Ascot Tips: Quickthorn to get away on the front

It's a busy Wednesday afternoon with the Punchestown Festival continuing, but we focus on the action at Ascot, where it's Royal Ascot trials day.

The card kicks off at 1.10 with the concluding race at 5.10 and we've picked out a trio of selections including a previous course winner in the feature race. So - our Ascot tips are as follows;

Ascot 13:40 - Kingdom Come @ 9/1

The official trial for the Queen Anne only has five runners declared but there's plenty of depth in the field for a Listed contest.

There's nothing to separate Epictetus and Maljoom on official ratings. Both come into the contest with a mark of 112 but there's a decent chance that both of those runners will need this outing and it could be a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

The only one that arrives with a recent run under his belt is Kingdom Come and that was a career best when beaten just a short head in the All-Weather Championships Mile Handicap at Newcastle.

Clive Cox's representative was possibly a little unlucky that day, making his effort a fraction too soon. However, if he can continue on his upward trajectory back on turf, he could outrun his odds with a potential fitness edge on his side, particularly if the ground continues to dry out.

Ascot 14:15 - Quickthorn @ 7/2

The Sagaro Stakes is the feature race on the card. Three-time course winner Trueshan returns to action in this contest after being a well-held favourite in this race last year.

The eight-year-old lacks a recent run and he's also arriving on the back of wind surgery. All things considered. He looks a bit short in the betting and there's a decent chance he'll be better for this outing. He also has to give 7lb to each of his rivals.

Coltrane is another multiple course winner but ended last season on a low note and didn't show enough on Dubai World Cup night when last seen.

The one that might be worth siding with is Quickthorn. He clearly wasn't right when behind Coltrane at York when last seen but that was on the back of a Group 1 success earlier in the month and he may have found that run coming a little too soon.

There's potential for an uncontested lead in this small five-runner field and if he is left alone up front, could prove hard to catch.

Ascot 14:50 - Got To Love A Grey @ 11/1

The other Group 3 contest on the card, the Commonwealth Cup trial, looks a bit more competitive and there's a chance that Got To Love A Grey can continue on her upward curve.

She's looked very promising in five starts so far, winning three of her first four and she shaped like she was ready for a stiffer test when sixth in a Group 3 at Chantilly last month.

The filly ran a belter in the Queen Mary here last season, an effort worth marking up having been drawn lower than ideal, and she can resume progress here with fitness on her side.

Horse Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.