Magician is fancied to weave his magic in the St James’s Palace Stakes on Tuesday – the first of five successive days of racing that comprise Royal Ascot.

The impressive winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas was as short as 5-1 for the Derby a week later, only for connections to decide to miss the race.

The son of Galileo is sure to have benefited from the break, and is taken to secure yet another big race win for Aidan O’Brien.

The first race on Tuesday (2.30pm) is the Queen Anne Stakes where Animal Kingdom – the 2011 Kentucky Derby winner and 2013 Dubai World Cup winner – is sure to prove a huge draw and can justify his short price.

Bookmaker Paddy Power said: “Punters seem undeterred by the fact that Animal Kingdom has yet to run in Europe and have forced him into odds-on.

“It’s pretty much a one-horse book at present and a win for the American raider would get the Royal extravaganza off to a very bad start for the bookies.”

The King’s Stand Stakes 35 minutes later is the target for rising star Reckless Abandon, who could prove to be great value at 7-1.

The selection was unbeaten as a two-year-old and ran well in his first race against older horses when beaten by a neck and a head into third place in the Temple Stakes at Haydock.

Later in the day, 12-1 shot Thunder Strike can continue his unbeaten run in the Coventry Stakes.

Simon Jackson is a freelance racing journalist based in north west London. He can be reached at jacksonsports1@yahoo.co.uk for press and PR enquiries, or racing/betting related news stories and features.