Britannia Stakes Betting Preview

The combination of trainer James Fanshawe and jockey Jamie Spencer completed a brace at Royal Ascot yesterday, including a win with Cesare in the Royal Hunt Cup, and the duo are fancied to successfully team up again with Sir Gerard, an 8/1 chance with Stan James, in the Britannia Stakes, which is run over the Hunt Cup course and distance.Those drawn low in big fields on the straight course at the Berkshire are enjoying a clear advantage - the first seven home were drawn eleven or lower in the thirty-runner Hunt Cup yesterday - and Sir Gerard has been given a draw from the heavens in stall two.This son of Marju is lightly raced having had just four outings to date, and his profile is one of a highly progressive colt. After scoring on his handicap bow on his seasonal reappearance at Beverley in April, Sir Gerard looked unlucky not to add to those gains at Haydock next time in the valuable totepool Silver Bowl, in which he met with trouble in running twice in the home straight, and failed by a rapidly diminishing to reel-in Anna Pavlova.He has been laid out for this race by his astute trainer and could well go onto prove to be much better than his current mark if 92. Furthermore, this stiff mile in a race bound to be run at a frenetic pace will prove ideal for the selection, who is taken to mow down his rivals late on, pretty much in the same way Cesare did yesterday.The booking of Cristophe Soumillon for Archerfield Links takes the eye. He too has been primed for this race by trainer Neville Callaghan and his charge looks feasibly treated off a turf mark 5lb compared to when coming from off the pace t readily land a competitive handicap on Kempton's Polytrack in April.The subsequent efforts of some of those adrift of Archerfield Links that day sends out mixed messages, but you couldn't fault the manner of his victory and he should be on the premises from stall twelve.Layazaal and Plum Pudding both enter calculations following last-time-out victories at Goodwood and Newmarket respectively. Both seem effective on fast going, but their can be little doubt that they have seemed to better suited by an easy surface, so it's not hard to envisage them finding things happening a tad too quickly on this occasion.Military Cross should make his presence felt following a solid effort at Epsom last time, while we may not have seen the best of Ed Dunlop's Easy Air just yet, so expect a bold bid from at rewarding odds with Frankie Dettori in the saddle. The latter hails from a stable in form and, although he has been beaten when favourite the last twice, connections are expecting this fast surface in a strongly-run race to suit him down to the ground, so he's well worth a small investment at a top-priced 16/1 with Blue Square.Verdict - 1pt Sir Gerard @ 8/1 (Stan James) & 0.50pts e/w Easy Air @ 16/1 (Blue Square)