O’Brien hope can prove he is Reel deal

HIGHLAND REEL can show he is just as good over 10 furlongs by winning the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, the headline event on day two of Royal Ascot, writes The Ferret.

Aidan O’Brien’s runner is unquestionably a top performer at a mile-and-a-half, but he has yet to establish his Group One credentials over a mile-and-a-quarter.

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

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

He finished last of seven behind the reopposing Jack Hobbs on that occasion but the unexpectedly yielding ground was certainly against him that day and the real Highland Reel is far better than that.

The 10-furlong trip is a question mark, but he did win the 2015 Secretariat Stakes in America over the distance.

Luca Cumani could have played a blinder placing EL

VIP in the Royal Hunt Cup. The four-year-old disappointed when last at Haydock, but bounced back to form with victory at Newcastle at the start of the month, for which he shoulders a 5lb penalty.

However, even with that extra load, he is still technically 3lb well in on his rating of 102. SELECTIONS HAMILTON: 2.10 Undercover Brother, 2.45 Drover, 3.20 Love Oasis, 3.55 Princess Nearco, 4.35 Titi Makfi, 5.10 Single Estate, 5.45 Tonto’s Spirit. ROYAL ASCOT: 2.30 Daban, 3.05 Formidable Kitt, 3.40 Qemah, 4.20 HIGHLAND REEL (NAP), 5.00 El Vip, 5.35 Bean Feasa.

DOUBLE: Highland Reel and El Vip.