CHARLES DARWIN rates the standout selection in the G2 Norfolk Stakes. The son of No Nay Never has impressed in a brace of facile victories, since a debut fourth at Curragh. He is becoming more of a complete horse with each run and ultimately came away in good fashion last time over this trip at Naas. Aidan O’Brien regularly uses that race as a stepping stone for Royal Ascot and it would be no surprise if he were good enough.

HEY TRU BLUE is worth a second glance at a huge each-way price. The George Boughey-trained youngster ran an excellent second in a hot Leicester maiden last month. There have been a pair of subsequent winners, which bodes well for connections. The previous 10 winners have been berthed between stalls one and 10 - Hey Tru Blu just qualifies from stall 10.

MERCHANT produced a strong turn of foot to easily beat a decent handicap bunch at Haydock. That was his second handicap start, from an official mark of 82. Stepping up from 1m2f to this distance, he showed improved form and could have been given more than an 8lb rise in the weights - especially given how well the form is working out.

SING US A SONG impressed with a clear 1m2f success in a Sandown handicap when last seen. A 7lb rise may prove lenient, especially now upped to 1m4f (plenty of stamina in his pedigree). His trainer won this in 2021 and 2024, too, which boosts confidence.

CATALINA DELCARPIO may be one of the more inexperienced fillies here, but she has delivered a pair of excellent efforts thus far, including a fine runner-up spot in Group Three company at Navan. She was denied a clear passage that day and would have given the winner, who has franked the form with fourth in the G1 Epsom Oaks, a close race. She ought to improve for this rise in distance, too.

ECSTATIC offers each-way claims for her powerful stable. The daughter of Magic Wand (who won this in 2018) has only won one race from seven outing but could progress sharply, moving up to 1m4f. She was denied a clear run at Newbury last time and has the potential to rate higher, despite her big odds.

TRAWLERMAN made all to tee up this main assignment of the season, with a fine front-running performance at Sandown on reappearance. He also has excellent course form, finishing second in this contest last term, behind the outstanding generational stayer, Kyprios. He could have too much resolution for his rivals, including the new-kid-on-the-block, Illinois.

Despite being a relatively inexperienced type, CANDELARI offers major claims for his French trainer. A winner over an extended 1m7f trip at Longchamp, Candelari could find further improvement over this new journey (judged on his stout pedigree). It would be folly to dismiss his chance, given the somewhat weak line-up compared to recent seasons.

Straight course expert Jamie Spencer can guide LA BOTTE to a strong finish for trainer Harry Eustace. The unexposed runner ran a fine fourth when last seen, in a Listed Newmarket event. That race was won by subsequent Irish 2000 Guineas second and the third has since bagged a Listed win. He looks the ideal candidate for this target.

PAROLE D’ORO is one of the interesting each-way chances in this race, having been kept fresh, since a good second on at Thirsk in April. He travelled powerfully that day and ought to be well-suited to a race of this nature at Ascot. An opening mark of 92 may underestimate his claims.

HIGHSTOCK was a well-backed winner of the Wood Ditton on debut at Newmarket, prior to a sound second in Listed class at Chester. Any further improvement would see him be firmly involved in the finish, for a horse who is completely unexposed after just two starts.

JACKKNIFE holds genuine win appeal, if able to build on a highly promising third in Listed company over a mile. He was briefly held-up in that Sandown run, before finishing his race off strongly. A rise to 1m2f looks a wise move - he is a half-brother to stablemate Defore - who won the G1 Coronation Cup over 1m4f.

GLENEAGLE BAY is one of a whole host of contenders, in this uber-competitve 7f handicap. A strong this over track and trip in April cemented the thought of a well-handicapped type, for a trainer who has only had the horse for three runs. Any further progression may see him go close - his powerful owners are no strangers to Royal Ascot success, too.

AKKADIAN THUNDER arrives after a confidence-building success over 7f last-time-out. He is lightly raced over this 7f trip and ought to travel strongly into the contest. There was also plenty of encouragement in a course run last October - running well without having the gaps appear at the right times.