15:51

The big question for punters on day one at this Royal Ascot is this: how many excuses do you make for a horse who was brilliant last year but has yet to show it this season? Too Darn Hot is the animal in question and he probably still has bundles of talent, despite having been runner-up in both starts this year.

But Phoenix Of Spain beat him fair and square in the Irish Guineas and I hope to see Charlie Hills’s grey confirm the form of that three-length success here. Reportedly, he had a troubled preparation for that outing and may well be better for the run. He got within two lengths of Too Darn Hot in September, looking very much like a horse who would do better with time, so there surely was no fluke about his Classic success.

The progressive King Of Comedy could be a threat and his trainer, John Gosden, pinched this race with an animal of modest talent last year but this renewal looks stronger. Circus Maximus wasn’t far behind Phoenix Of Spain in October but doesn’t look a specialist miler and the fitting of blinkers suggests his trainer worries he may be short of the necessary speed.

Fox Champion, winner of the German Guineas, is progressive and in danger of being underestimated at 20-1, though he’d have to outrun his pedigree to win this. The French raider Shaman has been beaten only by Persian King in his last four starts, so has to be taken seriously.