THE GREY GATSBY, who enjoyed such a terrific campaign in 2014, bids to gain his first win of the season this afternoon, for North Yorkshire trainer Kevin Ryan on day two of Royal Ascot.

The impressive-looking colt went from strength to strength last season, winning the Dante Stakes at York, the French Derby and the Irish Champion Stakes, in which he beat the mighty dual-Derby winner Australia, who had beaten The Grey Gatsby into second place in the Juddmonte International on Knavesmire in August.

This year, The Grey Gatsby has yet to get his head in front in two tries in Group 1 company, but he ran a fine race to finish second at Meydan in late March and has since finished a close-up fourth in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.

The Grey Gatsby is fancied to make it third-time-lucky today in the £525,000 Prince of Wales's Stakes, with Jamie Spencer in the saddle. It promises to be a crackerjack of a race, with Free Eagle, Cannon Chase, Western Hymn and Ectot among the formidable opposition in the richest race on the card.

Darlington trainer Michael Dods and North Yorkshire jockey Paul Mulrennan have high hopes for Easton Angel, unbeaten in two races and impressive winner of the Hilary Needler Trophy at Beverley on her latest start, in the Queen Mary Stakes.

But the number one draw tempers confidence in her ability to complete a hat-trick and preference is for RAH RAH, well drawn near the stands rail and also the winner of both her races to date. She represents Middleham trainer Mark Johnston, who also runs York winner Delizia, and who yesterday won the Coventry Stakes with Buratino.

IVAWOOD may prove the solution to the opening Jersey Stakes.

A top-notch juvenile last season, Richard Hannon's colt has finished third in both the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas. A horse not short of pace, he should not be inconvenienced by the drop back to seven furlongs.

In the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes, INTEGRAL is taken to take the Group 2 honours for a second successive year.

Sir Michael Stoute's mare ran a most encouraging race on her reappearance to finish third in the Lockinge Stakes a month ago. She should now be cherry ripe and is napped to follow-up her success last season, with Ryan Moore again taking the mount.

Racegoers will raise the roof if TOUCHLINE wins the concluding Sandringham Handicap, carrying the colours of Her Majesty the Queen.

Trained by Michael Bell at Newmarket, this useful filly made a positive start to the campaign when runner-up on this course six weeks ago. Jamie Spencer's mount is expected to go well.

Also worth noting is TEMPTRESS, a course-and-distance winner, in the Royal Hunt Cup which produces its usual 30-strong conundrum for punters to solve.

At Ripon's evening, Stoute can take the feature honours with RUSSIAN HEROINE in the £12,000 Wells Memorial Challenge Trophy Handicap.

Jimmy Quinn takes the mount on this lightly-weighted three-year-old, a winner on this course earlier in the month and now making her handicap bow.

Antony Brittain, son of Mel, who died recently, has taken over the training licence from his late father at Warthill Stables on the outskirts of York, and saddled his first winner when Stanghow won at Nottingham on Monday evening.

Brittain jnr can have another winner with GREY DESTINY in the opening New Beginnings "Life Past The Post" Apprentice Handicap.

Royal Ascot

2.30 Ivawood, 3.05 Rah Rah, 3.40 Integral (NAP), 4.20 Free Eagle, 5.00 Temptress, 5.35 Touchline

Ripon

6.40 Grey Destiny, 7.10 David's Duchess, 7.40 Ribblehead, 8-10 Russian Heroine, 8.40 As Good As Gold, 9.10 Tamayuz Magic