Royal Ascot Day Two tips: Four tips for Wednesday

Keith Melrose Updated: 20 Jun 23 18:13 Published: 20 Jun 23 18:10

It is day two of Royal Ascot on Wednesday and Keith Melrose from the Racing Post provides his best bets on the card.

Keith Melrose's tips

3.40 Ascot - Rogue Millenium @ 11/1 (Bet BOOST)
4.20 Ascot - Bay Bridge @ 7/2
5.00 Ascot - Perotto @ 7/1
5.35 Ascot - Chesspiece @ 7/1

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3.40 Ascot - Rogue Millenium @ 11/1 (Bet BOOST)

Being a progressive filly with form over further can take you a long way in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes. Not only does ROGUE MILLENIUM fit that bill, but she is in the care of a relatively unheralded trainer in Tom Clover so is likely to be overlooked in the market relative to those horses connected to O'Briens, Gosdens and Dettoris.

Rogue Millenium ran a great race at York last time, a clear career best. She was beaten only by Free Wind, who is set to be a major challenger in the Hardwicke Stakes later this week, and came clear of the rest.

That race was over 1m2f and Rogue Millenium looked if anything like a slight drop in trip would suit. She gets that today and represents a bit of value.

KEITH MELROSE'S TIP

Rogue Millenium @ 11/1 (Bet BOOST) - 1pt win

4.20 Ascot - Bay Bridge @ 7/2

I am not a huge ground-based punter, but conditions going from quick side to soft side on the eve of Royal Ascot has changed my view on the Prince Of Wales's Stakes in particular.

BAY BRIDGE sucker punched me last season. I thought he would win everything, he proceeded to win nothing before bouncing back in the Champion Stakes in October. I am of the view that he is at his best when the ground has a bit of give in it. He has tended to hang a little on quick ground.

In fairness, that did not stop him shaping like the best horse in this race last year. He essentially had his pocket picked by Shane Crosse's excellent front-running ride on State Of Rest. But for that he would be the defending champion with conditions more in his favour than 12 months ago. He looks a bet to me.

KEITH MELROSE'S TIP

Bay Bridge @ 7/2 - 1pt win

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5.00 Ascot - Perotto @ 7/1

While I am not generally one for tipping favourites in big-field handicaps, if I owned ante-post Hunt Cup gamble PEROTTO I would have hand-picked exactly the draw scenario he faces here.

This horse will break from stall 30 of 32. That puts him on the stands side, which at 5.00 on Wednesday will still be among the freshest ground. He also has pace-setters in the two stalls immediately on his right, so will get a good pace to aim at.

Furthermore, stalls 31 and 32 both contain horses that tend to miss the break. As a result, Perotto could find himself on that ever-helpful stands rail.

Perotto is well handicapped and looked on his recent debut for Roger Varian as though he was tuning up for a tilt at a big handicap. He won the Britannia at this meeting two years ago, so there is no more apt target than the Hunt Cup.

KEITH MELROSE'S TIP

Perotto @ 7/1 - 1pt win

5.35 Ascot - Chesspiece @ 7/1

Because this is still very early for three-year-olds to be running over two miles, the Queen's Vase is full of improvers and unexposed sorts. I was as impressed with CHESSPIECE in his York handicap win than I have been with the exploits of any of his rivals in minor Pattern company.

Chesspiece came from nowhere at York, without jockey Ryan Moore having to give him his most vigorous ride. That told of a horse who was loads better than the result, and who has stamina to spare. He looks the type to develop into a St Leger candidate and can start by winning this first major trial.