No accident if Agent repeats trick

TIPS: Last year’s Ascot winner can prove it was no fluke

ACCIDENTAL AGENT can follow up last year’s win in the Queen Anne Stakes, the opening race of Royal Ascot.

Eve Johnson Houghton feels her stable star has never properly been given the credit he deserved for last year’s win, but, were he to make it back-to-back wins then there can be little doubt he is one of the best milers around.

The Delegator five-year-old has progressed through the handicap ranks to the highest level, although he has been winless in three outings since announcing himself on the big stage.

However, his trainer believes he had genuine excuses for his last two runs of 2018, and there was certainly plenty of encouragement to take from his reappearance in the Lockinge.

He ran a blinder to be third at Newbury behind Mustashry and Laurensand faces those two again, but is entitled to come on for the run.

There is also a case for believing Blue Point can win the King’s Stand again, but given all the rain last week, MABS CROSS looks a tempting option.

Michael Dods’ mare finished a closing third behind Blue Point and Battaash 12 months ago, before going on to great things herself over five furlongs.

Beaten by a pixel in the Nunthorpe at York, she then won the Prix de l’Abbaye and always seems to run her race.

Having defied a big penalty on her return, she could not concede the weight to Battaash at Haydock, but on softer ground and with the doubts about Battaash repeating his form, the northern raider looks the call.