Royal Ascot: Jack Nicol's Tote Placepot picks for Saturday

As ever, it's been a fantastic week of action at Royal Ascot. Highly competitive racing throughout on quick ground and that has contributed to fair racing and the best horses coming to the fore.

There have still been some big-priced winners, though, although mainly in the juvenile races, and that has produced some bumper returns in the Placepot, particularly on Tuesday where there was a £5,406.50 payout to a £1 stake.

I've got a perm consisting of 108 lines to consider. Best of luck with whatever you're playing on in Saturday's Placepot:

The first leg has been the stumbling block for many this week so I am keen to ensure safe passage is made, particularly as it is the only juvenile race on the card, so three selections go to post in the opener.

Charlie Appleby and Godolphin endured a tough time at last year's meeting and have so far drawn a blank (at the time of writing) this time around. That being said, Age of Gold was the one two-year-old I was most looking forward to seeing this week and will keep the faith despite the aforementioned concern with stable form.

The Frankel colt was highly-touted prior to his debut at Yarmouth and backed that up with an impressive victory despite obvious greenness and he's going to have learnt plenty for it with an extra furlong also certain to suit.

Pentle Bay and Motawahij complete the attack. The former did really well to beat experienced rivals on debut, staying on strongly to score close home. The New Bay colt was sold for £400,000 on Monday evening and this step up to a stiff seven furlongs looks ideal at this early stage of his career. The latter is still a maiden (maidens have won seven of the last 18 renewals) but showed plenty of promise when chasing home the speedier Catalyse at Hamilton and this race has reportedly been the target ever since.

Selections: Age Of Gold (1), Motawahij (10) and Pentle Bay (11)

Getting the favourites beaten is the obvious angle in the Placepot but I find it hard to get away from Continuous in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes.

The colt is the only Group 1 winner in the line-up and may just prove a class apart with no penalty to carry, despite this being his seasonal reappearance. Indeed, races like the King George VI and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe are sure to be on his agenda this season. He really should be winning this.

Aidan O'Brien did sound a minor warning that Continuous will improve for this seasonal outing, so I have been tempted into taking Candleford as a saver. The William Haggas-trained six-year-old was one of the most impressive winners at this meeting back in 2022 and he absolutely relishes fast-ground and racing right-handed. Conditions are set up for him to run a huge race at a big price.

Selections: Candleford (1) and Continuous (2)

Another trappy race to navigate here but I have been impressed with Mitbaahy since joining Charlie Hills this season and think this race could be tailormade for the five-year-old.

A good winner of the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes at The Curragh last month, his hold-up racing style is perfect for Jamie Spencer and can see the pair swooping fast and late again here, although stall 1 could pose problems in finding cover in the early stages.

Shartash has turned inside out since being gelded and is unbeaten in two starts for Archie Watson. Those efforts came over seven furlongs but he's a horse who has always shown good speed earlier in his career and this stiff six furlongs will not be a problem.

Finally, Swingalong looks to be going under the radar. She was a fine third in last year's Commonwealth Cup, so we know she likes and acts on the track, and her seasonal reappearance at York smacked of a prep race for bigger targets, essentially this race. She's not to be underestimated and rates a good differential pick from a Placepot perspective.

Selection: Mitbaahy (6), Shartash (8) and Swingalong (13)

We're being bold in leg four with Riber Tiber going in as the sole selection. He's the class act here.

That being said, he's looked a colt stuck between two stools in terms of his ideal trip and this intermediate seven furlongs may just prove to be his optimum, with the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat sure to be a logical target after this if proving successful.

The Wootton Bassett colt was a good winner of the Coventry Stakes on the straight track here last year and I fully expect him to reverse the form with Haatem on their Irish Guineas running last time out, especially with the latter carrying a 3lb penalty for his Craven success back in April.

Selections: River Tiber (14)

The Wokingham Stakes - my favourite race of the year! For me it doesn't get any better than trying to solve this race with 27 runner set to go to post in this year's renewal.

A key starting point is trying to find out where you want to be drawn and while I'd usually favour the higher numbers, all of the main pace looks to be drawn in the lower numbers and focus starts there.

I'm expecting Apollo One, The Bell Conductor and Lethal Levi to force a searching gallop on the far-rail and that should give an ideal tow to the rapidly-improving Unequal Love, who goes in the main selection in the race. 

The four-year-old won in good style on reappearance in Newmarket last month and consolidated that effort with a fine fifth in the aforementioned Group 2 Greenlands Stakes at The Curragh. Surprisingly, the handicapper let her stay on her mark off 102 on the back of that career-best effort and she's expected to go very well under the guidance of Tom Marquand.

I am loathe to leave the high numbers alone, so happy to add Dark Trooper for James Doyle and Wathnan Racing. They've already struck on the near-rail with English Oak this week and this fellow loves it here having won two of his three starts over course-and-distance when in the care of Ed Walker. 

With previous course form often coming to the fore, Dark Trooper is a worthy addition to your Placepot and so is Orazio. The five-year-old has had plenty of excuses but was sent off 7/2 favourite in this race last year and it would be no surprise to see him pop up at some point. He is clearly a very good work horse at home for Charlie Hills but just needs it all to click on the racecourse. 

Selection: Unequal Love (9), Dark Trooper (10) and Orazio (14)

William Buick, Harry Charlton and owner Mohammed Jaber combined to hit the bar with King's Gambit on Thursday but they can gain compensation with Hand Of God in the Golden Gates Handicap, the final leg of the Placepot on Saturday.

The three-year-old has been put away for this race since winning gamely at Sandown in April and the step up to 10 furlongs is sure to bring about further improvement, with a rating of 91 still looking to be some way below his eventual ceiling.

Palace Green looked a blatant non-stayer at York last time out and the drop back in trip should see him competitive under the guidance of Oisin Murphy. He'd looked good when dominating at Kempton the time before and is another who still looks to be ahead of his mark.

Selections:  Hand Of God (8) and Palace Green (9)