Henry Cecil sends out a full team…

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HENRY CECIL has a small but select 2009 Royal Ascot squad with Twice Over set to lead the way in Wednesday’s Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.

The Group 1 feature has attracted a suitably classy entry, including the Observatory colt, who made the frame in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last month.The mile at Newbury is a minimum distance for Twice Over and stepping back up to 10f should suit. However, his best form has come with a little ‘give’ in the ground, so connections wouldn’t mind a shower or two ahead of the race.Cecil said: “Twice Over is in good order and will hopefully have a chance in the Prince Of Wales’s. Some rain will be beneficial to him.”

Thursday is a busy day for Cecil with Flame Of Gibraltar pencilled in for the Ribblesdale, while three-year-old colts On Our Way and Hyades also hold entries.On Our Way, not seen since finishing fourth in a Newmarket Listed race in April, has the 10f Hampton Court Stakes as his objective.Cecil said: “I think the trip will suit him and he is in good form.”Hyades, seemingly stretched by 10f at Newmarket last month, is back down to a mile for a shot at one of the most competitive handicaps of the season, the Britannia.
His handler said: “Hyades did not get the mile and a quarter at Newmarket, so will come back to a mile for the Britannia. It is always a hot contest but he should give a very good account of himself.”

Friday sees Cecil double-handed for the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes with Father Time and Native Ruler entered up.Native Ruler has given plenty of encouragement on the gallops since his satisfactory effort in the Dante Stakes. Father Time has made the frame in stakes races on his last two starts and Henry expects both ‘to run well’.Chachamaidee will be the only Warren Place two-year-old to see action at the meeting. She won on her debut at Lingfield last week - ‘She has taken her race well’, says Henry - and will be asked to try and follow up in the Group 3 Albany Stakes.Cecil summed up: “We haven’t a very large Ascot team, but I feel that those we will be sending will run well.”

Every one of our Ascot runners (along with all the horses on our yard) are given ProSportive supplements daily to protect their joints..ProSportive wish Henry and his runners all the best at Royal Ascot 2009