Hugo Palmer Blog | Royal Ascot Day Two
16 Jun 2026
Coral Racing Ambassador, Hugo Palmer, sends three runners to Royal Ascot on day two, including two in the final race on the card, the Windsor Castle Stakes.
17:35 Ascot – Cheshire Dancer
Cheshire Dancer had the option of the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes earlier on the card, and in some years that race has attracted a smaller field. In that case, it would have been the preferred option, running her on the round course that she won her Group Three on last summer. However, with 15 lining up this year, we’ve gone for the handicap option instead over the straight mile.
She ran very well in this race last year to finish third, she was rated a lot lower then but she has also dropped five pounds for her last three runs. Two of those were at Newmarket which she just didn’t like and the ground was too soft at Haydock last time, whereas her runs at Ascot have been brilliant. She is a Group 3 winner in a handicap, and if she runs her very best she has a clear mathematical chance of winning this race.
18:10 Ascot – Sale Shark & Wild Terrain
We run two in the Windsor Castle, and they are drawn on opposite sides which should be lucky if there is a favoured side. Wild Terrain made me look foolish when I ran him in the Woodcote at Epsom on Derby Day, we’ve since worked him at home in blinkers and he absolutely flew, so we’ll keep those on him here.
All things being equal I still think Sale Shark has the more lively chance, the pair shouldn’t be taking each other on given their respective draws, and Sale Shark is drawn next to the favourite [Sergei Diaghilev], so that may be the more likely side to provide the winner. He’s been in super form since his debut win, he was strong through the line over five furlongs that day and has a great attitude, so I’m really looking forward to seeing him step up to six.
Hugo Palmer, Coral Racing Ambassador
17:35 Ascot – Cheshire Dancer
Cheshire Dancer had the option of the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes earlier on the card, and in some years that race has attracted a smaller field. In that case, it would have been the preferred option, running her on the round course that she won her Group Three on last summer. However, with 15 lining up this year, we’ve gone for the handicap option instead over the straight mile.
She ran very well in this race last year to finish third, she was rated a lot lower then but she has also dropped five pounds for her last three runs. Two of those were at Newmarket which she just didn’t like and the ground was too soft at Haydock last time, whereas her runs at Ascot have been brilliant. She is a Group 3 winner in a handicap, and if she runs her very best she has a clear mathematical chance of winning this race.
18:10 Ascot – Sale Shark & Wild Terrain
We run two in the Windsor Castle, and they are drawn on opposite sides which should be lucky if there is a favoured side. Wild Terrain made me look foolish when I ran him in the Woodcote at Epsom on Derby Day, we’ve since worked him at home in blinkers and he absolutely flew, so we’ll keep those on him here.
All things being equal I still think Sale Shark has the more lively chance, the pair shouldn’t be taking each other on given their respective draws, and Sale Shark is drawn next to the favourite [Sergei Diaghilev], so that may be the more likely side to provide the winner. He’s been in super form since his debut win, he was strong through the line over five furlongs that day and has a great attitude, so I’m really looking forward to seeing him step up to six.
Hugo Palmer, Coral Racing Ambassador
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