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Garry Owen

Royal Ascot day one tips, best bets and preview plus selections for Stratford, Thirsk, Beverley and Brighton

It's a huge week of racing and we'll be bringing your a live blog every day from Royal Ascot.

And our many Garry Owen will give you his selections as well as all of the other UK meetings.

MY PROSPERO (4.20) can storm to victory in the St James's Palace Stakes on Day One of Royal Ascot.

Thriving William Haggas has a serious chance of more big-race glory with this exciting son of Iffraaj .

The three-year-old first caught the eye when third to Claymore on debut at Newmarket in October.

Given time to develop, the colt hammered Thesis on his return in a typically warm Newbury novice.

That impressive win earned him a clash with Reach For The Moon in the Heron Stakes at Sandown.

And the colt duly boosted his reputation again with a decisive length defeat of his much-touted rival.

There is plenty more to come from this smart type who can see off 2000 Guineas winner Coroebus .

The Newmarket Ace can enjoy more top-level glory with BAAEED (2.30) in the Queen Anne Stakes.

(Getty Images for Ascot Racecours)

The four-year-old only made his debut last June but he quickly rattled off a magnificent four-timer.

He then shrugged off the promotion to Group 1 level when bolting up in the Moulin at Longchamp.

The colt underlined his superstar status when outbattling the top-class Palace Pier in the QEII here.

Big things were expected from the son of Sea the Stars before his return in the Lockinge at Newbury.

And he duly delivered the goods with a power-packed three-length defeat of the classy Real World.

The Shadwell challenger is the best miler around so he should stretch his unbeaten record to seven.

BLACKBEARD (3.05) can plunder the Coventry Stakes for Ballydoyle Maestro Aidan O’Brien.

The two-year-old was not expected to beat stablemate Alexis Zorba ahead of his debut at Dundalk.

However, the son of No Nay Never proved his superiority with a commanding one-length success.

(PA)

The juvenile didn’t please everyone when only just denying Crispy Cat in a Curragh Listed contest.

However, he relished tackling six furlongs when crushing Tough Talk in a Group 3 at the same track.

That was a terrific performance so this speedy type can get the better of some very promising foes.

O’Brien can add the closing Copper Horse Handicap to his tally with CLEVELAND (6.10).

The son of Camelot could only manage a tame fifth on his comeback in 1m 2f Listed event at Naas.

That prompted his trainer to step the four-year-old up to 2m 2f in the ever-competitive Chester Cup.

That proved a masterstroke as he came late and fast to comfortably account for Coltrane by a neck.

The Coolmore contender is open to plenty of progress so he can defy a lenient 5lb hike down in trip.

Australian raider NATURE STRIP (3.40) can claim a cracking renewal of the King’s Stand Stakes.

Librisa Breeze, right, could run well at a big price, says Julie (Getty Images Europe)

Chris Waller’s star stayed upwardly mobile when hosing up in last year’s Sprint Classic at Flemington. The eight-year-old returned with a couple of highly creditable efforts in strong contests at Randwick.

The speedster built on that form when slamming Eduardo in the T J Smith Stakes at the same venue.

The son of Nicconi looks tailor-made for this blistering contest so he can rout an International field.

PIED PIPER (5.00) can call the tune for Jump Maestro Gordon Elliott in the trappy Ascot Stakes.

Useful on the level, the gelding chinned the high-class Vauban on his timber debut at Punchestown.

He quickly improved again when hacking up in a Grade 2 novices’ hurdle at Cheltenham in January.

The four-year-old was far from disgraced when third in the Triumph back at the Prestbury venue.

He then looked to have shared Grade 1 honours with Knight Salute in the Anniversary at Aintree.

However, he was demoted by the stewards after veering left during a tight battle in the final furlong.

That was still a fine effort so this tough type can take advantage of an inviting mark back on the Flat.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Sophie the Countess of Wessex (centre) (PA)

CADILLAC (5.35) can roll over his rivals for Jessica Harrington in the tricky Wolferton Stakes.

The colt was a pretty exciting juvenile who thrashed Van Gogh in a Leopardstown Group 2 in 2020.

The son of Lope De Vega then ran with credit at Group 1 level on his last few outings of the season.

He kept up the good work when outpointing Dawn Patrol on his return in a Group 3 at the Curragh.

The strong-traveller largely failed to build on that excellent form on his next few outings.

However, he hit back with a vengeance when hosing up from Georgeville
at Leopardstown recently.

The Irish raider retains plenty of ability so he can dish out weigh and a beating to a high-quality field.

LET HER LOOSE (2.20) can run riot for Richard Fahey in the Theakston Pale Handicap at Thirsk.

The six-year-old returned to form when cosily dismissing Belle Of Annandale
over track and trip.

The mare remains fairly-treated so she can shrug off a 3lb penalty in this slightly stronger contest.

THE ARMED MAN (2.55) looks deadly for shrewd Charlie Fairhurst in the Vickers.Bet Handicap.

The in-form speedster was only denied a hat-trick by the well-treated Good Earth at Catterick.

The nine-year-old still lurks on an attractive mark so he can resume winning ways upped in class.

(Getty Images Europe)

Owen Burrows is hitting top gear so I’m backing TARRABB (4.05) in the Bet Club Handicap.

The filly was unlucky to meet the progressive White Umbrella on her Turf debut at Chepstow.

The three-year-old remains nicely unexposed so she should gain compensation off a fair mark.

LOVE TROPHY POWER (4.40) can open her account for Roger Varian in the novices’ event.

The three-year-old can triumph with a repeat of her good second to Flamenco Fan at Windsor.

ASCOT

Racegoers will flock to Royal Ascot (Getty Images)

2.30 BAAEED

3.05 BLACKBEARD

3.40 NATURE STRIP

4.20 MY PROSPERO (NAP)

5.00 PIED PIPER

5.35 CADILLAC

6.10 CLEVELAND

STRATFORD

1.35 APPRECIATE

2.10 LUNAR SHADOW

2.45 THAHAB IFRAJ

3.20 BOSTON JOE

3.55 TARDREE

4.30 HELFORD RIVER

THIRSK

1.45 MAZYUNA

2.20 LET HER LOOSE

2.55 THE ARMED MAN

3.30 BAY OF HONOUR

4.05 TARRABB

4.40 LOVE TROPHY POWER

5.15 BIRKENHEAD

BEVERLEY

5.10 SOL CAYO

5.45 PADDY ELLIOTT

6.15 MOSS GILL

6.45 HEAD CHEF

7.15 PENNYPEACE

7.45 IRON SHERIFF

8.15 MAC AILEY

BRIGHTON

5.20 STREET PARADE

5.50 ZABBIE

6.23 NIGG BAY

6.53 MISS TIKI

7.23 SLY MADAM

7.53 ATTACHE

8.23 DAZZERLING

ROSCOMMON

4:50 SOLE PRETENDER

5.25 SIBERIAN PRINCE

5.55 WEDDELL SEA

6.30 JUNIOR BEE

7.00 HE'S LEADING ME ON

7.30 BRAVO TEAM

8.00 THE BIG CHAP

8.30 THEMANINTHEBOOTS

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