NAP of the Day: Have Wathnan bought another good’un?

After that lifeless effort from Into The Light on Thursday, you'd think I'd have learnt my lesson. Stay clear of these big-runner handicaps at Royal Ascot. Well clear.

But I've not, and the NAP of the Day just 24 hours later is one in the Duke Of Edinburgh, which features a field of 19.

I find it very interesting that Wathnan Racing reached into their deep pockets to buy George Boughey's HOPEWELL ROCK ahead of Royal Ascot.

Mostly because the Qatari operation already own Opportunity, who's been vying for favouritism in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes after William Haggas' four-year-old bolted up at Carlisle over two weeks ago.

In fairness, it's not hard to see why they've done it. Hopewell Rock looks a winner in waiting off his mark of 101.

Horse Racing Odds

That's unchanged after the son of New Bay finished third of eight in a red-hot handicap at Newmarket last month, on return from a 175-day layoff during which he was gelded.

The 1-2 in that race? Alan King's Daiquiri Bay and Gamrai for the Gosdens, who occupied the same positions in the Copper Horse Stakes on Tuesday. That's a fair form boost.

In a stable tour with AtTheRaces in the build-up to Royal Ascot, Boughey admitted he was "just ready to start" at Newmarket, so improvement is expected. And lots of it, I suspect.

Is he the proverbial Group horse in a handicap? I think he might be.

Of course, there could be one or two others in the same boat, in a 19-runner race at Royal Ascot of all places, but I can't see anything as well-handicapped as the selection.

Trip suits. Ground suits. Track should suit. James Doyle rides. Lots to like about this one.

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