TIM EASTERBY generally gets on the scoresheet at Royal Ascot and this year one of his strongest challengers is Flighty Fellow (4.20), who lines up in the 32-runner cavalry charge for the £100,000 Hunt Cup.

Stopwatch pundits in particular will be acutely aware of this useful four-year-old's ability, seeing as he clocked a very fast time when scoring at Beverley last month.

It is also well worth paying close attention to the manner with which that contest panned out, since Flighty Fellow was quite badly checked at the two-furlong pole, a setback which prevented him recording an even better time.

Sir Michael Stoute's stable is on a roll at present boding nicely for the prospects of Auditorium (2.30) in the opening Group 3 seven-furlong Jersey Stakes.

Auditorium boasted some top two-year-old form during his 2003 campaign, most notably when he finished a close-up fourth in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.

Unfortunately, that sort of sparkle was not evident when he could only finish fourth behind one of today's rivals, Fokine, on his reappearance 25 days ago.

Without a valid excuse it would be impossible to overlook such an unexpected reversal, however, Sir Michael's runners were not really firing then, whereas now just about everything he sends out is either winning, or at least making the frame.

There's a massive £365,000 pot on offer for the prestigious Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes, in which 11 world-class middle-distance performers lock horns for one of the races of the season so far.

It is dangerous to be dogmatic about this a wide-open affair, although if Rakti and Sulamani reproduce last season's efforts, it is hard to envisage the finish being fought out by any of the other runners.

Sulamani counted the Arlington Million amongst his three victories 2003 victories, while Rakti smashed up a tip-top field to take Newmarket's Champion Stakes in the style of a true champion.

Of the pair I just favour Rakti (3.45), although small savers on Mark Johnston's Bandari and Scott's View are advised.

This year's renewal of the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes lacks nothing in quality, and in selecting Polly Perkins (4.55) I'm recommending just a small each-way wager, such is the strength-in-depth of the opposition.

Nick Littmoden's representative quickened in scintillating fashion to flash past a decent bunch at Sandown, a track not dissimilar to Ascot with its stiff uphill climb to the winning post.

In the closing Sandringham Rated Stakes, Mystical Girl (5.30), well-drawn in stall one, could prove a hard horse to pass.

Johnston's improving filly likes to be up with the pace and provided she bags the favoured stands' rail, Mystical Girl might well be able to establish an unassailable lead by the time she passes the one-furlong from home marker