Hugh Taylor has four selections for the final day of Royal Ascot on Saturday - watch all seven races live on Sky Sports Racing. Karl Burke's two-year-olds have had a terrific week, and Motawahij looks overpriced in the Chesham Stakes (2.30).
He made a promising debut at Hamilton earlier this month, shaping in typical fashion for one sourced from the breeze-up sales, knowing his job but over-racing slightly and unable to go with a speedier rival, who subsequently ran creditably in the Coventry Stakes, finishing third of eight in the far-side group and 12th of 24 overall. Burke has only had three previous runners in this race but one of them, Markyg, had a very similar profile to that of Motawahij, as he was a US-bred breeze-up purchase who also ran at Hamilton on debut (finishing fourth of six) before finding tons of improvement to finish third in the 2008 Chesham at 22/1. His two other runners produced a mid-division finish at 66/1 and, famously, Holloway Boy's 40/1 debut win two years ago.
Bedtime Story is clearly the right favourite after doing well to overhaul her better-fancied stablemate on her debut at Leopardstown, and that looks the best form on offer, but Motawahij appeals as the best each-way alternative. Middle Earth was a smart horse last year, but he shaped like a much-improved performer on his seasonal debut at Newbury, and, with a run under his belt and conditions in his favour, he looks to have a valid chance of turning the tables on St Leger winner Continuous.
