Royal Ascot tips (1430): Aidan O’Brien eyes first Queen Mary crown with Truly Enchanting

14:30 Royal Ascot: Queen Mary Stakes  

• Race details: 5 furlongs, Group 2, 2-year-olds only
• 2023 winner: Crimson Advocate (9/1) - John Velasquez (J), George Weaver (T)
• Recent Trends: 21/22 winner finished 1st or 2nd last time out, 10/12 drawn higher than stall 11

 

Planet Sport Bet Royal Ascot Special: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if the favourite (inc. joint/co) wins, get a £5 Free Bet!

The fact that the five market leaders are covered by barely a couple of betting points highlights the wide-open nature of this 26-runner cavalry charge made up of relatively inexperienced two-year-old fillies.

The early support for Make Haste is built on her impressive win on his only outing to date five weeks ago, and that one-from-one record is shared by no less than five of her rivals, all of whom will fancy their chances of doubling up here.

Of those, the stand-out is early joint-favourite Truly Enchanting, whom Aidan O’Brien will be hoping provides a long-overdue first Queen Mary winner for the Master of Ballydoyle.

Appearing for the first time just three weeks ago, this lively filly made light of the heavy conditions at Tipperary to cruise home with more than three lengths to spare, and with Ryan Moore again in the cockpit, she could well prove to be a real contender here.

Suggested bet: Truly Enchanting each-way in the 14:30 at Royal Ascot

• Tip advised by Opal Horses on Tipstrr

By definition, these youngsters have limited experience, so the winner could genuinely emerge from anywhere, with the likes of William Buick, Tom Marquand and Oisin Murphy all no doubt fancying their chances of adding to their Royal Ascot win tally on board Spherical, Miss Rascal and Kassaya respectively.

The same could be said for American raider, Ultima Grace, who arrives fresh from an impressive debut win across the Pond on Keenland’s dirt track in April, and might just have what it takes to give trainer Wesley ward his fifth win in this race since 2009.

Any or all of the above could feature in the final mix, but with five (or even six) places up for grabs, anyone looking for some decent each-way value can’t fail to be drawn towards the three straight wins already chalked up by Enchanting Empress.

A debut victory on Wolverhampton’s all-weather track in April proved to be the launchpad for a successful transition to turf, winning a Royal Ascot two-year-old trial over this course and distance in early May, notably leaving four previous winners in her wake.

She was last seen completing her hat-trick in Listed company at Sandown four weeks ago, and the fact that all three of those wins were by less than a length indicate both her natural speed and a competitive willingness to push to the line under pressure.

This is her first run since moving from Dominic Ffrench Davis to Raphael Freire, but that change of scenery should not have an adverse effect, while the presence of usual jockey David Egan should help maintain the required continuity to bring another good performance.

Best each-way bet: Enchanting Empress each-way in the 14:30 at Royal Ascot

• Tip advised by Suchy’s Equine Investments on Tipstrr

For anyone fancying a real outsider to land a blow in this cavalry charge, then the Adrian Nicholls-trained Maw Lam might provide good value for a couple of quid each-way.

She performed beyond her tender years to win on debut at Thirsk a month ago, and although runner-up when last seen at Beverley 11 days ago, that run was arguably the better of the two, as she had little time to recover from a missed break, but still finished well clear of all but the half-length winner.

There’s clearly more to come from this lively filly, and the booking of Hollie Doyle, who came within the width of a horse’s nostril of landing a 40/1 winner on Tuesday, can only improve her prospects. 

Outsider punt: Maw Lam each-way in the 14:30 at Royal Ascot

• Tip advised by Rich Bets on Tipstrr

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