Royal Ascot

A spread of pace across the track but the US speedball Bacio being drawn closest to the stands' rail could lead to a migration in that direction. Only subsequent prolific Group-race winner Art Power (2020) has taken this prize without previously contesting a handicap so Gold Digger and Westport, both leading market fancies, need to buck that trend. Andrew Balding's erratic but hugely talented Ghost Mode can go well dropped to 5f, while stablemate Simplify has strong claims despite a 5lb rise for her York second. Stargazed (third choice) shaped with considerable promise on her York reappearance and she still has a chance to live up to her illustrious sprinting pedigree but the two against the field are the hat-trick seekers Tricky Tel and JAZL. The former beat older horses in good style at Chester and should appreciate the stiff test at the trip but Jazl oozed quality when thumping 11 rivals at Leicester on his handicap debut. He drops in trip with a 10lb higher mark to contend with but that may underestimate his potential.[Paul Smith]