Sight looks standout in King Edward VII

A couple of weeks ago it would have been hard to imagine that my racing tips would be strongly recommending a Derby outsider as one of the best bets of the Royal Ascot fixture, but after his tremendous effort in finishing second at Epsom, At First Sight looks to have an outstanding chance of gaining handsome consolation in Friday's King Edward VII Stakes, writes Elliot Slater.

Not seen again last term after winning a run-of-the-mill Gowran maiden on his second career start, Aidan O'Brien's At First Sight began this year showing considerable improvement in running Puncher Clynch to a short-head in the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstwon. Subsequently third to stable companion Midas Touch in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial having gone off very fast to make the pace, the Galileo colt was expected to make the running but no more than that when lining up for the Epsom Derby.

At First Sight's performance in the blue riband was extraordinary, going off at a strong gallop and then kicking eight lengths clear after Tattenham Corner. For a moment the 100/1 shot looked like causing one of the biggest shocks in irish racing history, but his exertions finally took their toll approaching the distance as the impressive Workforce came charging by to score in style, but O'Brien's colt clung on bravely to hold second ahead of Rewilding and Jan Vermeer.

There's a strong case for arguing that Friday's race might come too soon after such a gruelling effort at Epsom, but in a recent exercise gallop At First Sight showed no signs of weariness and will go to Ascot as the one they all have to beat.

In what looks a slightly sub-standard renewal of the mile-and-a-half contest, the Derby runner-up can prove himself well capable of grabbing a share of the limelight for himself.