Dave Nevison's Royal Ascot tips: selections for day two

Roger Varian has clearly campaigned this lightly-raced four-year-old with this race in mind, and what a 'good thing' he must have been when he reappeared in a course and distance handicap for apprentices off a rating of just 80. 

He won easily there and went up 10lb after that victory. He then followed up at Newbury which gave him another 5lb rise, and that ensured that he just got into this contest. 

The Newbury win also suggested he might handle the circumstances of a Royal Hunt Cup as he started slowly and then had to overcome a pace bias to get up to score. He will have no problems with a lack of pace here, and the fast ground will clearly suit him perfectly. 

There is no way this youngster isn’t a future Group contender, but this handicap looks like a very prestigious stepping stone to those high-class events that I believe lie ahead for him.

Rockymountainway might have had a few more races than winners of Royal Ascot handicaps sometimes do, but has improved throughout her career so far and definitely looks to be still on the upgrade. 

She improved massively for her reappearance and ran probably her best race last time out when second in a competitive Kempton handicap. She raced freely on that occasion but still stayed on well enough to suggest (not for the first time) that a mile might suit her well. 

Fast ground is an unknown, but her dam won on firm ground, so I am happy to take that chance and back the four-year-old to get into the frame at the least here. 

Put simply, Rogue Legend has the strongest form in this race by some way, and has more experience than most of his rivals plus will be a cut above the vast majority of the runners here. 

He has only run over the minimum trip, which clearly suits him well whether he makes all the running or makes his challenge later in the race. 

Paddy Twomey has had a brilliant season up to this meeting and his string remain in excellent form. A Royal Ascot win is very much on the cards here. 

Rogue Legend will go off favourite in a big field but, despite the numbers, those at the front of the market have a strong recent record.