MEGAN NICHOLLS ROYAL ASCOT DAY 2 PREVIEW & TIPS

BetMGM ambassador Megan Nicholls gives her thoughts as day two of the Royal Ascot meeting takes centre stage.

After a dramatic day one, Megan looks to pick out some winners from a packed day of top-quality racing, including the Queen Mary Stakes and the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes.

Who is she backing?

Wednesday Racing

Royal Ascot 2.30 – Queen Mary Stakes

Miss Rascal (17/2) is a course and distance winner in what I think is turning out to be a decent enough maiden. She was eye-catching and unlucky at Newmarket on debut but she just showed loads of speed here at Ascot last time. The second-placed and third-placed runners have gone on to win, so the form has worked out quite well.

She has proven she handles the quicker ground - one-or-two others will be trying this ground for the first time, so I’m going with Miss Rascal here.

Each way, I still think Betty Clover (12/1) can run well. She won at York last time in the Marygate and she’s been pretty consistent in all of her runs and has obviously shown plenty of ability.

Megan’s Selection: Miss Rascal WIN; Betty Clover E/W

Royal Ascot 3.05 – Queen’s Vase

Birdman (5/1) is two from two. He finished ahead of Highbury (3/1 2nd fav) in a maiden and came out and won a Listed race after that, winning it quite comfortably.

He just looks like a nice straightforward horse. The 1m6f isn’t going to be an issue – I thought he saw the 1m 5f out very well so I do like the chances of Birdman here.

I think this is probably one of the weaker races of Wednesday. I’m not going to put up an each-way selection here. I don’t think there’s much value in the bigger prices. There are none that really catch my eye.

Megan’s Selection: Birdman WIN

Royal Ascot 3.45 – Duke Of Cambridge Stakes

I’m going with Rogue Millennium (3/1) to back up last year, but obviously for new connections. She was unlucky not to win on stable debut at the Curragh but I think she can reverse that form with Ocean Trawler (15/2) who did beat her that day.

Rogue Millenium only just managed to get through a pretty tight gap and started to run on, so a smoother run of things will mean she should be bang up there.

I did put Breege (10/1) up at Epsom last time but she’s not easy to win with and I’m not sure how much I trust her to back up that victory even though she got cheekpieces on for the first time.

Laurel (11/4 fav) is very interesting, but she’s been off the track for over a year. It would be an incredible training performance if she could come back and win, but I think the safer option is to go with one that’s match fit. That’s why Rogue Millennium is my selection here.

Megan’s Selection: Rogue Millennium WIN

Royal Ascot 4.25 – Prince Of Wales’s Stakes

Quick ground will obviously suit Auguste Rodin (6/4 fav) and that will help his chances. He is a frustrating horse, and it isn’t easy to know when he’s really going to fire. But he is really talented. I think it’s hard to put him as a selection at the odds.

I will go for one that I think is a sensible price in Alflaila (9/1) for Jim Crowley and Owen Burrows. This horse looks a million dollars – I’ve seen him in training, recently. There was plenty of talk about his run in the Irish Champion Stakes, which was the case for a lot of runners that day.

Very much a Ballydoyle-dominated field and a couple of horses got caught unlucky and I think Alflaila was one of them.

He is so consistent, he’s kept improving, he goes well fresh - that doesn’t bother me at all - and I think he can be bang up there. I expect he’ll go very, very close.

Megan’s Selection: Alflaila WIN

Royal Ascot 5.05 – Royal Hunt Cup

I am going with Beshtani (10/1) here, who was unlucky at Epsom.

He’s got plenty of speed to hold a position and the ground doesn’t bother me at all. The form from Epsom has been boosted with Two Tempting winning again, and they pulled nicely clear of the rest of the field.

The owner’s jockey, James Doyle, has selected him over Real Gain (10/1), who are ultimately drawn totally different sides of the field. I think Beshtani goes very well here and continues to boost that form from Epsom.

At a huge each-way price, I’m going to throw in Thunder Ball (28/1). He didn’t fire last time, he’s pretty ground versatile, and it’s been a while since he had quick ground. He goes well on the straight track here.

He was fourth in this race last year. He’s come down a couple of pounds, still a bit above his last winning mark, but he’s definitely not a no-hoper here at a massive price.

Megan’s selection: Beshtani WIN; Thunder Ball E/W

Royal Ascot 5.40 – Kensington Palace Stakes

I’m going to put in an each-way of Elim (9/1) for Ed Bethell and Jamie Spencer. She’s fairly low in the weights, she’s lightly raced, she has been progressive, and a big field might just suit her. Jamie will bury her and produce her late on.

I’ll also put up Mystic Pearl (12/1), who ran well over course and distance last time. She’s got loads of ability, this filly. She doesn’t always put her best foot forward, for whatever reason, but the tempo did help her last time and the winner just got away from her. I think jockey Tom Marquand will be slightly more aware of that this time around.

Megan’s Selection: Mystic Pearl WIN; Elim E/W

Royal Ascot 6.15 – Windsor Castle Stakes

I am going with Treasure Isle (3/1 fav).

I think he will be even better on quicker ground again – he was much better on his second start at Naas when the ground was good, having run on heavy on his debut.

He is very quick out of the gates, very quick into stride, and has a good cruising speed. Everything will suit him, conditions-wise, this time around.

It looks as if he’s probably been aimed here, as there hasn’t been a massive rush getting him back out again after getting his head out in front.

My each-way pick here is going to be Ain't Nobody (20/1) for Kevin Ryan and Jamie Spencer. He won well at Carlisle on debut. It’s a race that’s done well with Ascot winners in the past and his sire, Sands Of Mali, hasn’t had a bad start to his stallion career.

Megan’s Selection: Treasure Isle WIN; Ain't Nobody E/W

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation