Hugo Palmer Royal Ascot Day Two runners blog: 'He was strong through the line over five furlongs'

Hugo Palmer has three runners on Day Two of Royal Ascot on Tuesday, 17 June, 2026. The Coral ambassador previews them all in his latest exclusive blog.

• Cheshire Dancer - Ascot - 5.35 race odds

• Sale Shark & Wild Terrain - Ascot - 6.10 race odds

Ascot 5.35 – Cheshire Dancer

Cheshire Dancer had the option of the Group Two Duke Of Cambridge Stakes earlier on the card, some years that race attracts a smaller field, and in that case, it would have been the preferred option, running her on the round course that she won her Group Three on last summer.  However, with 15 lining up this year, we’ve gone for the handicap option instead, over the straight mile.

She ran very well in this race last year, to finish third, she was rated a lot lower then, but she has also dropped five pounds for her last three runs.  Two of those were at Newmarket, which she just didn’t like, and the ground was too soft at Haydock last time, whereas her runs at Ascot have been brilliant.  She is a Group Three winner in a handicap, and if she runs her very best, she has a clear mathematical chance of winning this race.

Ascot 6.10 – Sale Shark & Wild Terrain

We run two in the Windsor Castle, and they are drawn on opposite sides which should be lucky if there is a favoured side.  Wild Terrain made me look foolish when I ran him in the Woodcote at Epsom on Derby Day, we’ve since worked him at home in blinkers and he absolutely flew, so we’ll keep those on him here.

All things being equal I still think Sale Shark has the more lively chance, the pair shouldn’t be taking each other on given their respective draws, and Sale Shark is drawn next to the favourite [Sergei Diaghilev], so that may be the more likely side to provide the winner.  He’s been in super form since his debut win, he was strong through the line over five furlongs that day, and has a great attitude, so I’m really looking forward to seeing him step up to six.