Honest handicapper ROI DE FRANCE (2.40) is right at home in the £100,000 Schweppes Victoria Cup at Ascot this afternoon.
Founded by Queen Anne in 1711, the royal racecourse has been supported by 12 further monarchs during its rich history of racing.
Step forward my selection, whose name translates to ‘King of France,’ to rule his 18 opponents over a straight seven furlongs.
Assisted by John Gosden training in tandem with son Thady, Roi De France has built a solid profile on Kempton’s all-weather surface.
But the four-year-old did not see out Newcastle’s mile as strongly as Storm Star last time and drops in distance under Oisin Murphy.
Yet to run in a big field handicap on fast ground, two-time winner Roi De France is the right type of unexposed horse to have on your side.
Potential Classic contenders reach the start at Lingfield, where PUPPET MASTER (3.00) is the William Hill Derby Trial favourite.
Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemate Lambourn boosted their Ballysax Stakes form at Chester and the grey can show more at 1m 3½f.
It will defy logic if Ballydoyle’s leader and jockey Ryan Moore cannot wrap up the William Hill Oaks Trial with GISELLE (1.15).
A big filly by Too Darn hot, CATHEDRAL (3.35) quickened away from the pack on her Lingfield debut and progressed to take a silver medal in the Oh So Sharp Stakes.
After giving her time to strengthen, Ralph Beckett has found an excellent starting point receiving lumps of weight from every rival.
Suited by ten furlongs, HAMLET’S NIGHT (1.50) has shown enough to get off the mark in the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap.
A sound surface has improved William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap fancy CANDYMAN STAN, up 7lb for an impressive front-running Brighton display.
Back at Ascot, ZAPPHIRE (2.05) showed up well until a lack of fitness told 21 days ago and she retains handicapping scope for Julie Camacho’s team.
MY DREAM WORLD (3.15) defeated a couple of subsequent scorers in a maiden and he backed it up with an excellent third – with the front three clear – against more experienced horses.
Handler Ben Brookhouse has a rating of 82 to work with and his runner is a value alternative to unbeaten turf newcomer Turquino.
Harry Cobden is an eye-catching booking for DANCE AND GLANCE (1.35, trb) in Haydock’s Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle.
The two-miler received a boost when Fasol ran really well in the ultra-competitive Novices’ Championship Final at Sandown’s season finale two weeks ago.