Horse Racing: In-form Manduro to Make Mark for Fabre

Manduro will not be the sort of mouthwatering double-figure price he was when running in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at last year's Royal Ascot meeting, but he is in sparkling form for his return visit after two easy wins, whereas a year ago he was in the middle of a frustrating run of placed efforts.

A year ago Andre Fabre's son of Monsun was a little unlucky in finishing third behind Ouija Board, becoming trapped on the rail as the winner swept down the outside. This time round, Manduro has swept away the opposition at Newmarket and Longchamp in the style of an improved animal. His latest demolition of in-form Turtle Bow means that prices above 4-1 for the Prince Of Wales's (3.45, Wednesday) need to be snapped up.

Not that we should expect things to be easy against smart opponents. Red Rocks was impressive when carrying a 7lb penalty to success at Sandown and looks the biggest danger, with little to choose between Dylan Thomas and Notnowcato. Sir Percy ran poorly in the Coronation Cup at Epsom, but should not be wholly ruled out as his form in Dubai's Sheema Classic in the spring gives him a good chance.

Much of the interest on Tuesday centers on the four-pronged Australian challenge for the King's Stand Stakes (3.05). Miss Andretti is favourite and has been much improved since joining Lee Freedman.

Bentley Biscuit seems to take some time to find his stride and might be better over the extra furlong of the Golden Jubilee on Saturday (3.45), while Takeover Target, although better off at the weights than when winning last year, could no longer be as good.

That leaves Magnus, a younger horse still on the upgrade, as the value bet at around 16-1. On the face of it, he is going to struggle to beat Miss Andretti, having failed against her when receiving 8lb at Caulfield in March. But the bare form does not tell the whole tale as it appears that Miss Andretti raced on a much faster strip of ground than the rest of the field. Following that run, Magnus had Bentley Biscuit back in fourth over five-and-a-half furlongs at Warwick Farm and he has impressed those who have seen him at his quarters in Newmarket since his arrival.

A small bet on yet another raider, Freddie Head's Racinger, is in order in the Queen Anne Stakes (Tuesday, 4.20). He had Passager back in third at Saint-Cloud last time and that rival was racing on slower ground than Red Evie and Ramonti when third to that pair in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

George Washington will dominate the betting for this race, but it takes a leap of faith to expect him to justify a short price on his return from failure at stud. He is superb on his day and will be hard to beat if his temperament does not get the better of him, but I would sooner be on Racinger at around 20-1 than Gorgeous George at 5-4.

Cockney Rebel tries to emulate Rock Of Gibraltar by winning the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes (Tuesday, 3.45) and he has the turn of foot to see off Newmarket third and fourth, Dutch Art and Duke of Marmalade, and French Guineas winner Astronomer Royal. The Longchamp fourth, Excellent Art, was most unlucky in running and might prove the biggest threat.

Pencil Hill beat You'resothrilling at The Curragh and that form has been advertised by the runner-up since so Tracey Collins' colt is my tip for the Coventry Stakes (Tuesday, 2.30). I'd be scared of River Proud if Paul Cole lets him line up after his Newbury win on Thursday. Regal Step has been bought by Highclere for the Queen Mary (Wednesday, 4.55) and she looked the type for it when winning at Nottingham.

US Ranger should enjoy the seven furlongs of Wednesday's Jersey Stakes (2.30), while it is hard to oppose last year's winner Yeats in Thursday's Gold Cup (3.45).

Pentecost hardly knows how to run a bad race at Ascot and will be much better over the mile of the Hunt Cup (Wednesday, 4.20) than he was at the seven furlongs of the Victoria Cup last time. Shop around as some bookmakers offer five places for this handicap and Pentecost should be backed each-way.

Andrew Balding's veteran won the Britannia Handicap (Thursday, 4.20) five years ago and I have been waiting for his stablemate Buccellati to run over a straight mile since the start of the season. He has shown up well at Sandown, Newbury and Epsom and is going to be one of the best bets of the meeting now that he has his optimum conditions.

Another good handicap bet is Enjoy The Moment in the Ascot Stakes (Tuesday, 4.55). He ran on well for third in the Chester Cup.

Mark Johnston's horses look as though they are peaking at the right time for a meeting at which he does well, but his multiple entries make life hard this far in advance. For instance, in Thursday's King George V Handicap - a race he has won in three of the last five years - he has 13 entries and he will have several in another of his favorites, Friday's Queen's Vase. I will have to pass on those races, but keep a close eye on Johnston's final line-up.