Stradivarius is the star of the show at Ascot on Thursday when John Gosden's superb stayer bids to win a third Gold Cup but, at cramped odds, he hardly looks a betting proposition and had a hard enough race I thought when third in the fast-run Coronation Cup behind Ghaiyyath just under a fortnight ago.

Inevitably, the search for winners at better prices sends us in the direction of some extremely competitive supporting races and my first suggestion is REGAL REALITY in the listed Wolferton Stakes.

This quirky customer, who often needs leading to post, is pretty smart at his best and a third behind Enable and Magical in last year's Coral-Eclipse was an excellent effort while he was far from disgraced in the Juddmonte International in August.

Regal Reality ran below-par on his final start here in the Champion Stakes (finishing behind the re-opposing Fox Tal) but was probably unsuited by making the running. On his best form, and on official ratings, he has strong claims and the fact he has been gelded since last season could help him grow up and fulfil his undoubted potential for a trainer who specialises in improving horses as they get older.