Nature could swerve Hunt Cup

Henry Cecil expects to take a team of five to Royal Ascot next week, with Sound Of Nature in line for the Wolferton Handicap rather than the Royal Hunt Cup.

The Khalid Abdullah-owned four-year-old is currently joint-favourite with some firms for the Hunt Cup after winning a Leicester handicap impressively on his last start.

Cecil, who bounced back to the big time with the victory of Light Shift in the Oaks, has stated a preference for the 10-furlong Listed handicap over the one-mile cavalry charge.

“Sound Of Nature either goes for the Royal Hunt Cup or – if he gets in – the Wolferton on the Friday. I would prefer the latter,” Cecil told his website, www.henrycecil.com.

Brisk Breeze, second in the Lingfield Oaks trial before hosing up in a maiden, is heading for the Queen’s Vase over two miles.

“Hopefully there will be good ground as she stays well and can quicken,” said the trainer of 70 winners at the Royal meeting, including seven in the Vase, which he last took with the filly Endorsement in 1999.

Tranquil Tiger, an impressive winner at Newmarket recently, will go for the Hampton Court Stakes on Thursday, the race in which Cecil last tasted success at the Royal meeting with Burning Sun five years ago.

“He is a colt with a great deal of scope and is improving,” added Cecil, whose team will be completed by Walking Talking and Millestan.

“Walking Talking is in the King George V on Thursday. He ran well when winning his maiden at Sandown and if he has come on from the race could go well. He would not want the ground to be too fast.

“There is a possibility Millestan may take her chance in the Sandringham on the Wednesday if all goes well.”