Royal Ascot tilt likely as Royal Velvet strikes at Lingfield

Seven-furlong specialist Royal Velvet could have booked her ticket to Royal Ascot when continuing on an upward curve in weaving her way to William Hill Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes victory at Lingfield.

William Knight’s five-year-old began her year by winning a competitive handicap at Newmarket and was trying Group Three company for the first time in the hands of William Buick.

Buick was stuck on the rail in mid-division in the early stages, but manoeuvred himself in the perfect position to pounce two furlongs from home and having found the ideal opening the 11-8 favourite stormed home to down the front-running La Brodeuse by three-quarters of a length.

Knight said: “She’s just been nicely progressive and it’s nice to get some important black type on her page. I’m delighted and she’s certainly enhanced her paddock value.

“She’s took the move up in grade well and William has given a beautiful ride there. We were conscious not to get caught in on the rail and he made sure he angled out for a run and he gets on so well with her.”

Although Royal Velvet’s most recent successes have come over seven furlongs, she has previously won over a mile and could now be poised to again step up in distance with a trip to the Royal meeting for Group Two action at that distance entering the equation.

Knight added: “Where we go now I’m not entirely sure and on the seven-furlong Pattern there is not a load of fillies’ races. We might have to consider stepping up to a mile and she’s given us plenty of food for thought.

“The Duke of Cambridge at Royal Ascot is sort of what I’ve got in the back of my mind and she’s doing us all proud at the moment.”