June 13th, 2016 | 
Author: Royal Ascot is the centrepiece of what is a racing festival considered by many to…
Royal Hunt Cup, Ascot, Wednesday, June 15
In the Royal Hunt Cup (5.00) at Ascot on Wednesday, Gm Hopkins is 9lb higher in the weights than when winning the race last year, from stall 11, but is only 3lb higher than when not beaten far, after an interrupted passage, in the valuable Balmoral Handicap over course and distance last October and could make another bold bid. The Dubawi gelding is 2-3 over course and distance, including on the prevailing good to soft going and, having won on soft going earlier in his career, shouldn’t be unduly inconvenienced if the forecast heavy showers do arrive in Berkshire between now and Wednesday afternoon.
Over the straight mile at Ascot, big fields typically split into two or three groups, with a slight bias towards those drawn low, but the first six home in this race last year were drawn 11, 19, 10, 21, 14 and 20, so Gm Hopkins is far from impossibly drawn in stall 18 this time around. At around the 20/1 mark in the ante post lists, John Gosden’s charge should give us a good run for our money.
Selection: Ascot 5.00 Gm Hopkins (20/1) to win