THE sun is shining, the suits are in the dry cleaners and the Pimm’s is about to flow – yep, Royal Ascot is almost here.
But the biggest Flat meeting of the year, which gets underway on Tuesday, June 17, is so much more than a social occasion.
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Here at Sun Racing the only thing we’re bothered about is backing winners and bashing the bookies.
Luckily, there is no one better to do that than our top tipster Steve Mullen aka Templegate.
He tipped up Royal Hunt Cup winner Wild Tiger at 22-1 last year and watched him win at 11-2.
Here, he delivers four more sizzling ante-post punts.
QIRAT – Royal Hunt Cup 20-1
He ran an absolute cracker when beaten in a photo for the Victoria Cup here last time and clearly loves the track and a big field.
That was over 7f but he does stay the mile strongly too and may have just needed the run after six months off.
Hopefully the decent weather continues as quick ground suits and he can land another big prize for Ralph Beckett.
CICEROS GIFT – Royal Hunt Cup 25-1
Given it’s such a hot race we can throw two darts at the Hunt Cup and include Ciceros Gift who would come right into it on softer conditions.
He finished strongly when third in the Group 2 Sandown Mile last time and was a solid seventh in the Balmoral here in October.
He has a big weight but is good enough to make the frame.
GOLDEN HANDSHAKE – King George Handicap
There’s nothing the Royal Ascot crowd loves more than seeing the King’s red and purple colours coming home in front.
And the hats could be coming off next month for Golden Handshake who looks like he’s being prepared for the King George V Handicap.
That’s the contest for three-year-olds on the Thursday and Golden Handshake’s trainer won it for the King in 2023 with Desert Hero.
This year’s hopeful really caught the eye with an excellent second at Nottingham on May 20 when he was kept out the back for a long way before coming home strongly.
The extra two furlongs at the Royal meeting should be ideal and he’s a nice prospect.
He needs another run for a handicap mark then it will be all systems go at Ascot.
TIME TO TURN – Coventry Stakes 50-1
This son of Dark Angel was just beaten by stablemate Maximised in a good novice contest at Haydock last week.
William Buick chose him over the winner and he looked very green when asked to make his effort.
Buick didn’t ask too many questions and he should take a major step forward from this and looks a better long-term prospect than the winner.
He’s 50-1 for the Coventry Stakes which is worth a small interest over Maximise who is 14s.
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