All eyes are focused on Ascot this week as the Berkshire venue hosts its five-day Royal meeting. Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson selects five Northern horses to follow.

TODAY

BORDERLESCOTT
(King’s Stand Stakes, Roger Bastiman, 8-1)
THE five-furlong King’s Stand Stakes is always one of the highlights of the meeting, and the ever-competitive Borderlescott is capable of claiming a second Group One success to accompany his victory in last year’s Nunthorpe. Trained at Cowthorpe, near Harrogate, Robin Bastiman’s seven-year-old is one of the most genuine sprinters around. He’ll handle the fast ground better than a number of his rivals, and while Amour Propre and Scenic Blast will vie for favouritism, Borderlesscott’s battle- hardened nature could prove crucial in an ultra-competitive renewal.

TOMORROW

CAPERCAILLIE
(Queen Mary Stakes, Mark Johnston, 7-1)
MARK JOHNSTON boasts a sensational strike record at Royal Ascot, and while the ‘Master of Middleham’ will saddle a host of runners this week, Capercaillie looks the pick of the crop. The Sheikh Mohammedtrained two-year-old boasts two wins from two this season, and while her maiden Musselburgh success was nothing to write home about, her follow up victory at the Scottish venue oozed class.

Capercaillie could well represent Godolphin in the 1,000 Guineas next season, but Johnston will be hoping she provides his Kingsley House Stables with yet another Royal success before she moves south.

THURSDAY

HERE NOW AND WHY
(Norfolk Stakes, Kevin Ryan, 12-1)
THURSDAY’S Norfolk Stakes tends to go to a youngster that is open to improvement, and Kevin Ryan’s Here Now And Why fits that bill. Trained at Hambleton, the two-year-old broke his maiden in facile fashion at Ripon in April, and was backed off the boards when following up in a threerunner race at Thirsk. This is a major step up in class, but while Richard Hannon’s Monsieur Chevalier is likely to be a warm order at the top of the betting, Here Now And Why is capable of springing a surprise.

FRIDAY

MISTER HARDY
(Buckingham Palace Stakes, Richard Fahey, 12-1)
ROYAL ASCOT handicaps always take some winning, but after improving markedly this season, Mister Hardy should have every chance of claiming a career-best win in the final race on Friday. The Malton-based four-yearold completed a hat-trick at Chester last time out, with previous wins at Newcastle and Doncaster having confirmed his ability in handicap company. He’s risen in the weights as a result, but the in-form Richard Fahey looks to have identified a decent opportunity for a horse that could be open to yet more improvement.

SATURDAY

LESSON IN HUMILITY
(Golden Jubilee Stakes, Karl Burke, 25-1)
SATURDAY’S six-furlong sprint looks a particularly strong renewal, but an each-way investment in Lesson In Humility appeals at odds of 25-1. Karl Burke’s four-year-old claimed a maiden Group Three success at Leopardstown last time out, and while the Golden Jubilee represents a major step up in class, his career trajectory is still on an upward curve. Karl Burke has side-stepped the Wokingham in favour of the Golden Jubilee, and while the draw is likely to be crucial, the drying ground should play to Lesson In Humility’s strengths.