ROYAL ASCOT is upon is and first up is the Queen Anne on Tuesday, with 16 rivals declared to take each other on for Group 1 supremacy.
We’ve got all the info you need on the big race as the top milers in the country lock horns.
Last year’s winner is back for more and can certainly be given a big chance considering he warmed up for this with a fine third in the Lockinge.
Much more at home over this C&D and should make a bold bid to become the first horse since Dean Swift in 1907 to win back-to-back Queen Annes.
“I think he’s in great form this time – I’m really pleased with him.
“He’s had problems. We thought we’d sorted them all out, but I knew he’d need the run in the Lockinge, so I was really pleased with the way he ran – considering he’d need it.”
Won the St James’s Palace Stakes on the Round Course here three years ago before performing to a high level in open company.
Had a long time off the track at stud but has clearly still got an engine judged on his Listed win last time, for all that this is a different kettle of fish altogether.
“Barney Roy is a past winner at Royal Ascot and we were delighted with his latest performance in France.
“Getting his head back in front was definitely a confidence booster and he goes into this race in as good a shape as we have seen him since he arrived at Moulton Paddocks.
“He is bouncing around the place at home and we hope that he can be a major player in what looks like an open mile division.”
Can be very inconsistent but if bringing his A-game would surely have a decent chance.
Won the Bet365 Mile on return but will need to improve on his poor effort in the Lockinge last time.
Built up a fine sequence of wins in Meydan earlier this year but was found out behind Zabeel Prince in the Prix d’Ispahan on his return to Europe.
Needs more but could benefit from the drop in trip and definitely has an outside squeak.
Travelled like a dream in last year’s Derby behind Masar but couldn’t quite get home.
Benefited from the drop to a mile last time out and is still very unexposed over the trip.
“I rode him in the Derby last year and it was obvious he didn’t stay. Bringing him back to the mile looks to have helped.”
Very interesting runner for top trainer as he didn’t get a clear run when fifth in the Lockinge.
Has bags of ability and almost certainly has more to come for his current handler over a mile.
“Le Brivido ran a very good race in the Lockinge, Ryan (Moore) just said that he got caught up in traffic at a bad time when the race was just getting going.
“We felt he ran a very good race and we’ve been very happy with him since then.”
Second in this last year and would have fine prospects if running to a similar level.
Not been in anything like that kind of form since then though (save for a good performance in Dubai) and needs the return to Ascot to reignite his fire.
Star of the all-weather season has transferred his improvement to turf, last time running a nice race behind the progressive Regal Reality.
Needs a lot more to be considered a win contender, though, and others have much more obvious claims.
Probably the form pick judged on his taking win in the Lockinge and even at six, probably has plenty of improvement left given he’s trained by a master.
Jim Crowley has a fine record on him and he looks the one to beat if producing a similar performance.
“I was thrilled with him in the Lockinge and his preparations have gone fine.
“He is impervious to ground conditions which is very handy, and we are hopeful.”
Produced some good displays in Dubai earlier in the year and as a consequence is only rated a few pounds shy of the principals.
Needs to do much better than his 12th in the Lockinge last time, though, and looks the Godolphin second string.
Won the French Guineas last year and produced his most promising performance since when second in Group 2 company last time.
Needs a lot more than that to win here, though, and is yet to prove he’s as good as he once was.
Won the Irish Guineas last season when relatively unfancied but hasn’t been able to reproduce it since.
Needs a lot more but his fourth in the Lockinge last time was a step back in the right direction.
Returned with a stylish victory in the Doncaster Mile but couldn’t get the better of Beat The Bank at Sandown and again disappointed in the Lockinge last time.
Likely to struggle again unless the return to this track gives him a new lease of life.
Probably just short of top class but comes here in the form of his life after wins in lesser company abroad.
Trainer has always thought the world of him but he’s going to need to find something extra from somewhere.
Top class filly who very rarely runs a bad race and produced a fine display to finish second in the Lockinge last time.
Likely to improve for that and clearly has a massive chance in receipt of weight.
“She’s come out of the Lockinge well and we couldn’t be much happier going into the race. She looks amazing, feels amazing and is going into Ascot as well, if not better, than when she has gone into any of her previous races.
“It’s very competitive and she’s taking on the boys again. She will have to find a bit with Sir Michael Stoute’s horse (Mustashry) and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him improve again – he’s trained by an absolute genius – but I’d be very confident our filly will improve from the Lockinge.
“She was fit enough to go and have her run, but there is only so much you can do with them at home and she finds her work so easy that she’s never really in the red zone. There is nothing that can take her there or lead her there.”
By far her biggest day came when winning the Prix De La Foret last season and on that form she’d have claims.
Yet to prove she’s quite as good over a mile and has a bit to find with the best of these.
