It's lovely Jumbly for Royal Ascot

THERE are some races at Royal Ascot this month that look a no-no as far as ante-post betting is concerned and then there is the Duke of Cambridge Stakes.

John Gosden has already stated that the current favourite, Inspiral, is going for the Group 1 Queen Anne instead and I would be staggered if Joseph O’Brien ran Above The Curve back in trip and in class under a penalty. She’s second favourite and then comes Laurel, who ran as if there was something amiss when disappointing in the Lockinge.

Consequently this looks a race that will have a totally different market on the day, and I’m looking at last month’s Lanwades Stud Stakes at the Curragh as a form pointer.

While Just Beautiful looked good in victory, she had a massive advantage in making the running on a track that played in her favour. It’s hard to do what she did there at Ascot and surely the one to consider backing is runner-up Jumbly.

We know Jumbly likes Ascot, we know she likes a straight track and the Duke of Cambridge has been her target all season. I reckon she’s going to take a massive step forward and her current odds seriously underestimate her chance of winning.