Key connections to watch on Wednesday at Royal Ascot

The Royal Ascot meeting is here and it's always helpful to follow jockeys with good books of rides and trainers who may target a couple of horses at a meeting.

Then you want owners who really want Royal Ascot winners and are willing to pay way beyond reasonable prices to achieve it.

Paddy Twomey has two runners at Ascot on Wednesday and jockey Billy Lee will ride both. Both seem to be overpriced in the market.

Queen Mary Stakes, 2.30

We start off with his runner Velozee in the Queen Mary Stakes. This is a fillies' race over 5 furlongs. Velozee was an impressive and very forward two-year-old that has known her job on her recent runs.

She backed up a Cork success with a dominant display in the Curragh when impressively winning the First Flier Stakes by three and a half lengths. She was sent off a 7/4 second favourite in a Group race at Naas where she didn't fire, but there can be excuses made for her.

She has a high draw on Wednesday and with her experience, she looks a big player in the race at 22/1, especially with eyes on the connections. They aren't going to Ascot to waste time.

Duke of Cambridge Stakes, 3.40

Catalina Delcarpio (8/1) in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes, a Group 2, is the same trainer and jockey combination. We see Catalina Delcarpio line up here and for me, she's extremely overpriced.

She has always looked high class and she has experience at the Royal Ascot meeting already, where she was sent off the 2/1 favourite and finished third in the Ribblesdale Stakes. She returned this season looking a bigger, stronger filly and her comeback run was very pleasing before she put it all together to comfortably land the Amethyst Stakes at Leopardstown, where she looked to use her stamina that day.

I feel this year Billy Lee will make sure to have her up on the front end, as she will eventually stay a mile and a quarter really well and she has enough tactical speed to stay with them.

Paddy Twomey will have plenty of followers come pre-racing tomorrow and, although only having two runners tomorrow, both have serious chances.

An owner and jockey to watch

An owner to keep an eye out for would be the obvious Wathnan Racing operation, who have put huge importance on Royal Ascot. They have six runners on Wednesday and it looks like their most recent purchase, Stateira, in the 17:35 has the best chance for the owners, who have enjoyed success in the last few years, with the likes of Courage Mon Ami winning the Ascot Gold Cup in 2023 being the highlight.

The jockey to follow will be Colin Keane. The Juddmonte retained rider has a great book of rides with some favourite chances along with each-way chances as well. He rides Crystal Queen in the 14:30 (25/1), Mr Colonel (18/1) at 15:05, Blue Bolt (3/1) at 15:40, Jagged Edge (16/1) at 17:00, and Celeron (16/1) at 18:10.

Get €80 in free bets to spend on Royal Ascot