Realities can jolt favourite

It took less than two minutes for Royal Ascot's punters to be reminded that a banker at this meeting has more in common with the type who plays the futures market in Singapore than the sort with branches on the high street. Soviet Line set off at 13-8 for the Queen Anne Stakes, a secure foundation on which to build the week ahead. One hundred seconds later, as a 16-1 chance beat a 20-1 shot with Soviet Line only third, the familiar pursuit of losses had begun.

Having seen Balanchine beaten 35 minutes later, it is easy to sympathise with the optimists who will pour enough money into the market on today's Royal Hunt Cup to make it the major betting event of the week. Lined up against them are 32 runners, a handicap which measures 30lb from top to bottom, and the near certainty that most of the field have been saving their best for this afternoon. At 36-1, the odds at roulette are slightly worse, but at least there is no chance that half the numbers have not been trying for the past three months.

Half of today's numbers may be lost causes before they have covered two furlongs. There is no predetermined advantage to the draw on Ascot's straight mile, but the quicker horses are often concentrated on one side or the other. Discover where the pace will be and your problems will be halved.

This year, the smart money will be on the high numbers on the far side, with such confirmed front-runners as Chickawicka (drawn 31) sure to tow better-fancied runners from nearby boxes into a winning position. Madly Sharp, the ante-post favourite, should be among them, but his lack of winning form over a mile is disturbing, particularly given the stern demands of Ascot. A better alternative is REALITIES (nap 4.20), who always goes well over this course and will have Michael Kinane steering him home.

The man in the saddle may also be as important as the horse underneath in the Coronation Stakes, in which Harayir and Ridgewood Pearl, respectively the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas winners, meet in the decider of their best-of-three. The vital jockey, however, could be Freddie Head, whose blind-spot with British tracks was again painfully apparent in the Newmarket Classic, in which Macoumba had no running room until far too late. If Freddie can avoid a similar nightmare today, Macoumba (3.45) has a serious chance, and at the likely odds it is worth the risk.

The prices will be shorter about Shahid (2.30) and Marl (next best 3.05), but both provide impeccable CVs for their assignments. Henry Cecil, who has won the Queen's Vase twice in the past five seasons, provides a problem for backers by saddling both Stelvio and Pedraza this year. Although Michael Kinane rides Stelvio, Pedraza (4.55) may be more suited to the 16-furlong trip. Mystic Hill (5.30), an excellent third at Epsom on Derby day, appears to have been laid out for the Bessborough.