Horse Racing Betting

O'Brien to weave Ascot magic

Magician is taken to prove he is the best miler of his generation with victory in the St James's Palace Stakes, says Anita Chambers. TUESDAY SELECTIONS: ROYAL ASCOT: 2.30 Animal Kingdon, 3.05 Spirit Quartz, 3.45 Magician, 4.25 THUNDER STRIKE (NAP), 5.00 Tiger Cliff, 5.35 Fountain Of Youth. BRIGHTON: 6.00 Imaginary Diva, 6.30 Vigor, 7.00 Yojojo, 7.30 Penang Power, 8.00 Hawk Moth, 8.30 Katmai River, 9.00 Maria Montez. KEMPTON: 6.10 Alpine Mysteries, 6.40 Victorian Number, 7.10 Hill Of Dreams, 7.40 Blighty, 8.10 Cockney Bob, 8.40 Spieta, 9.10 Dark Templar. SLIGO: 5.45 Captain Moonlite, 6.20 Bainne, 6.50 Vasoni, 7.20 Auden, 7.50 Show Court, 8.20 War Room, 8.50 Modista. STRATFORD: 2.10 Polly Hopper, 2.45 Castlemorris King, 3.20 Double Chocolate, 3.55 Lyssio, 4.35 The Good Guy, 5.10 Another Hero. THIRSK: 2.20 Loma Mor, 2.55 Cascadia, 3.30 Secret City, 4.05 Muharrer, 4.45 Waverunner, 5.20 Mitchum, 5.50 Whispered Times, 6.20 Bondi Beach Boy. DOUBLE: Thunder Strike and Magician. Despite his last-minute injury scare, Magician is taken to prove he is the best miler of his generation with victory in the St James's Palace Stakes on the opening day of Royal Ascot. There were some slight doubts about the participation of the Irish 2000 Guineas winner late last week but with trainer Aidan O'Brien happy to run, there can be no doubts about his fitness now. This Galileo colt was certainly not a juvenile star but he appears to have really blossomed over the winter months and thoroughly impressed when strolling to victor over 10 furlongs on his reappearance in the Dee Stakes. While the form of that race has not worked out particularly well, Magician proved himself as a top-level performer when dropping back to a mile to win the Curragh Classic late last month. With his stablemate setting a strong pace, Magician swooped inside the final two furlongs to win by just over three lengths without really coming under pressure. He again has two stablemates in the field here and one could well set a determined pace to help Magician's chances but nevertheless, the selection does not lack gears and could prove too smart. Dawn Approach is the likely favourite and if he repeats his Newmarket form he will be hard to beat, but it is difficult to believe his Epsom run will not have left a mark. Animal Kingdom has been all the rage for the opening Queen Anne Stakes and the American raider is hard to oppose in what looks a fairly one-sided heat. Winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby and this year's Dubai World Cup, Animal Kingdom will be dropping back in trip and tackling a straight mile for the first time. However, he has proved thoroughly versatile over a range of trips and as his trademark is a flying finish, he will not be wanting for pace at the finish. Of the others, Elusive Kate may be worth an each-way wager on her seasonal reappearance. Spirit Quartz can give trainer Robert Cowell a second King's Stand Stakes win in three years. Cowell claimed the five-furlong prize with Prohibit in 2011 and Spirit Quartz has strong claims based on his fine reappearance run at Haydock and a subsequent win in France. Frankie Dettori can complete his rehabilitation in the saddle with victory aboard Thunder Strike in the Coventry Stakes. Richard Hughes has abandoned the Woodcote Stakes winner in favour of fellow Richard Hannon-trained runner Championship, leaving Dettori to pick up a gem of a spare ride. Thunder Strike has won each of his three starts to date and after handling the unique Epsom track, he will be even better back on this conventional course. Tiger Cliff can pay a fitting tribute to the late Sir Henry Cecil by winning the Ascot Stakes. Running in Lady Cecil's name, this recent Newmarket winner looks a progressive type and should take some beating. Fountain Of Youth's dam Attraction was twice a winner at the Royal meeting and he can maintain family honour in the closing Windsor Castle Stakes. Away from Ascot, Saeed Bin Suroor's Waverunner can strike in the British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing EBF Fillies' Handicap at Thirsk while Spieta is the choice in Kempton's Silver Blaze Wessex Cup Fillies' Handicap. Yojojo was a winner at Brighton last time and can repeat the trick in the Betfair Multiples Cashout "Do You? Don't You?" Fillies' Handicap, with Lyssio the pick of Stratford's jumps action in the At The Races Novices' Hurdle.

Shirocco to Star at Warwick

Ashley Iveson reckons Shirocco Star can secure an overdue victory at Warwick on Monday. CARLISLE: 2.15 Mr Matthews, 2.45 Bunce, 3.15 Circuitous, 3.45 Chant, 4.15 Royal Holiday, 4.45 Silkelly, 5.15 Graceful Act, 5.45 Fashion Line. KEMPTON: 2.30 Minstrel Lad, 3.00 Pearl Bridge, 3.30 The Dark Wizard, 4.00 Could Be, 4.30 Running Bull, 5.00 Teen Ager, 5.30 Black Truffle. WARWICK: 6.20 Jewelled Dagger, 6.50 See Clearly, 7.20 Yellow Lady, 7.50 SHIROCCO STAR (NAP), 8.20 King Fingal, 8.50 Boots And Spurs. WINDSOR: 6.05 Highlife Dancer, 6.35 Narborough, 7.05 Oxlip, 7.35 Aye Aye Digby, 8.05 Cruiser, 8.35 Ducab, 9.05 Mash Potato. DOUBLE: Shirocco Star and Silkelly. Having run countless good races in defeat during the last year, Shirocco Star can secure an overdue victory at Warwick. Given her undeniable talent, it is quite remarkable Hughie Morrison's filly has not won a single race since getting off the mark in a juvenile maiden at Newbury the best part of two years ago. The four-year-old was denied Oaks glory by just a neck at Epsom last summer and went on to pick up further minor honours in the Irish equivalent and the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. She signed off an excellent campaign with a fine second in the British Champions Fillies' and Mares' Stakes at Ascot in October. It was no surprise to see Shirocco Star sent off favourite for her seasonal reappearance in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket in early May. That said, running over just nine furlongs on fast ground was never going to suit her ideally and she could only manage a respectable fifth. The form of that Group Three contest has been significantly boosted by both the runner-up Chigun and the third home Thistle Bird having since secured Group-race prizes. Morrison's filly should strip fitter for the run in the Voute Sales Warwickshire Oaks and will benefit from the step up in distance. Conditions should also be in her favour as she drops down to Listed class. Roger Varian's Ducab ought to make it third-time lucky in the MWH Maiden Stakes. The three-year-old is certainly bred for the job as a full-brother to Group One-winning filly The Fugue, but he never saw the racecourse last year and was gelded before his Nottingham debut in May. He ran a fair race to finish third that that day and showed progress when beaten just a neck at Sandown last time. Richard Hughes keeps the ride and an ordinary event such as this should be within Ducab's grasp. The best bet on Carlisle's card is David O'Meara's Silkelly, who goes in the Join Now At rewards4racing.com Fillies' Handicap. It took the daughter of Medicean a while to grasp the nettle last season, with her first three maiden starts offering little promise. However, she signed off with a surprise victory at Thirsk and showed a nice attitude to make a winning return at Musselburgh a few weeks ago. She is up in the weights, but remains very much unexposed and could be the sort to run up a sequence at this level. The all-weather fare comes from Kempton, where the Ralph Beckett-trained Pearl Bridge holds outstanding claims in the BetVictor Royal Ascot No Lose Hughes Handicap. Placed on his first two starts, the gelded three-year-old knuckled down admirably to record a narrow win in a typically competitive York maiden last month. The form is sound with the two to finish immediately behind Pearl Bridge winning since and he may have been let in lightly by the assessor for his handicap debut, kicking off with a mark of 80.