Aurelia can play the waiting game

TIRELESS work teaching

LADY AURELIA to switch off and settle during the winter can pay off with victory in the King’s Stand Stakes. The filly trained by Wesley Ward in America blasted to a seven-length win in the Queen Mary Stakes last year, but by the end of the season racing seemed to blow her mind. She was beaten in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket when pulling far too hard. But my confidence has been restored in Lady Aurelia. She settled much better when winning at Keeneland on her one run this year, showing how she has been taught to wait and finish through horses. The blinkers she wore last season are gone and, on ground she will love, she will be tough to beat. Maybe Marsha will give her the most to do. RIBCHESTER is hard to oppose in the opening Queen Anne Stakes. Some pundits have said his outside draw in Stall One is a negative but I do not see it as a big deal and he proved when making the running to win the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in April that he is tactically versatile. I’m a big CHURCHILL fan for the St James’s Palace Stakes. He looks like a horse which always just does enough and I take him to hold off Barney Roy. Favourites go well in the Coventry Stakes but Clive Cox’s Bath winner PRINCE OF THE DARK is a good each-way option at 20-1. He was impressive and still had the energy to throw off jockey Adam Kirby after the line. Cheekpieces have now been fitted, suggesting his team feel he has more up his sleeve. I have ridden Charlie Fellowestrained Endless Acres on the gallops at Newmarket and he is in good form. Unfortunately he has been handed a wide draw in the Ascot Stakes. Jump trainers do well in this race and I was impressed with Alan King’s RAINBOW DREAMER when he won over 2m 2f at Newbury. He looks a strong stayer. DRAGONS TAIL, part-owned by former England striker Michael Owen, showed loads of speed when winning at Chester and is my pick in the closing race. Hayley is an ambassodor for Matchbook who are commission free on the first day of Royal Ascot. Go to www.matchbook.com