George Primarolo previews Royal Ascot

George Primarolo previews the principal races from the first two days of Royal Ascot in part one of a special feature.

Roger Charlton is adamant that we've not seen the best of Mince so far this year but she also holds an alternative engagement in the Diamond Jubilee and it has to be noted that all bar one of her wins have come from August onwards. Another filly to note is Rosdhu Queen who looked very promising as a juvenile and ran like a non-stayer when fourth in the Fred Darling at Newbury. Back at a sprinting trip, she is still very unexposed and it be interesting to see whether William Haggas drops her back to five or six furlongs on her next start. St James's Palace Stakes The St James's Palace Stakes is the premier race for three-year-olds over a mile at the Royal meeting and is usually the next stop for the winner of the 2000 Guineas. However, Dawn Approach will not line up for the race following his recent disappointment in the Derby which should leave the path clear for Ballydoyle's Magician who was impressive when landing the Irish equivalent at The Curragh. Given the fact he had won the Dee Stakes at Chester on his previous start, connections seriously considered running the son of Galileo in the Derby but the decision to give this race the swerve could pay dividends at Royal Ascot. His main market rival is likely to be Toronado who is on something of a recovery mission following a slightly disappointing display in the 2000 Guineas. Richard Hannon's colt travelled well enough at Newmarket but couldn't go the pace with Dawn Approach in the latter stages but connections have always held him in the highest regard and it could just be that a different horse turns up at Royal Ascot. Toronado's stablemate, Olympic Glory, is another on a retrieval mission having ran a very flat race in the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp last time out. He had previously only been beaten by Dawn Approach in last year's Coventry Stakes and had looked like he retained all of his ability when winning the Greenham Stakes on his seasonal reappearance. Richard Fahey's Garswood could line up in this race but is another who will have to improve on his Guineas performance. He found trouble in that particular race but actually ran one of the fastest furlongs of the entire field at one point. He shouldn't be written off just yet, though he may make up into a sprinter in time. Prince Of Wales's StakesThis year's Prince Of Wales's Stakes, run over ten furlongs at Royal Ascot, has lost a little of its lustre following the news that runaway Lockinge winner Farhh will miss the race after he was found to be lame a fortnight before the race. This has seen a shake-up in the market which has promoted Al Kazeem and Camelot to the head of the betting with some firms having a slight preference for the former after he defeated last year's Derby winner in the Tattersalls' Gold Cup at The Curragh last time out. However, they may well line-up against two very talented members of the opposite sex and both Snow Fairy and The Fugue shouldn't be discounted in what looks an open renewal of the Group One event. Ed Dunlop's mare hasn't been seen since her victory in the Irish Champion Stakes and her very best form entitles her to win this comfortably. Her form has reached new levels in recent years and she has only been campaigned at Group One level since her victory in the Oaks at Epsom. Since her defeat in the St Leger (where she was a patent non-stayer), she has only been beaten by horses such as Midday, So You Think, Danedream and Cirrus Des Aigles and there is nothing of that calibre in this year's race. The Fugue also appeals at a bigger price and is another filly that can make big strides as an older campaigner. On her form last year, it appears that ten furlongs is her optimum trip and she was particularly impressive when taking the Musidora and Nassau Stakes over this distance. Her style of running meant that she found trouble both in the Oaks and in the Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita on her last start. She may well have won both and comes into this season as an intriguing contender for all the big ten furlong races. Royal Hunt Cup The Royal Hunt, over Ascot's straight mile, is one of the trickiest handicaps of the flat calendar but is a fiercely competitive betting heat and this year's running looks no different. Two horses stand out at the weights and recent history suggests you need a 95-plus rated horse to have a chance of winning this race. Trade Commissioner always looked the type to be better than a handicapper last season and although his form tailed off towards the end of the year, he is very lightly-raced for a five-year-old and it is interesting that connections have persevered with him. His two forays into Group company were fairly uninspiring but it could just be that he needs very quick ground to be seen at his best which he only got on a couple of occasions last year. His form began to tail off as the ground got softer but he's certainly worth keeping an eye on as this type of test could bring out the best in him. There is a bit of rain forecast from Wednesday onwards at Ascot and if it does arrive, the other runner that makes some appeal is last year's Britannia Stakes winner Fast Or Free who hasn't been seen since last year's meeting. He won three on the trot for William Haggas last year and if the ground has a bit of cut in it, then the four-year-old could easily defy an absence of nearly a year at one of his favourite tracks. The first two home last year in the shape of Prince Of Johanne and Excellent Guest love it at Ascot and could easily figure again. The former is back down to the same mark he won off last year while the latter deservedly got his head in front in the Victoria Cup over a furlong shorter last time out and is clearly in good heart.