Initially I was going to try and oppose ZELAINA but the more I watch back that debut win at Nottingham the more I warmed to her chances. She was quick into stride that day and travelled so strongly off the front before winning unchallenged by nearly 3 lengths. Her trainer Karl Burke has spoken really highly of her and of course he won the race last year with Leovanni. She has bundles more to come and could make it a perfect 2-2 here.

American raider Lennilu has won both starts to date and is there with her chance. She’ll love the ground and could be dangerous. True Love bumped into stablemate Gstaad at Navan and hasn’t done much wrong in two starts to date and is another one to note.

Illinois won this for Aidan O’Brien 12 months ago and he obviously has a good record in this but Shackleton looks too short at the top of the betting. He was only fourth on reappearance and will need to better that to come out on top in this. I prefer CARMERS for Paddy Twomey. This well bred colt by Wootton Bassett is a perfect 2-2 and was impressive with how he asserted at Navan last month. He’ll need to improve again to take this but on just his third start he is almost certain to.

Of the rest Asmarani impressed winning easily on penultimate start and then was runner-up in a strong race at Longchamp last time so has a squeak. Devil’s Advocate should also have more to come under Buick and is another one you can see getting competitive in a wide open renewal.

I’m really looking forward to seeing CINDERELLA’S DREAM again and she is one of my stronger bets of the week in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes. She absolutely dotted up at Newmarket on return and looks a filly firmly on the upgrade now. She already has 7 wins to her name and I don’t think it will be long until we see her back contesting at the very top level. Appleby and Buick are in great form and she should have too much for this field.

Fallen Angel won the Irish Guineas last year and is a big danger on her best form but she struggled in the Lockinge on return. Obviously that was a very good race so don’t discount her but I just wanted to see more to make her the one to beat in this. Of the rest Soprano is a big price as she goes well at this track and could get competitive under Billy Loughnane.

Auguste Rodin won this last year for Aidan O’Brien and he has now won 2 of her last 4 renewals having taken it with Love as well back in 2021. LOS ANGELES looks the one to beat this year having shown a great attitude to fend off Anmaat at the Curragh last month. I think that is the form line that will play out and with more to come he should confirm those placings.

Anmaat is obviously a very talented horse and should make a race of it. That was his reappearance run so he is entitled to come on for that but I just feel the selection is open to greater improvement now. Map Of Stars was only denied a neck by Sosie in France when last seen and is another one who must enter calculations.

I love the Royal Hunt Cup even though it can be tricky to find a winner! I usually have a few in the race but this year my hopes are pinned to just the one horse in the shape of TREASURE TIME for William Haggas. He lacks a run but looks to have been targeted at this and a mark of just 94 should be lenient. He was impressive winning at York and caught the eye in defeat at Doncaster and has the right profile for this so I’m expecting a massive run.

A long list of dangers likely headed by My Cloud who was impressive at this track on return and then followed up at Newbury and that form has worked out well since. He will head the market but deservedly so. The Liffey has only had 4 starts and is another one likely to progress and go well in this.

I’m siding with the most unexposed filly in the race in the shape of RAINBOWS EDGE for John and Thady Gosden. This Night Of Thunder filly has won 3 from 4 and impressed winning here last month. Both the third Zapphire and fourth Roarin’ Success have won since so the form has been franked. She is up 5lb but obviously isn’t done improving yet and in a race with plenty of pace on I can see this panning out perfectly and Buick picking his way through late.

Kingman filly Arolla was only beaten a length by Jabaara at Musselburgh on return and if building on that could be the danger. Kayhana was only denied a head on stable debut and with more to come is another one who could get involved.

After catching the eye on debut ROGUE LEGEND improved to win readily at Cork last month and then followed up with plenty in hand at Tipperary last time.He looks a colt with plenty of gears and if he improves again he will have a major shout of winning this. I know he made all last time but I think he’ll be even better dropped in and if they go hard this could play out perfectly.

Old Is Gold was heavily backed to win at Beverley and will have his supporters here and should go well. Rogue Supremacy made a pretty sparkling debut beating a good horse in Vlad at Wetherby and with more to come he could have a say in the outcome here as well.