Lord North is now 4/1* with the sponsors to win the Coral Eclipse after an impressive win in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes on the second day of Royal Ascot. However, the best-backed horse of the day was Tactical who won the Windsor Castle Stakes. The horse is owned by the Queen who had her first winner at her favourite meeting since 2016 and 24th in total.
Japan ran below his best in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. The favourite missed the break and was taken to the back of the field by the jockey, Ryan Moore. Japan did not reproduce his best rating and even if he ran to his best, beating Lord North would not be guaranteed. The winner came from last to first and travelled well into the race while Japan ran too keenly.
Lord North has been gelded so is lighter on his feet. The horse cannot have a career as a stallion so will probably be kept in training next season. The Eclipse at Sandown is now looking like one of the races of the season. Despite the Group 1 success at Ascot, Lord North will struggle to give weight to the filly Enable who is the current 5/4* favourite for the Coral sponsored race.
For more information about the horses, read our page dedicated to Royal Ascot runners.
Prince of Wales’s Stakes Results
| Result | Runner | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Lord North | 5/1 |
| 2nd | Addeybb | 7/2 |
| 3rd | Barney Roy | 8/1 |
Tactical could have been backed at 7/1 for the Windsor Palace Stakes yesterday but was sent off the 3/1 favourite for the first juvenile race of the meeting. The Queen’s horse showed speed at the start and plenty in reserve to take control of the race inside the final furlong. It was the sixth Royal Ascot winner for James Doyle, the jockey. The result gave a massive form boost to Eye Of Heaven who has now shortened in the betting to 2/*1 for the Norfolk Stakes on Friday.
The Royal Hunt Cup is in theory one of the most competitive handicaps at Royal Ascot. However, Dark Vision was better value than the winning margin of one and a quarter lengths. The horse won the Vintage Stakes as a two-year-old so was a Group winner running in a handicap. Dark Vision was well backed and won the race despite not getting a clear run. The horse could now return to Group company and the trainer, Mark Johnston, now has a progressive animal in his stable.
Royal Hunt Cup Results:
| Result | Runner | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Dark Vision | 15/2 |
| 2nd | Montatham | 8/1 |
| 3rd | Pogo | 25/1 |
| 4th | Vale Of Kent | 22/1 |
The Hampton Court Stakes was the only other Group race on the second day. The Group 2 contest over one mile and two furlongs could have identified a potential Derby contender. Russian Emperor won the race with a bit in hand and the Aidan O’Brien horse is now 12/1* to win the Epsom Classic on July 4th. The trainer has won the Derby seven times and Russian Emperor was placed in Ireland’s most important English Derby trial. First Receiver finished second for the Queen so could be targeted at the Derby which the owner has not won.
Hampton Court Stakes Results:
| Result | Runner | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Russian Emperor | 10/3 |
| 2nd | First Receiver | 9/4 Favourite |
| 3rd | Berlin Tango | 4/1 |
The second day programme was completed by three handicaps, including the Silver Hunt Cup which is a consolation race for that heritage handicap. The main event and the silver race are run over the straight mile at Ascot. The top weight, Sir Busker, won the consolation race ridden by Oisin Murphy. The champion jockey was recording the first of many career successes at the Royal meeting. Sir Busker did not go unbacked and won the race at the Starting Price of 12/1.
In taking the King V Stakes Handicap aboard Hukum also at 12/1, Jim Crowley was winning his fourth race of the meeting but only his ninth in total. The former jumps jockey is now the 2/1* second favourite behind Ryan Moore to be the leading jockey at Royal Ascot 2020. Hukum gave Owen Burrows his first Royal Ascot winner as a trainer. In an open year, connections could consider the Derby and the latest price for Hukum to win the premier Classic is 33/1*.
If Collide had won the closing Copper Horse Handicap, one punter would have won the £100,000 prize for an all-correct ITV 7. However, the 3/1 favourite, Fujaira Prince, turned the race into a procession and prevailed by an easy three and three quarter lengths. This winner looked like another Group horse running in a handicap and bigger targets lie ahead. The ITV 7 is carried over to the third day and any single winner will pocket £150,000 but that is shared if there is more than one winner.
After the second of five days of Royal Ascot 2020 the standings and winners are as follows:
Leading Jockey
| Jockey | Points |
|---|---|
| Jim Crowley | 4 |
| James Doyle | 2 |
| Ryan Moore | 2 |
| Andrea Atzeni | 1 |
| William Buick | 1 |
| Oisin Murphy | 1 |
| Thore Hammer Hansen | 1 |
| Martin Dwyer | 1 |
| Frankie Dettori | 1 |
Leading Trainer
| Trainer | Points |
|---|---|
| John Gosden | 3 |
| Aidan O’Brien | 2 |
| Roger Varian | 1 |
| Andrew Balding | 1 |
| Mark Johnston | 1 |
| Owen Burrows | 1 |
| William Knight | 1 |
| Alan King | 1 |
| Charlie Hills | 1 |
| William Muir | 1 |
| Richard Hannon | 1 |
The race to be the top trainer is going to form with the first two in the betting at the start of the week in first and second place. John Gosden is in excellent shape because he trains Stradivarius. The horse is the odds-on favourite to win the Gold Cup, ridden by Frankie Dettori. Stradivarius has won the race in the last two years and a third win is on the cards. The other Group race on the card is the Jersey Stakes. The favourite is King Leonidas for Gosden and Dettori. Their runner will have to produce something special to upstage Stradivarius from whom we should see a Frankie flying dismount. The champion stayer can become just the third horse to win three or more Gold Cups.
*You should have in mind that the odds can change before the event. Make sure to check them regularly in order to make an informed decision when you want to place your bet.
