Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes Tips: Hand Of God can score

There is another feverishly competitive handicap at Royal Ascot on Friday with 19 runners set to go to post in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes.

My selection is a horse who was disappointing last time out, but may be ready to bounce back on Friday.

Fast Racing Results

15:40 - Hand Of God @ 13/2

Hand Of God was sent off a 13/8 chance for the competitive Betfred Suffolk Stakes handicap 48 days ago, but Harry Charlton’s charge was unable to land a blow at Newmarket.

However, the four-year-old was strong in the betting all day for that HQ contest, and with the run following a 315-day break, it was clear that Hand Of Gold is still held in high regard.

The Newmarket effort also came after a gelding operation and Charlton’s runner certainly looks worthy of another chance.

Hand Of Gold has previously been an impressive winner of the Golden Gates Stakes at Ascot, which came after victory in the Esher Cup Handicap at Sandown.

Those efforts rate as strong form and the four-year-old has a firm-ground Ascot victory in the bag.

Clearly, the son of Churchill’s latest effort was disappointing, but that has left the handicap mark untouched and Hand Of God looks set to score.

Teumessias Fox @ 22/1

At a far bigger price, Teumessias Fox looks worthy of each-way support. Andrew Balding’s charge impressed when winning a competitive 0-105 handicap at Kempton on seasonal debut and Sunbury all-weather form often translates well to fast-ground races at Ascot.

The son of Lope De Vega then ran well to finish third in a Listed race, again at Kempton, with the handicap mark remaining unaltered at 105.

The six-year-old has been given a break since his Kempton third and that likely served to protect the handicap mark with the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes in mind, and also benefit a horse who can clearly run well fresh.

A 22/1 shot, Teumessias Fox looks capable of outrunning those odds.

Royal Ascot Tips from Betfred Insights.