Military can march to Cup glory

My original fancy for Wednesday's Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot, Hassaad, is to miss the race so I've been scouring the runners feverishly in an attempt to unearth the best value in the absence of my initial selection. There isn't a race on the first day of the meeting - or beforehand on the day of this one-mile cavalry charge - which will conclusively prove whether the stands' side or those drawn middle-to-high will be at an advantage. A glance at the results of previous renewals of this race suggests that it pays to be drawn low, which seemed the case at this meeting last season. But then, just to confound us, those racing up the centre and the far side were favoured in the International Stakes a month later. Unless Tuesday is an sunny day then chances are the going will remain 'good', as is projected for Wednesday. Consequently, I have a suspicion that, as in the International which was run on such going last July, the middle-to-far side will be the place to be. Connections of the lion's share of the leading fancies will be hoping this is the case since 11 of the top 13 in most bookies' lists are drawn in stall 15 or higher of 30. Luca Cumani holds a strong triple hand with Military Cross, Minority Report and Pride Of Nation. The last-named was sent off as favourite when only 13th to Cesare in this last year, and punters will be hoping he fares much better this time as the five-year-old has been well supported ante-post and is likely to go off as market leader again. I reckon Cumani holds the key to this race but not with Pride Of Nation, but with Military Cross, who will be having his first run for the Italian since joining his yard from Willie Haggas during the winter, and makes for an excellent each-way punt at 20/1 with William Hill. Military Cross didn't find as much off the bridle as one would have hoped on a few occasions last term, but that may well be owing to the fast ground he encountered in most of his starts. He posted his best effort during that campaign on genuine good ground, and over the Hunt Cup course and distance. In the race in question, the International, which I alluded to earlier, the son of Cape Cross had his rivals up the stands' side well and truly cooked, but had no chance with Dunelight and Easy Air, both of whom raced up the centre of the track, enjoying a distinct advantage. Drawn in stall 17 on Wednesday, Military Cross is well berthed and the booking of the brilliant France-based jockey Cristophe Soumillon catches the eye. Granted luck in running, he'll be bang there at the finish, of that I'm confident. Pride of Nation rates a big danger, but I think he's plenty short enough at around the 7/1 mark, while Cumani's other runner Minority Report has stall one to overcome, which will be no easy feat. Sound Of Nature is lightly raced and at the right end of the handicap, but he'll need to improve an awful lot based on what he has achieved thus far if he is to take this.Flipando has been in great form and cannot be ruled out under Jamie Spencer, while Fantastic View has been the subject of sustained support despite an absence which stretches back to September 2004. There's no smoke without fire and Jeremy Noseda has secured the service of Seb Sanders to partner the entire. Royal Oath has to be respected, along with Trafalgar Square and the Hughie Morrison-trained Supaseus, who has plenty of early pace and will have the far side rail to run against, emerging from stall 30. Olivier Peslier is a good booking for Humungous and Charlie Egerton's charge could get involved. Verdict: 0.50pts e/w (1/4 odds, places 1,2,3,4) Military Cross @ 20/1 (William Hill)