After an enthralling first day at Royal Ascot, we’re set for a stellar afternoon at the Berkshire venue. As ever on the Wednesday of the Royal Meeting, a tough opening contest, as 28 fillies take part in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes. BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND was one of numerous contenders who caught the eye with an impressive debut victory. The daughter of Twilight Son, a £360,000 purchase at the breeze-ups in April, scooted clear of her rivals at Nottingham. Her trainer landed this race last season, which may boost confidence in the selection.

FLORA OF BERMUDA looks overpriced at big double-figure odds, considering her proximity to Midnight Affair at Beverley last time. The selection had a troubled passage but kept on powerfully at the line, indicating she may have won without any interference. She is three times the price of her conqueror that day and is not one to overlook.

YERWANTHERE was a dual two-year-old winner before returning to action in May at Naas. The Joseph O’Brien-trained filly had little room to manoeuvre when seventh, aiming to attack against the far rail. The door was shut a couple of times and she is better than the bare result suggests. A completely unexposed individual after just three outings, the daughter of Markaz is likely to have been hard to assess on handicap debut. Given a mark of 90 here, she may prove ahead of her current rating.

Stablemate, ADELAISE, delivered an encouraging first run of the season when an eyecatching third at Curragh over this distance. That was only her second outing for this yard and could easily have more to offer, albeit in tougher company here. It would be no surprise if she was good enough to run on into the enhanced places at decent each-way prices.

In what looks a tricky Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes, a pair of each-way chances are the modus operandi. GRANDE DAME was a progressive last campaign, including a Listed victory, prior to an excellent place in Group 1 company at Newmarket. That effort can be upgrade, given she found some trouble in-running that day. A clear career best, she could have more to offer as a four-year-old and appeals at the prices.

RANDOM HARVEST is worth a small each-way investment, as she could potentially grab an easy lead. She drops slightly in trip following a good second behind the reopposing Prosperous Voyage at Epsom last time. A three-time scorer over this mile trip, it may be wise to keep her on side at massive odds.

MY PROSPERO is the standout selection in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes for William Haggas and Tom Marquand. The selection made a fair comeback over a mile in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, keeping on nicely over an inadequate trip. He ought to come on plenty for that reappearance effort and boasts good course form; a third in both the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes and the Group 1 Qipco Champion Stakes last season reads well. The son of Iffraaj has an excellent chance of reversing form with Bay Bridge and Adayar, granted a strong pace to aim at and is an uncomplicated horse.

ASTRO KING looks capable of being involved at the business end of the prestigious Royal Hunt Handicap. The six-year-old bay gelding travelled sweetly on stable debut, in a hot York handicap, prior to being denied a clear run approaching inside the final two furlongs. He has gone close in two previous renewals – second in 2021 and a keeping-on fourth last term. Down 3lb this time around, he has the right credentials, granted a clear passage.

One who arrives on an attractive handicap mark is the David O’Meara-trained BLUE FOR YOU. The New Approach five-year-old has run better than his finishing positions suggest in both Ascot runs. He didn’t find the gaps when a never nearer seventh in a Heritage Handicap last October, prior to a nightmare journey during the Balmoral Handicap a fortnight later. He was allowed to coast home after meeting significant trouble over two furlongs from home and is now well weighted versus likely favourite Perotto.

GREGORY is an obvious selection in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase. An easy winner on both career runs, including a smart performance in a 1m3f Goodwood Listed race last month, he is anticipated to relish the rise in trip. His dam won in Group 2 company over an extended 1m6f and was owned by the same connections. He is open to any amount of progress and has the assistance of Frankie Dettori, which boosts confidence.

SAINT GEORGE is a progressive type, who took his winning form to a new level when successful on turf debut at Doncaster. The grey colt kept on powerfully over a similar distance to this event, leaving no stamina concerns. Despite a steep rise in class, there could be more to come from the son of Roaring Lion and he rates an each-way contender.

JOHANNES BRAHMS was a 200,000gns February foal that ran green when making a winning debut at Naas. The Siyouni colt had the rail to help and showed tremendous determination to get back up after being headed at the furlong marker. He’s a half-brother to a 5f winner but shaped as a longer trip would benefit, which ought to play to his strength at this stiff Ascot finish. Aidan O’Brien has won this race three times since 2015, which bolsters confidence.

An each-way option is INQUISITIVELY. Ollie Sangster’s juvenile showed plenty of promise in a Windsor maiden. Any forward progress could see him run far better than his odds suggest.