With a vintage Royal Ascot on-going and the First Lions Test plus the Champions Trophy Final this weekend, what a brilliant week of sport this is.
Friday
Day Four for me revolves around Sandiva in the Albany. I was with Richard Fahey at Windsor on Monday and what an exciting group of two-year-olds he has got - Parbold ran a blinder in the Coventry and he's been hitting the bar all week.
I sensed a glint in the great man's eye, though, when talking about Sandiva. She's looked really special on both her starts and the form of the Naas win is already looking particularly strong. I absolutely love Sandiva's giant stride and think she could be very good.
In the Coronation Stakes, I expect Dermot Weld's Big Break to finish much closer to Just the Judge than she did in the Irish 1,000 Guineas. Big Break was too fresh after a long break that day and it's interesting Weld takes her on again and his filly certainly remains capable of a stack of improvement.
Hillstar is an interesting runner in the King Edward VIII Stakes; the horse has been expensive to follow so far but looks worth one more chance. Hillstar was heavily backed again last time at Newbury where he had to do all the donkey work having failed to settle. They will employ completely different riding tactics on Friday and the stable still think he's very good.
Day Four selections: Sandiva, Big Break (e/w), Hillstar
Saturday
My least favourite day of the meeting. The Diamond Jubilee and Wokingham look impossible, while the Hardwicke doesn't set my pulse racing. I will be focusing on the rugby.
Day Five selections: The Lions!
