Simon Holt best bets for day two of Royal Ascot

By Simon Holt

Horse Racing

Wed June 17, 2020 · 5y ago

Top commentator Simon Holt tipped Circus Maximus to win on day one of Royal Ascot - don't miss his selections for day two of the meeting.

Recommended Bets, Royal Ascot Day Two

1pt win Red Bond in 1.15 Ascot at 20/1

1pt win Bright Melody in 2.25 Ascot at 7/1

1pt win Indeed in 3.35 Ascot at 22/1

1pt win Ranch Hand in 4.40 Ascot at 5/1

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record

BRIGHT MELODY, a horse with a great pedigree and an impressive physique, should be ideally suited by a step up in distance to a mile-and-a-half in the King George V Handicap at Ascot on Wednesday.

The Charlie Appleby-trained son of Dubawi (out of the Fillies Mile winner Lyric Of Light), overcame a slow start and obvious inexperience to make a winning debut at Chelmsford (1m2f) in January and then had his sights raised in the recent Group Three Classic Trial at Kempton where he stayed on well in the straight to take third (full of running at the finish) behind Berlin Tango. That form was given a boost when Pyledriver, the runner-up, took yesterday’s King Edward V11 Stakes.

As at Chelmsford, Bright Melody still showed signs of greenness that day and did well in the end having been snatched up briefly on the home turn. The fitting of cheek-pieces here looks a good move and it is hard to imagine that this galloping course over this trip on grass won't suit him well.

If this really lovely horse fulfils his obvious potential, this may be a very brief foray into handicap company.

Earlier, RED BOND looks a value bet in the opening Silver Royal Hunt Cup.

Although quite lightly raced, the son of Red Jazz has achieved plenty so far winning three times on all-weather surfaces from eight career starts, including by eight-and-a-half lengths in a handicap at Newcastle in January.

After the enforced break, Red Bond returned to Gosforth Park earlier in the month and ran as if the seven furlongs that day was too sharp for him (as connections probably expected) and, having been handy all the way, he was keeping on well at the finish behind course specialist Daarik and Vitralite with a three-and-a-half lengths gap back to the fourth.

That run should have put Keith Dalgleish's four-year-old spot on for this and, although he has raced only once on grass, he looked perfectly at home on the surface when chasing home Good Birthday at Doncaster last year over a mile and a quarter.

On Ascot's stiff, straight mile, one should always be looking for horses that will stay well and, while this trip is probably Red Bond's optimum, the fact he has run well several times over further is a bonus.

In the Royal Hunt Cup proper, INDEED seems likely to run well reverting to handicap company after two creditable efforts in Group Three and listed company on his last two starts in 2019.

Liam Keniry's mount went up 15lb during the campaign and has performed strongly first time out in each of his two seasons so far, winning on his racecourse debut at Longchamp in 2018 and finishing second (beaten a neck) in the Spring Cup at Newbury last April.

Indeed is well suited by some give in the ground and, while successful at a mile, he is another who stays further.

In the closing Copper Horse Handicap, RANCH HAND can continue last year's progressive form with the ground turning in his favour.

Andrew Balding's stoutly-bred gelding (by Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden out of a useful staying mare) remains lightly raced and a repeat of his two length victory over Trueshan (who won his next two races) at Haydock (1m6f soft) last September would give him leading claims.

Ranch Hand found the Cesarewitch, for which he started favourite, coming perhaps a little too soon in his career in October but remains a potentially smart stayer.

Preview posted 1730 BST on 16/06/2020

Read our Premier League previews..

The Premier League is back in action and we've got team-by-team verdicts, stats and best bets

Responsible gambling

We are committed in our support of responsible gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

Sky Bet's responsible gambling tools are detailed here and if you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, or visit begambleaware.org.

Further support and information can be found at GamCare and gamblingtherapy.org.

Like what you've read?