Wednesday’s Racing Tips: Wesley Ward speedball to get backers off to a flyer

Flat racing holds sway across Britain on Wednesday with five meetings taking place across the afternoon and into the evening. First off is Stratford before they go at Hamilton, Royal Ascot, Nottingham and Brighton.

Among Wednesday's racing tips is one who looks a proper speedball for American trainer Wesley Ward and the yard is no stranger to success in the race.

14:30 Royal Ascot - Ultima Grace @ 10/1

The opening race on the second day of Royal Ascot is the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes over the flying 5f, and it will be interesting to see if Diego Dias' Make Haste can live up to the hype after her impressive debut Naas victory.

At a bigger price, there's a lot to like about Wesley Ward's ULTIMA GRACE, who showed serious gears when winning a maiden at Keeneland on dirt in April.

Sent off at odds of 1/10 on her debut, she was clearly expected to win cosily and she knew her job. The form of that contest is nothing to shout about, but Ultima Grace has reportedly been working well on grass, and American Pharoah's eight top-level winners all came on turf.

15:45 Royal Ascot - Royal Dress @ 9/1

A very unlucky loser in the Princess Elizabeth at Epsom when last seen, ROYAL DRESS is an improving filly and she can take another step up in class in her stride and land the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes over a mile.

The Night Of Thunder filly won a Listed contest at Goodwood in May on her first start for the James Tate yard after leaving Richard Hannon, and at Epsom when last seen her run was blocked when seemingly full of running under Ben Coen.

Beaten less than a length into third on that occasion, Royal Dress was definitely the horse to take out of the race, and providing she can prove her effectiveness on faster ground, she has a big chance.

17:05 Royal Ascot - Real Gain @ 17/2

Moving on to the Royal Hunt Cup over the straight mile and the horse who catches the eye is REAL GAIN as William Buick has been given the ride on him for the first time.

Lightly raced, the son of Profitable has won three of his six career starts, the latest coming over 1m1f at Newmarket last September when battering the field off a mark of 91 having been sent off a well-backed favourite.

Soft ground probably scuppered his chance when a disappointing fifth in the Group 3 Darley at Newmarket in October, and he did best of those drawn very low when tenth in the Spring Cup at Newbury on his return in April.

With the cobwebs blown away, he still remains well treated and his high draw in stall 29 shouldn't be an issue depending on what side of the track is favoured on the day.

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Find more Horse Racing Tips here at Betfred Insights