Trevor Harris dreaming of a Royal Ascot Lucky 15

The feature of the upcoming Royal Ascot meeting has been the shortening of the market leaders and currently it is very difficult to find any mileage in the prices at the top of the markets. At this stage I feel compelled to swerve the obvious and look at big price, ew alternatives, for my life changing Lucky 15.

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Queen Anne Stakes
Animal Kingdom has upwards of 10lbs in hand and a career of incredible consistency. He has won five and been second five times in an eleven race career and although his turf form doesn’t match his form on artificial surfaces he will take plenty of beating here. However, there is no point in joining in now at odds on when 5/2 and bigger was available and an ew play looks a no brainer. My selection here is Trade Storm who improved dramatically last season and, if ready to go first time back, can hit the frame at least. He will be ridden with confidence out the back and his smart turn of foot will be a potent weapon at a course that should suit.

King’s Stand Stakes
Shea Shea is comfortably the stand out performer here and if at his best fully justifies quotes of 2/1, but that may be quite a big if and an ew play against him is again the sensible call. I will take Pearl Secret as my pick at around 14/1 to give David Barron a rare success at the Royal meeting. Always held in high regard this colt can now start to fulfil his potential as he grows in to his considerable frame. It’s never easy for three-year-old sprinters and Pearl Secret was campaigned sparingly last year with the view that this will be his season. He could definitely do with some rain but will be a big runner for me on good or softer.

Prince Of Wales
Camelot is unlikely to reach the heights that he once promised, desperate ground in the Irish Derby, outstayed in the St Leger and then amazingly sent to Paris as an after thought all combined to send his level downwards. The bout of colic that followed will also have had its impact. I can’t imagine this time last year connections anticipated Camelot being beaten and then playing second fiddle in the market to the likes of Al Kazeem. Now Al Kazeem is a thoroughly consistent and likeable horse, but I believe he is below the top draw and thus as favourite this year’s renewal is sub-standard. That may allow the filly The Fugue to take centre stage at her best 10f distance. John Gosden has made a slow start to the campaign but I am expecting him to hit form next week and I would fancy an in-form The Fugue to take care of these, unless Camelot returns to his best.

Royal Hunt Cup
A desperately difficult puzzle for punters as per usual but I’ve got to back Loving Spirit who has run two big races in 7f handicaps at Ascot and each time looked like the return to a mile would be ideal. Highly regarded at two, Loving Spirit was considered a Guineas horse and it’s taken connections some time to find the key. But now at aged five, a strong run, big field handicap looks perfect and although he is 25/1 and the race is very competitive I feel he has as good a chance as any.

So there you go, I’ve written my resignation letter and I’m all set to travel the world on my winnings, well there’s no harm in dreaming.

Good luck!