‘He still looks to be improving’ - Sam King’s daily wagers

Sam King tipped Gstaad on day one of the Royal meeting and is back with four selections on day two.


Gstaad blew the Coventry field away in the opening juvenile contest yesterday and Aidan O'Brien will be hoping True Love, who finished runner-up behind him last time out, can do the same in the Queen Mary Stakes (2.30).

Her claims are fairly obvious for all to see but she just looks a touch short at a general 9/4, so I'm happy to side with Spicy Marg each-way.

A daughter of Starspangledbanner, Michael Bell's filly holds an RPR of 106 following her debut success, a rating higher than any other in the field this afternoon.

Whilst she only beat four rivals first time out at Newmarket, it was tough not to be impressed with the manner in which she travelled before picking up in eye-catching style, clocking some sharp closing sectionals in the process.

A 45-day break might not be ideal, but Michael Bell's filly is open to any amount of improvement on her second start and could prove up to the task.

0.5pt Each-way – Spicy Marg

Odds – 8/1

Fallen Angel and Running Lion would both be interesting if back to their best in the first-time cheekpieces, but the solid option looks to be Cinderella's Dream, and she can come out on top in this year's Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (3.40).

A progressive three-year-old, she took her record to 7-10 overall with a smooth reappearance success in the Group 2 Betfred Dahlia Stakes, readily quickening away to deny former 1000 Guineas heroine Elmalka by four and a half lengths.

Versatile regarding trip, Charlie Appleby's filly looked unlucky not to win the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar last season, although she is proven at the top-level having landed the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes at Saratoga earlier in her American campaign.

Drawm in stall three, William Buick should have plenty of options tactically and she looks to have every chance of giving away the 3lb penalty to claim a first top-level victory in Europe.

2pt Win - Cinderella's Dream

Odds – 13/8

The Prince Of Wales's Stakes (3.05) looks like an absolute belter, with Tattersalls Gold Cup one-two Los Angeles and Anmaat gearing up to do battle once more, while the

supplemented See The Fire, who looked imperious when winning the Middleton Stakes by any distance, adds further spice with her sex allowance.

All three of the aforementioned have major claims, but I'm going to take the trio on with Map Of Stars, who will be looking to continue an excellent run of recent form for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard.

The Chantilly-based handler is no stranger to Royal Ascot success and looks set for a big week with his French 1000 Guineas heroine heading to the Coronation Stakes on Friday.

A striking son of Sea The Stars, Map Of Stars continues to go from strength to strength this season, winning both the Prix Exbury and Prix d'Harcourt in fine style before coming within a neck of beating subsequent Prix d'Ispahan scorer Sosie in the Prix Ganay last time out.

In all truth, he looked unlucky not to get the better of Sosie last time, staying on strongly in the closing stages after being forced to wait to make his challenge.

This stiff ten-furlongs at Ascot should be right up his street, while he's also reunited with James Doyle, who steered both Haatem and French Master to victory here yesterday for his owners Wathnan Racing.

Conditions will be as quick as he's ever encountered, but the same can be said for both Los Angeles and Anmaat and James Doyle appeared confident he'd handle it when speaking to the media earlier in the week.

He still looks to be improving after just seven career outings and with a good draw in stall two, this likeable four-year-old gets the nod to return to winning ways on the biggest stage.

2pt Win – Map Of Stars

Odds – 7/2

The closing Windsor Castle Stakes looks sure to be run at a frantic gallop.

Paddy Twomey's Rogue Legend is understandably popular in the market after his commanding success at Tipperary last time, but it could be the other Rogue, Rogue Supremacy, that comes out on top for the David O'Meara team.

A son of multiple Group 1 winner and outstanding two-year-old St Mark's Basilica, he looked to have bundles of natural ability when making virtually all of the running to score readily on debut at Wetherby sixteen days ago, despite being pestered in the early stages.

The speed he showed that day suggests this drop back to the minimum trip will not pose any problems, while the forecast quick conditions should also be a plus.

David O'Meara rarely wastes many of the darts he fires at big southern meetings and this exciting colt can hit the bullseye for him at the Royal meeting.

1pt Win – Rogue Supremacy

Odds – 13/2


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