Coronation Stakes, which looks a cracker
A case can be made for plenty of them, but perhaps the safest proposition is Cachet, the 1000 Guineas winner who went extremely close to a Classic double in the French equivalent.
George Boughey's three-year-old rarely runs a bad race and even though she would probably prefer to be at Newmarket rather than Ascot, she has run a couple of good races here in defeat. Inspiral might prove to be a cut above but she does not make much appeal at the prices after so long off the track.
Lysander was something of a talking horse prior to the Derby but ultimately missed Epsom after finishing third in Listed company at Goodwood.
However, there was still promise in that effort and with that outing under his belt, there is every reason to expect a big run in the King Edward VII Stakes.
Just Fine was flagged as one of the best chances of the week for the Queen so he is worth a good look in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes.
He should be a lot sharper for his run at York when third to Gaassee, when he was a shade tardy from the stalls and in rear, before staying on nicely.
He was not given a hard time when it was obvious his chance had gone and a popular victory appears within his grasp.
Ruthin is the pick for Wesley Ward and Irad Ortiz Jr in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes, while the Andrew Balding-trained Wilderness Girl could be a player in the Sandringham Stakes with top apprentice Harry Davies on board.
SELECTIONS:
ROYAL ASCOT: 2.30 Mawj, 3.05 PERFECT POWER (NAP), 3.40 Just Fine, 4.20 Cachet, 5.00 Wilderness Girl, 5.35 Lysander, 6.10 Ruthin.
AYR: 5.12 Asean Legend, 5.47 Iris Dancer, 6.22 Flying Moon, 6.57 Spantik, 7.32 Sixcor, 8.05 Otto Oyl, 8.37 Yaaser.
DOWN ROYAL: 4.55 Hilltop Gold, 5.30 Baby Rosabella, 6.05 Collective Power, 6.40 Little Queenie, 7.15 Lakota Seven, 7.50 Texas Sun, 8.20 Ever Rock.
GOODWOOD: 5.25 Borough, 6.00 Madame Ambassador, 6.35 Way Of Life, 7.10 Chief White Face, 7.45 Thundersquall, 8.15 Golden Sands.
LIMERICK: 5.40 Tai Sing Yeh, 6.15 Craft Irish, 6.50 Galleria Borghese, 7.25 Earl Of Tyrone, 8.00 Five Zeros, 8.30 Waterville.
MARKET RASEN: 1.00 Fast Forward, 1.35 Whatcoloristhewind, 2.10 The Bold Thady, 2.45 Art Man, 3.20 Costly Diamond, 3.55 Post No Bills, 4.35 Ilanz.
NEWMARKET: 5.16 Legende D'Art, 5.54 Self Praise, 6.29 Judith, 7.04 Cosmic Desert, 7.39 Total Lockdown, 8.10 Divine Magic, 8.44 Thakrah.
REDCAR: 1.20 What A Dude, 1.50 Tuxedo Junction, 2.20 Rollajam, 2.55 Cassy O, 3.30 Hajjam, 4.10 Time To Rumble, 4.50 Ey Up Its The Boss, 5.21 Proclivity.
DOUBLE: Perfect Power and Just Fine.
