Royal Ascot 2022: Dave Nevison’s best bets for day two

Day two of Royal Ascot doesn’t feature any short-priced good things and it looks a tough punting card. However, I will be very disappointed if my tip for the Royal Hunt Cup doesn’t put up a bold show on a track he has run very well at on previous visits.

Karl Burke is one of the best trainers of two-year-olds in Britain and often has his runners ready to win first time out.

I would be surprised if the trainer was expecting quite the performance that this filly put up on her debut when she destroyed what has proved to be a useful field at Newmarket. Malrescia, who was beaten four lengths, has since won twice.

This massive field of fillies will represent a different test but Dramatised led and quickened notably in the last furlong at Newmarket, putting up a terrific speed figure for a juvenile.

It is interesting that Burke’s other filly in the race, Yahtak, who went down very narrowly in a Listed event last time, has always been a much bigger price for this race and is clearly not held in the same regard.

Is one of few lightly raced types in the field and he signalled that he is still on an upward curve on his latest start with a win in a small field at Nottingham that ensured he got into this cavalry charge.

There were high expectations for Dark Shift at this time last season after three good runs in 6f novice company and he did not initially live up to them. But he was back on track by September when he came from last to first in a handicap over 7f here and he followed up over this mile on his final start in October.

A strong pace is guaranteed, which will suit him perfectly, and crack Australian jockey James Macdonald, who is over to ride sprinter Nature Strip, looks a good booking by Charles Hills.

Although she was beaten off today’s mark in another massive field at the Curragh last time, this filly has clearly improved for the move to Joseph O’Brien and I fancy her to get back on the winning trail.

Haziya has been backed into relatively short-priced favouritism on both her starts and bolted up first time, clearly showing her mark was far too lenient.

Despite her pedigree, which point to middle distances, it seems O’Brien has identified she wants shorter trips and given the way she travelled last time I feel she may be very well suited by this drop down to 7f here.

Michael Sheehy, on board for both her excellent runs this season, keeps the ride and Haziya is certain to have a good pace to run at.