LUCKY VEGA IS PICK OF THE PALACE AT ASCOT OPENER

Lucky Vega can turn around Classic form with Poetic Flare to land the St James’s Palace Stakes, one of three Group One features on the opening day of Royal Ascot.

Jessica Harrington’s charge has twice finished behind the 2000 Guineas winner already this term, third at Newmarket and then fourth when Poetic Flare was a narrow second to stablemate Mac Swiney in the Irish equivalent.

Lucky Vega’s class was evident last term when he won the Phoenix Stakes over six furlongs at the Curragh, before going on to chase home Thunder Moon in the National Stakes and narrowly give best to Supremacy in the Middle Park.

He had stamina to prove when upped to Classic company at Newmarket, but his fast-finishing half-length defeat shows the trip was no problem - and he actually looked tapped for toe at one point at the Curragh, before again staying on well to be beaten nearly five lengths.

Palace Pier should get favourite backers off to a good start in the opening Queen Anne Stakes.

SELECTIONS

ASCOT: 2.30 Palace Pier, 3.05 Gisburn, 3.40 Oxted, 4.20 LUCKY VEGA (NAP), 5.00 Elysian Flame, 5.35 Felix, 6.10 Global Storm. STRATFORD: 1.20 Ocean Reach, 1.50 Dutch Admiral, 2.20 Mawlood, 2.55 Hooper, 3.30 Auld Sod, 4.05 Gregor.

THIRSK: 1.05 Cardiff, 1.40 JR Cavagin, 2.10 Tricorn, 2.45 Riches and Rubies, 3.20 Frow, 3.55 Cassy O, 4.30 Asjad, 5.10 Van Gerwen. DOUBLE: Palace Pier and Lucky Vega.

CASTLEGATE SELECTION: EBRO RIVER (Royal Ascot, 3.05).