I have made some good money this week in the 2yo races looking away from the top of the market and PENTLE BAY catches the eye at a big price. This New Bay colt was well backed on debut and he really impressed given he was slowly away and hampered at the start. He had to use up a lot of petrol to get into it but managed to quicken twice and stay on strongly to get up. He has been snapped up for £400,000 by Teme Valley and I think connections will be hopeful of a bold showing as am I with further improvement to come.

Bedtime Story looks likely to go off favourite for Aidan O’Brien but I don’t think she beat a great deal on debut at Leopardstown and I’m not sure she warrants being so short. I actually fear Age Of Gold more as he overcame inexperience to make a winning start and clearly has a bright future.

John Gosden knows how to win this race and MIDDLE EARTH could prove tough to pass. He won 3 of his last 4 as a 3yo and picked up where he left off prevailing in a tight finish with King Of Conquest last month. He steps up into Group 2 company here but has more to come over this trip and with Candleford and Elegant Man like to force the pace it should pan out perfectly.

Continuous was a good fifth in the Arc when last seen and with more to come as a 4yo looks the danger. Desert Hero won at the meeting last year but has a lot of ground to make up with the selection on that Newbury form so might be up against it even if back to his best.

I’m pleasantly surprised that MITBAAHY is as big as 13/2 here. He is a smart sprinter and he caught the eye finishing fourth in the Abernant on return and then a slow start cost him any chance in the Palace House Stakes. He was back to his best storming home to win the Greenlands Stakes in Ireland last time though and Regional the runner-up has boosted that form since finishing second in the King Charles II Stakes here earlier in the week. As long as he can keep tabs on them early I think he’ll be the one finishing best and hopefully he can pick them up late.

Shartash has won his last two and has been snapped up by Wathnan Racing who have had a good week. He is still largely unexposed so back down in trip could be the danger with this stiff finish ideal. The Wizard Of Eye impressed winning the Victoria Cup and is another one to note if handling the drop back in trip.

I’m keen to side with HAATEM back down to 7f. He has looked better than ever this season making a winning return at Newmarket before finishing third in the Guineas. He then went down just a head to stablemate Rosallion in the Irish equivalent and he deserves to bag himself one of these prizes.

River Tiber won the Coventry at this meeting last year and looks the danger but does have ground to make up on that run in the Irish Guineas last time. Kikkuli is another one in with a squeak but that Sandown form has taken a couple of knocks since with the winner Almaqam and third Sons And Lovers both well held since.

A wide open Wokingham as you’d expect and I will be in the owners and trainers at Royal Ascot on Saturday cheering on Flaming Rib. He is hard to make a case for but if bouncing back could give us a memorable day. ALBASHEER is the one I like most as he looked back on the up winning at Newcastle and then following up at the same venue back in March. He was only midfield back up in trip next time and then couldn’t get going in deep ground in France last time in Group company. Back in a handicap off a lower mark back on turf he is handicapped to have a big say.

SAINT LAWRENCE has been hinting that he might be ready to bounce back of late and dropped another 2lb and back down to 6f with this track likely to suit I think he is going to run a big race. He won the Wokingham here on debut for this yard last year and is only actually 3lb higher than that here. The other one I’ve backed is COVER UP at around 20/1. He has won 3 of his last 4 and had excuses when down the field last time. Put away since with this race the target he could get involved. The key to him will be settling early so hopefully he gets cover before looking to pick his way through.

I was at Sandown to see HAND OF GOD win and while he was strongly pressed in the closing stages I never felt like he was going to be headed and he kept pulling out more. I would mark that up somewhat and I expect him to come on plenty so a mere 3lb rise shouldn’t be enough to stop him following up. I think he’ll improve again for the step up to a mile and a quarter here and he has plenty going for him. He has a good draw and should get a good target to run down so with Buick booked he is the one to be on.

Portsmouth was well backed again at Epsom but could only finish second but I still think he has more to come and he might be the danger. Approval impressed at Windsor and is another one who enters calculations. Palace Green impressed winning easily at Kempton and then was third at York and back down in trip might have more to offer too.

I can see last years winner Dawn Rising and RUN FOR OSCAR fighting out the lucky last. The former has been out of form but was pitched into Group company behind Kyprios at Leopardstown last time and that should have left him spot on for this back up markedly in trip. He had a similar prep last year so is definitely feared. The latter finished third in this last year but was badly hampered when gathering momentum a couple of furlongs out and may well have troubled the winner so it could be redemption this year with headgear reapplied.

Queenstown is favourite but I only think that is because he is trained by Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore rides. He has finished behind Kyprios the last twice but looks quite one paced to me and I don’t think he deserves to be a shorter price than the two mentioned above. Postileo is another one to note but will likely need a career best to spring an upset.