Gstaad will love being back at Ascot

Royal Ascot is the pinnacle of Flat racing.

It’s a lovely, fair track and it’s top-class racing for five days.

Royal Ascot | Race 1: G1 Queen Anne Stakes

I begin the day with a ride for Godolphin aboard FIRST CONQUEST.

He’s yet to show that he can get involved at this level and will be a big outsider given the yard also field Notable Speech and Opera Ballo.

It’d be a big surprise if he were to trouble those two, I think.

Royal Ascot | Race 2: G2 Coventry Stakes

In the Coventry, we have two.

Great Barrier Reef is a nice unbeaten son of No Nay Never who is two from two, with both wins coming at the Curragh.

He’s a high-class horse with a leading chance in the race, but I’m aboard CONFUCIUS.

He was second on his debut and then won at Naas, which was a nice performance.

Being out of Millisle, who won the Cheveley Park, he’s bred for it and is another very exciting colt with leading claims.

Royal Ascot | Race 3: G1 King Charles III Stakes

The King Charles III Stakes looks very competitive, with 26 runners and challengers from Australia and France.

I’m on MISSION CENTRAL, who’s a very fast horse in his own right but does need to improve taking on older horses.

For all it’s a step up, he’s two from two this season and he won the two-year-old race on British Champions Day at Ascot last year, so he’s going the right way.

I think we’ve got a nice draw close to standout Aussie sprinter, Overpass, so that could work out well.

He can run well but it’s a big ask against the older horses.

Royal Ascot | Race 4: G1 St James’s Palace Stakes

In the St James’s Palace Stakes, GSTAAD is up against Bow Echo again having finished second to him in the Guineas.

We ran a good race at Newmarket, but Bow Echo was exceptional on the day, and we’ve got to improve to beat him.

We’ve come back since and won the Irish 2000 Guineas, and I expect him to keep improving.

He’s tough, hardy and consistent, and we know he likes Ascot. The best feel he ever gave me was in the Coventry last year, so I think he’ll love being back there.

Puerto Rico is a talented horse who ran fourth in the French Guineas and is entitled to come on for it, while Talk Of New York must be respected too. It looks a deep race.

Royal Ascot | Race 5: Ascot Stakes

REACHING HIGH is going to be quite a short price for the Ascot Stakes, but it doesn’t look straightforward at all.

Over the years, this has been one of the lower quality races of the meeting, but nowadays the jumps trainers get seriously involved and I’d say you’d be hard pushed to find a more competitive race.

There are 22 runners and you could make a case for near-on everything in the race.

Everyone saw how unlikely Reaching High was in the race last year, but he’s been off the track since so things obviously haven’t been straightforward.

He’s got the ability, but he’ll need plenty of luck in running and it’s very competitive. There will be at least 15 or so yards who fancy theirs.

Royal Ascot | Race 6: Listed Wolferton Stakes

SURVIE was disappointing on her last start at Newmarket. She didn’t enjoy the track that day and I think Ascot will suit her better.

We’ve got a decent draw in 10, where we could settle back from. Hopefully they go a good gallop, and we can pick them up late.