Hambleton trainer Kevin Ryan, who scooped the feature race at York last Saturday with Lexi’s Hero, has strong claims of entering the Royal Ascot enclosure tomorrow – as well as winning the main race at Ripon’s evening meeting.

Ryan is double-handed in the Queen Mary Stakes and is fancied to scoop the honours with Dozy, who is selected to come out on top in this Group 2 contest in the hands of stable jockey Philip Makin.

Winner of both her races to date, Dozy underlined her burgeoning talent at Beverley on her latest start when clinching the competitive Hilary Needler Stakes.

She has the scope for further improvement and Ryan rates her highly. Marginally preferred to her stable-mate On The Dark Side, and also the Richard Fahey-trained debut winner Ebony Clarets, Dozy promises to make a bold bid.

The £400,000 Prince of Wales’s Stakes takes pride of place on day two of the Royal Ascot spectacular and So You Think is difficult to ignore from the Aidan O’Brien camp.

A former superstar in his native Australia, So You Think has easily won his first two races of this season, in which he faced inferior opposition.

Reports of his recent homework at Ballydoyle suggest So You Think has been burning up the gallops. Clearly a hugely talented horse, as proven by his five Group 1 wins in Australia, So You Think will be a tough nut.

Henry Candy can get punters off to a good start with Codemaster in the Jersey Stakes.

An impressive winner at Newmarket in Listed company on his reappearance last month, Codemaster looks capable of coping with this step up to Group 3 company. Dane O’Neill can surely look forward to a good ride from this high-class three-year-old.

Luca Cumani and Kieren Fallon have strong claims in the Windsor Forest Stakes with Seta. This smart four-year-old made an impressionable start to the campaign when winning at Goodwood in April in most convincing fashion. She should make a real race of it here.

The 30-runner Royal Hunt Cup over the straight mile looks a minefield for punters, but Green Destiny is certainly one for the shortlist.

Trained by the shrewd William Haggas, the four-year-old landed a competitive handicap at Newmarket last month in the style of a most progressive customer. The handicapper has hiked up his rating in the meantime, but Green Destiny has the look of a horse who could well make the leap into Pattern race company before the year is out and he deserves every respect.

The first leg of Ripon’s two-day meeting features the Norman Wells Memorial Challenge Trophy, in which Ryan’s Dickie’s Lad makes ample appeal.

A wide-margin winner at Nottingham on his first run this season, Dickie’s Lad would have had a crack at last Saturday’s Bond Tyres Handicap had he been qualified. Victory in this £10,500 would be consolation.

The nap vote is awarded to The Caped Crusader (9.20), who will relish the step up in trip and the expected ease in the ground. Ollie Pears’ gelding was a winner on this course last season.


Racing selections

Royal Ascot
2.30 Codemaster, 3.05 Seta, 3.45 So You Think, 4.25 Green Destiny, 5.00 Dozy, 5.35 Winter’s Night.

Ripon
6.50 Boy The Bell, 7.20 Last Bid, 7.50 City Of The Kings, 8.20 Dickie’s Lad, 8.50 Long Awaited, 9.20 The Caped Crusader (NAP).

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Hamilton, Kempton and Newton Abbot.

Today’s meetings: Royal Ascot, Brighton, Newton Abbot and Thirsk.