Wesley Ward: we've just been messing but now we're planning to get serious

Friday: 6.10 Royal Ascot
Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes (Handicap) | 5f | 3yo | ITV4/Sky

If you are a punter of a certain mindset, Holyroodhouse hopeful Ruthin is just the type of horse you want to see in a big-field sprint. You want to oppose him as he takes out a significant chunk of the market, but his presence also answers the question of where the pace might come from.

Ruthin, who was seventh when favourite for last year's Windsor Castle, will break from stall 17 and will most likely spearhead the main group down the centre. While five-furlong races over Ascot's straight course are much kinder to front-runners than longer races, it still takes a significant effort to control a 28-runner handicap, and therefore jockey Irad Ortiz will need to show more local knowledge than on the first two days of the meeting. On top of that, off a mark of 105, his mount will need to run to a Group-worthy level to win.

Saturday's Belmont Stakes hero Irad Ortiz has not had a great time at Royal Ascot this weekCredit: Benoit Photo

With no apparent track bias, the place to be is near the pace so it may be worth focusing your attention away from the flanks. As well as Ruthin, there is some obvious pace in stalls 15 (Dynamic Force), 16 (Catch Cunningham) and 19 (Josies Kid). Among them all in 18 is Tippy Toes, who sometimes leads herself but may struggle to lay up with the amount of raw speed around her on this drop back to five furlongs. She had been improving before finding the Sandy Lane, a major Commonwealth Cup trial, too much last time so is of interest.

The other side of that pace hotspot is Ladies Church. She was a neck second last time in a Listed race at Cork, which looks an appealing bit of form. Commonwealth Cup-bound Sacred Bridge won, while Brostaigh (subsequent Group 2 winner in France) finished fourth.

Trainer Johnny Murtagh does well with those he targets at Ascot. From 20 runners, two have won and another five made the frame. This filly needs to be almost Listed-class to win off 98, but it is known from Cork that she is virtually at that level already.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

Will it be chicken or feathers for Ward?

Wesley Ward has left only one of the last nine Royal Ascots without a winner but after a frustrating meeting he has just two chances left to get on the scoreboard — Ward being Ward, he has not given up hope.

Campanelle represents America's biggest royal meeting fan in Saturday's Platinum Jubilee Stakes, but first Ward saddles Ruthin in the Palace of Holyrood House Handicap under Irad Ortiz, who picked up a suspension aboard Love Reigns on Wednesday having endured a miserable experience with Golden Pal, who finished last in the King's Stand Stakes one day earlier.

Offering an American idiom to sum up his mindset, Ward said: "One day chicken, the next day feathers! We've just been messing but we're now planning to get serious — and I'm hoping the jockey has got rid of all his bad luck."

Ward added: "I think Ruthin has a really big chance. She is an easy-going filly, this is her right distance and she's doing well."

What they say

Karl Burke, trainer of Korker
The handicapper gave him 9lb for the win at York, which isn't going to make it easy. He's in great form, and I'm sure he'll run a big race, but he may just be anchored by that weight.

Johnny Murtagh, trainer of Ladies Church
She's already won a Listed race and was third in a Group race, so she has a bit of class. This race has been the plan for quite a while.

Johnny Murtagh bids to maintain his excellent Royal Ascot record with Ladies ChoiceCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Adrian Murray, trainer of Saliteh
She's in great form. She ran very well in Naas and I'm hoping she'll improve from it. A good five will be right up her street and you'd be happy enough with the draw (stall 25). A flat course will suit her better, as she got a little bit unbalanced at Naas, and the ground will suit.

Charlie Fellowes, trainer of Fai Fai
He is a really hard horse to work out. This race has been the plan all along but he had a few minor niggles in the spring, which prevented me giving him a run before now. I also have major concerns about the ground. I think he wants some cut, but he hasn't run for us before, so this is a fact-finding mission.

George Boughey, trainer of Navello
It's the first time he's got his ground since he won at Brighton as a two-year-old. A sounder surface will see him in a better light. He's in very good form.

Ed Dunlop, trainer of Sterling Knight
He is potentially interesting. He has won at the track and this has been the plan since then. It's his first time over five furlongs, and although he is by Camelot he shows plenty of speed. I think he'll be okay on the ground.

Daniel Kubler, joint-trainer of Lil Guff
This is another step up in class, so it's a big ask, but she is tough, hardy and she has been in great form. It may be that it's step too far but it's worth trying. They will go a million miles an hour and she enjoys running past horses.

Alice Haynes, trainer of Josies Kid
He snuck in and I think he's got a great shout in the visors. He did a little too much in front early on at York last time but he won't be in front after a furlong this time.

Friday at Royal Ascot:

2.30 Ascot: 'She's working really well and she's probably overpriced' - key Albany quotes

3.05 Ascot: 'He's in the form of his life' - analysis and quotes for the Commonwealth Cup

3.40 Ascot: Why it could pay to look past two market leaders in the Duke of Edinburgh

4.20 Ascot: Thady Gosden: Inspiral is ready for a race but she will improve from it

5.00 Ascot: 'She's been laid out for this' - the Queen's runner primed for Sandringham

5.35 Ascot: Can punters trust the quick Derby turnaround time in the King Edward VII?

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