Royal Ascot Day 2 Tips: Owen’s picks for every race on Wednesday

More Thunder? Second. Gstaad? Second. Gamrai? Second. Tim Toe, advised at 20/1 each way, secured a bit of place money, but overall it was a very frustrating start to Royal Ascot.

Hopefully some of those near-misses turn into hits on Wednesday. Here's my Royal Ascot Day 2 tips.

14:30 - Shimmering Sun each way @ 20/1

In what looks a red-hot renewal of the Queen Mary, I'm taking a swing at the aptly-named SHIMMERING SUN at a big price.

The daughter of Havana Grey, who runs in the colours of Betfred Oaks heroine Thundering On, is trained in Newmarket by Harry Eustace, who's got a superb record at Royal Ascot.

Last year, he enjoyed a Group 1 double, taking the Queen Anne and Commonwealth Cup, which took his overall record at the meeting to four wins and four places from just 12 runners. Very, very good.

His Shimmering Sun comes into Wednesday's race off the back of winning a modest novice at Salisbury last month, so she's got to improve, but that's rates a very likely scenario.

Under the outstanding Dylan Browne McMonagle, she's the each-way play for me in one of Betfred's Extra Place Races, with 5 available instead of 3.

15:05 - Gailyan @ 9/4

I was very taken by GALIYAN at Chester last time out, and I think there's a lot more to come in the Queen's Vase.

Andrew Balding's three-year-old son of Galiway was a significant eyecatcher in a hot novice at Newmarket on debut back in April, before beating the odds-on Joulany by just over two lengths on the Roodee.

The runner-up wasn't beaten far behind subsequent Betfred Derby second Maltese Cross at Newbury previously, so chances are it's a pretty strong piece of form.

The selection shapes like the step up to 1m6f will suit, and like he's ready for the step up to Group level. Fingers crossed.

15:40 - Friendly Soul @ 4/1

She's clearly not easy to train, but if on a going day FRIENDLY SOUL is very much the one to beat in the Duke Of Cambridge.

John & Thady Gosden's five-year-old Kingman mare has won five of her seven starts to date, with excuses for both of those defeats. In the Musidora at York in May two years ago, she was never going well and hung right-handed throughout. Forget it.

Last time out, on return from a 594-day layoff having missed a season through injury, she was still on the bridle when stumbling in a hole about two furlongs out in a Listed affair at Haydock. She was, sensibly, eased right off it and soon pulled-up by Oisin Murphy.

Her victories over Wednesday's course and distance in July 2024, plus the G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines in Paris that October, set the standard in this field of 15 and a replication - let alone an improved effort which is possible - could be enough to see her back in the winners' enclosure.

16:20 - Ombudsman @ 5/4

Race of the week? Of the year?

The Prince Of Wales's Stakes sees Juddmonte and Dubai Turf hero Ombudsman attempt to defend this Group 1 over 1m2f. His opposition? Arc winner Daryz, who's already recorded a Group 1 double this season. The 122-rated, Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Almaqam. Minnie Hauk (123). Some lineup.

It ought to concern the top two in the betting, though, and I'm firmly in the camp of OMBUDSMAN.

John & Thady Gosden's five-year-old was outstanding in this race 12 months ago and he's done little wrong in the meantime. No disgrace in going down to the world's best racehorse, Calandagan, in the Champion Stakes, nor Delacroix in the Eclipse. He reversed that form in no uncertain terms at York.

Godolphin's son of Night Of Thunder made a winning reappearance in the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown a few weeks ago, beating Wathnan Racing's new recruit Gethin giving away seven pounds, and talk is that he's been working the house down since then.

At this track, on this ground, I'm hopeful he'll have the measure of Daryz and Co.

17:00 - La Botte each way @ 11/1

The Royal Hunt Cup - a 30-runner handicap over the straight mile - is tricky enough without the added complication of potential draw biases. Will it pay to be high, or low? Who knows at this stage.

My selection, LA BOTTE for that man Harry Eustace again, will emerge from stall 5, so I'm hoping the answer is 'low'.

The four-year-old Too Darn Hot colt was just touched off in the Britannia, another 30-runner handicap over course and distance, at last year's meeting after finding himself stuck for room on the rail under Jamie Spencer.

He made an early reappearance this season, at Wolverhampton in March, and he's done okay in the meantime without ripping up any trees. He's dropped a couple of pounds, from 104 to 102, in the handicap.

I suspect it's been all about this one day, and we can expect the best version of La Botte on Wednesday. With a bit of luck, he should be there or thereabouts.

Oh, and SIX places, Betfred is paying. That'll do nicely.

17:35 - Oolong Poobong each way @ 11/1

Again, the draw could have a big say in the result of the Kensington Palace - a fillies' handicap over the straight mile featuring a field of 25.

OOLONG POOBONG (incredible) is in stall 3, so hopefully it favours those drawn low.

Edward Bethell's four-year-old is a lightly-raced daughter of Make Believe who finished fourth, just under three lengths off the pace, in the Sandringham Stakes over course and distance at last year's meeting off a mark of 87.

She wasn't seen for another 330 days, until her run at Thirsk off two pounds higher last month. She finished a staying-on fifth of 13, within a couple of lengths of the winner. Encouraging.

Dropped a pound, she's very interesting on return to Royal Ascot, with Jamie Spencer booked to ride. She must have a good each-way chance (5 places instead of 4).

18:10 - Boleto each way @ 20/1

Clive Cox excels at training two-year-olds. On turf, he's had 81 winners from 415 runners (20% strike rate) over the last five years. The past six-and-a-half months? Five from 21 (24%).

He runs BOLETO in Wednesday's finale - the Windsor Castle over six furlongs - and the son of Wootton Bassett warrants respect.

He won a standard maiden at Pontefract a fortnight ago, defying greenness to get up somewhat cosily in the final 110 yards or so.

Expect stacks of improvement from the £105k purchase, who according to Middleham Park Racing director Tom Palin has always been earmarked as an Ascot horse. The Coventry was on the agenda after Ponte, he said.

He can outrun his odds in this Extra Place Race, with 4 available instead of 3.