Highland's the 'Reel' deal at Royal Ascot

- Highland Reel can successfully drop back in trip today to take the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, the headline event on Day Two of Royal Ascot.

Aidan O’Brien’s runner is unquestionably a top performer at 2400m, but has yet to really establish his Group One credentials over a 2000m.

However, this five-year-old can change that perception by winning at Ascot and completing a quick-fire double following his Coronation Cup verdict at the start of the month.

Highland Reel had to work hard for victory at Epsom with Frontiersman challenging in the shadow of the post, but he hung on for a 1.75-length win which banished memories of his disappointing trip to Dubai in March.

He finished last of seven behind the reopposing Jack Hobbs then but the unexpectedly yielding ground was certainly against him and the real Highland Reel is far better than that. The 2000m trip is a question mark, but he won the 2015 Secretariat Stakes in America over the distance and Ryan Moore certainly knows how to win from the front with this horse and should judge his fractions to perfection.

Qemah can atone for a shock defeat at Lingfield last month with victory in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes.

Jean-Claude Rouget’s filly hit the mark in the Coronation Stakes at this meeting last year before going on to add the Prix Rothschild to her CV.

She was perhaps just feeling the effects of a long season that kicked off with a win in April when beaten by Alice Springs in the Matron Stakes and was widely expected to make a victorious 2017 bow in a Lingfield Group 3.

Rouget made no secret of the fact that was merely a prep outing for this event, but it was still disappointing to see her beaten 2.25 lengths by Mix And Mingle, who got a peach of a ride from Moore.

That said, Qemah did not enjoy the clearest of passages and Frankie Dettori was far from hard on her in the finish, so it would be dangerous to discount her claims here.

Fillies might not have the best record in the Jersey Stakes with only Ishvana hitting the target for the distaff division in recent years, but Daban ticks all the boxes to make her a real contender in this 1400m race.

Winner of two her three starts, her sole eclipse came last time out when third to what appears to be the latest O’Brien supermare Winter in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Beaten 2.25 lengths, Daban just appeared to be outstayed by the front two so it makes sense to drop back slightly in trip here, even though she does not receive a fillies’ allowance.

Her form looks pretty strong with Unforgetable Filly, who Daban beat when winning the Nell Gwyn back in April, subsequently going on to win the German 1000 Guineas over the weekend.

Formidable Kitt’s dam Ceiling Kitty won the Queen Mary Stakes in 2012 and Tom Dascombe’s charge can keep up the family tradition in this year’s renewal.

Winner of a Newmarket maiden in April, Formidable Kitt looked good value for her halflength success and this has been the target since.

Luca Cumani could have played a blinder with his placing of El Vip in the Royal Hunt Cup.

The four-year-old disappointed on his penultimate start when last at Haydock but bounced back to form with victory at Newcastle at the start of the month, for which he shoulders a 2kg penalty. - Press Association