Royal Ascot 2022 tips: Best bets for the final three days

Michael Bell struck with The Lir Jet, who arrived at Ascot with just the solitary run to his name, in the 2020 Norfolk stakes and I think he can repeat the trick on Thursday with the impressive BRAVE NATION who put up a scintillating performance when successful on debut at Doncaster.

The form of that race has received a small boost since, too, as Edgar Linton, who was beaten just over six lengths in third, has scored since.

Sioux Nation, who won this race in 2017, has also made a good start to his stallion career, already producing eight winners at a decent strike-rate of 20 per cent.

Being drawn next to The Antarctic in stall nine is no bad thing here as I expect James Doyle to ride the selection close to the pace, and I am confident he’ll finish off his race strongly. Brave Nation is a general 11-1.

Big price chance: Clive Cox is a brilliant trainer of fast two-year olds and he runs Redemption Day, a son of Harry Angel who Cox trained so brilliantly to win two Group Ones. His youngster has been progressing steadily and gained a deserved win on his third start when showing good pace at Bath this month and although he has three lengths to find with Walbank on the form of their Ascot run in May, he was hampered on that occasion and was better than the bare result. At a double-figure price, he can hit the frame.

It’s a shame that we don’t get to see Statuette line-up here, as a daughter of Triple Crown winner, Justify, she would have only added to the wonderful international flavour of the week.

Aidan O’Brien is still well represented with current market leader, Meditate, who will aim to keep her unbeaten run intact and sets a good standard. As her name suggests, she races in a relaxed manner, and that should not be underestimated as some of these fillies will fail to handle the occasion and will therefore compromise their chances well before the business end of the race.

However, sometimes a performance just captures your imagination, and MAWJ did just that when bolting up at Newmarket on her debut in May. She was bumped and buffeted leaving the stalls and, while that would have bothered many, she remained well focussed.

She travelled powerfully in behind the leaders and shot clear when asked for her effort under minimal driving from Ray Dawson, lengthening her advantage all the way to the line which suggests this stiff six will suit.

She’s been my standout filly so far this season, and I’ll be disappointed if she doesn’t win this. Mawj is a general 100-30.

Big price chance: Royal Scotsman ran a mighty race in the Coventry on Tuesday when finishing third for Paul and Oliver Cole, and while stablemate She’s Hot has plenty to find on official figures here, she has been given plenty of time since making her debut on the all-weather at Kempton in March.

The winner of that race, Ocean Cloud, defied a penalty when beating the colts next time suggesting the form has some substance, and She’s Hot was staying on well over the five-furlong trip. If she has progressed in the three-months since, then she can outrun her huge double-figure odds.

Perhaps this race doesn’t have the glamour and prestige associated with some of the other two-year old races of the week, given that it holds only Listed status, but it’s a race that is more than capable of throwing up a future top-class performer, such as Pinatubo who won the 2019 renewal.

Aidan O’Brien has trained the last two winners of this race and, four out of the last six, so it’s safe to say he knows the type of colt it takes to land the spoils.

With a winning debut next to his name, ALFRED MUNNINGS lines up with a similar profile to O’Brien’s last two winners - Battleground and Point Lonsdale - who both arrived at Ascot with just one run to their name. Like Alfred Munnings, Point Lonsdale had won over this trip, too.

Alfred Munnings was picture perfect on his debut at Leopardstown. He broke smartly, raced in a relaxed manner and wasn’t hard pushed to win comfortably. The fourth-placed horse, Voce Del Palio, has given the form a small boost by winning on his next start as well.

As a Dubawi half-brother to Snowfall, Alfred Munnings represents a changing of ethos within Coolmore, who for so long shunned any progeny of stallions of their great rivals, Godolphin. Whilst winning a Listed contest will not automatically secure a future place at stud, it can be an important first step on what could be an exciting career both on and off the racecourse for the youngster. I’ll be staggered if he doesn’t comfortably win this.