UK Horse Racing Tips: Royal Ascot

PORTA FORTUNA showed a pleasing attitude to make a successful start to her career at the Curragh and then made it two out of two when gamely holding off Navassa Island in a Group 3 at Naas. The daughter of Caravaggio should continue to progress, although the runner-up was making her debut on that occasion so will be a big danger again. Newmarket winner Jabaara is a contender for a trainer who knows what it takes to land this prize, while Aidan O'Brien was victorious with Meditate 12 months ago and has another likely candidate in Curragh scorer Matrika. Impressive Doncaster winner Carla's Way and Soprano, who did it well at Newmarket, are a couple more to consider.
Prediction : 1st Porta Fortuna 2nd Navassa Island 3rd Jabaara

LITTLE BIG BEAR put his 2000 Guineas disappointment behind him when recording a comfortable success in the Sandy Lane at Haydock and Aidan O'Brien's classy sprinter, who was mightily impressive in the Phoenix Stakes last season, is difficult to oppose back at the top table. Sakheer can resume his progression down in trip, having finished ahead of the selection at Newmarket, while Cheveley Park heroine Lezoo should not be underestimated with her fillies' allowance. Shaquille made it four on the trot when claiming Listed honours at Newbury and the progressive colt looks worth a crack at this level, while others to note include Ocean Quest and Shouldvebeenaring.
Prediction : 1st Little Big Bear 2nd Sakheer 3rd Lezoo

Things appeared to finally click for Al Nafir when registering his first triumph on the turf in the Old Rowley Cup at Newmarket in October and is one to note on his return to action, despite facing a 10lb rise in the handicap. Preference, however, is for the progressive TEUMESSIAS FOX, who has proved a different proposition since undergoing a gelding operation. Andrew Balding's four-year-old will need to overcome a 7lb increase in the ratings after an authoritative display at Newmarket, but looks capable of doing so. Nagano may have a lengthy layoff to contend with, but is an intriguing contender given what he achieved in 2021. His stablemate Aimeric is another to consider on the back of a Doncaster triumph.
Prediction : 1st Teumessias Fox 2nd Al Nafir 3rd Nagano

TAHIYRA lost her unbeaten record when going down by half a length to Mawj in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, with the pair well clear, but got a Classic victory on her CV when accounting for Meditate in the Irish version. Dermot Weld's top-class filly will be a warm order here and should be able to add a third Group 1 to her tally. She also had Meditate trailing in her wake in last year's Moyglare, but Aidan O'Brien's Breeders' Cup heroine could still be dangerous after taking a step forward at the Curragh. Further progression cannot be ruled out for Queen For You, who was pipped by Sounds Of Heaven at York but is out of a mare who won this for the Gosden team.
Prediction : 1st Tahiyra 2nd Meditate 3rd Queen For You

Coppice disappointed when sent off favourite in the Nell Gwyn, but she made no mistake when winning at Newcastle thereafter. An opening mark of 97 could underestimate the daughter of Kingman and she features prominently in calculations, along with recent Killarney scorer Ma Belle Artiste. Jackie Oh was far from disgraced in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and she merits respect, for all that her current mark doesn't look the most lenient. Chelsea Green is another to note, but marginal preference is for MARKSMAN QUEEN. She lost her unbeaten record at Kempton 16 days ago, but the daughter of Dubawi competes from a handy racing weight today and has further scope to progress now switched to turf. Girl Racer, Dream Of Love and Zouzanna are just a handful of other contenders in a typically wide-open renewal.
Prediction : 1st Marksman Queen 2nd Coppice 3rd Ma Belle Artiste

KING OF STEEL made up for his pre-race antics in the Dante when outrunning his odds to finish second in the Derby behind Auguste Rodin. That was an excellent performance, considering it was his first run of the year, and, providing he is over those exertions, Roger Varian's colt may prove a tough nut to crack. Arrest (10th) fared worst of those who went to Epsom, finishing behind Artistic Star (seventh) and Dubai Mile (ninth), but this more conventional track is likely to see him in a much better light, providing the ground doesn't get too quick for him. Artistic Star wasn't at all disgraced that day and the son of Galileo is likely to have more improvement to come, while Continuous is better than his display in the Prix du Jockey Club suggests.
Prediction : 1st King Of Steel 2nd Arrest 3rd Artistic Star

Although this is only the fourth renewal of this contest, fillies have tended to do well, including when placing in second and third last year, so it may pay to take a chance on Andrew Balding's FRANKNESS. The daughter of Frankel justified strong support when gaining a third career success at Goodwood earlier in the month and won with enough in hand on that occasion to suggest that a 5lb rise is manageable. Conquistador found a drop in trip to his liking when winning for new connections at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day and a 3lb rise for his gritty 6f success at Lingfield in March shouldn't prevent another bold bid now switched to turf. The lightly-raced Tawalla also bids for a hat-trick and is another to note under a 6lb penalty for last week's Kempton triumph.
Prediction : 1st Frankness 2nd Conquistador 3rd Tawalla