Man On The Spot best bets for Royal Ascot on Wednesday

1.15 Racecard and FREE video form

Two Royal Hunt Cups for the price of one this year, starting with this 24-runner consolation race. Several have already had a run since the resumption with Sir Busker, Plantadream and Presidential all winning, though the latter has picked up a penalty for his victory over 7f at Doncaster on Saturday and Ben Curtis has switched to the less-exposed Sucellus, who looks to have solid each-way claims. Brian Epstein finished a long way ahead of Brains when runner-up at Haydock but Ryan Moore, who has another excellent book of rides today, rides stable companion OUZO, who was just touched off at Newmarket and is able to race off the same mark. The latter looks the one to beat but honourable mentions go to the consistent Smile A Mile, his stablemate Asdaa and also Salayel, who was unlucky last year. Red Bond is likely to prove the pick of the three Keith Dalgleish runners.

1.50 Racecard and FREE video form

Juan Elcano finished fifth in the 2000 Guineas but Kenzai Warrior’s run in the first Classic is easily ignored as he fly-jumped leaving the stalls and almost unseated Jason Watson. In the circumstances, he did well to finish in mid-division having been allowed to come home in his own time. Given the trainer’s penchant for improving three-year-olds, First Receiver is interesting but not certain to stay1m2f on breeding. Berlin Tango has picked up a penalty for winning the re-routed Classic Trial at Kempton so RUSSIAN EMPEROR is preferred. He just failed to get to Cormorant in his first try over the trip in the Leopardstown Derby Trial and should have plenty more to offer this year.

2.25 Racecard and FREE video form

Mark Johnston has won this four times and is mob-handed again. Frankie rides King's Caper, who rattled up a hat-trick as a two-year-old and had a run in the Derby Trial at Lingfield 12 days ago. Andrea Atzeni partners Glenties, who is scheduled to make a quick reappearance after being knocked sideways at Goodwood on Sunday. Godolphin’s Bright Melody has only had two runs and could be anything while Hukum is equally unexposed. To Nathaniel and Win O'Clock bid to defy penalties and Kipps was well backed at Haydock but this can go to BODYLINE, who was finishing best of all over 1m2f at Yarmouth two weeks ago so will be relish the extra.

3.00 Racecard and FREE video form

JAPAN needed his first run of the season last year but did little wrong after. He won the King Edward VII Stakes here and went on to record Group 1 victories in the Grand Prix de Paris and the Juddmonte International before a brave fourth in the Arc. If he’s fully wound-up, the Ballydoyle star should take all the beating. The ground has turned against Addeybb but Barney Roy is respected. He did well in Dubai at the start of the year and stays 1m2f, even though all of his victories have come over shorter trips. Headman won a couple of Group 2 contests in France last year and may have gone over the top when only fifth in the Irish Champion Stakes but Aidan O’Brien should know where he stands with Roger Charlton’s colt. This looks a little too hot for the Gosden pair Lord North and Mehdaayih and also Bangkok.

3.35 Racecard and FREE video form

Afaak won this last year when Raising Sand finished third and Kynren was fifth. But the latter was drawn on the unfavourable far side and may well come out best today after a pipe-opener at Haydock in which he finished among the also-rans along with Cardsharp and Fox Champion. The latter’s stablemate Qaysar ran a remarkable race when just a neck behind Pogo at Newmarket as he was almost tailed off at halfway – he is quirky but talented. Richard Hannon also runs Fox Power but, like Alrajaa, he has proved best of the all-weather so far. Bell Rock made a winning reappearance at Newmarket and so did Montatham while Lord Tennyson is very unexposed. Dark Vision was just ahead of a subsequent winner when second at Doncaster but we’ll take a chance on the fitness of INDEED. Something of a star at Dominic Ffrench Davis’ yard, the five-year-old won at Chelmsford and Newmarket last year before breaking a bold vessel at Goodwood. He recovered to run well in black type races in the autumn and seems to get on particularly well with Liam Keniry.

4.10 Racecard and FREE video form

This looks something of a lottery as none of the 20 runners have raced more than once but Wesley Ward has a good record with his raiders and has Frankie Dettori on the Gulfstream Park winner Sunshine City and Oisin Murphy on Churchill Downs runner-up Sheriff Bianco. Aidan O’Brien saddled last year’s winner and has Ryan Moore partnering Chief Little Hawk, who had stablemate Hyde Park Barracks back in third at Navan last week. Most of the pace appears to be on the far side with GET IT having the rail to help. He finished a place ahead of Tactical at Newmarket on debut and is clearly speedy so is take to hang on this time, though there is almost certainly more to come from Newcastle winner Victory Heights. Astimegoesby is also worth a second look.

4.40 Racecard and FREE video form

This could be the one and only running of this if order is restored by next year. Collide justified strong market support at Chelmsford last week and won at Cagnes-Sur-Mer in February but has a penalty to carry. Neither Alright Sunshine nor Shailene were disgraced reappearing in Group 3 company. Hereby has a terrific strike-rate and would be interesting if getting a run from her reserve spot while it would be unusual if Mark Johnston hadn’t targeted this unexpected opportunity and Hochfeld returns from a lengthy absence on a very attractive mark. FUJAIRA PRINCE (NAP) won first-time out last season and in 2018 so fitness is unlikely to be an issue. He was a shade unlucky in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes here last year and can race off the same mark.