Duke Of Firenze ready to step up in class for Coral Charge

Duke Of Firenze produced an astonishing burst of speed to win the Epsom Dash at the Derby meeting but could not repeat the performance at Royal Ascot. He was sent off favourite for the Wokingham Handicap but finished only eighth behind York Glory.

Ryan Moore knows how to get the best out of the son of Pivotal and will be aiming to produce him as late as possible over Sandown’s stiff five furlongs. On official ratings he has to improve a few pounds to win this but many of his rivals arrive after sub-standard performances.

Top rated on official figures is Robert Cowell’s Kingsgate Native who won the Temple Stakes at Haydock. On the basis of that run he was entitled to go close in the King’s Stand Stakes at the Royal meeting but trailed in at the rear of the field behind Sole Power.

Cowell also runs Spirit Quartz who fared even worse in the same race, beating only one horse home. On his previous race he had won a Group 2 in France and was placed in Group 1 races last season including the Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

Roger Charlton looks set for a big day with Al Kazeem favourite for the featured Coral Eclipse Stakes. He saddles the filly Mince in the Coral Charge and she is another looking to recapture her best form after a couple of modest efforts.

Mince was beaten when odds-on favourite at Windsor but made no show in the Diamond Jubilee at Ascot, trailing in 16 lengths adrift of Lethal Force. Charlton is applying the blinkers for the first time here.

Gary Moore has declared the progressive Dutch Masterpiece who is on a hat-trick but warned earlier in the week that the gelding would not be risked on fast ground. Lady Cecil’s Tickled Pink who has not lived up to the promise of her seasonal debut when she won nicely at Newmarket.

The three-year-olds Bungle Inthejungle and Hoyam complete the eight-runner line up for the race due off at 2.05pm on Saturday.