3 minute read

Due to the layout of the sporting calendar, the pinnacle of British Flat racing is forced to share the limelight with the FIFA World Cup once every four years, meaning that we're set for the occasional flirt with ITV4 over the next five days.

Like the football in Russia, though, our Queen Anne Stakes (14:30) curtain-raiser at the Royal meeting is wide-open, and it too has an international feel to it thanks to raiders from Irleand, France and America. In terms of pace, the race is likely to be run at a strong tempo.

Ballydoyle tend to take it upon themselves to ensure that there’s a fair pace for their main contenders to aim at. They are set to send two here in the form of Rhododendron and Deauville, and whilst the latter is a very smart performer in his own right, it is likely that he will once again be deployed mainly for pace-making duties for his stablemate, something which worked to great effect in last month’s Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

Rhododendron produced a career-best performance that day, keeping on well to score, with Deauville back in fifth, and she looks to have leading claims of sealing back-to-back Group 1 successes here, with several in-behind her that day due to re-oppose here. In receipt of a sex allowance from the field, she sits joint-top of Timeform’s weight-adjusted ratings with Lightning Spear, and she is likely to make a bold bid under similar tactics.

Prominent performers

Also likely to be prominent is the rapidly improving Century Dream, who was supplemented for this last week. The four-year-old is an interesting contender, having made a smooth transition from handicaps to pattern company this term, bar a heavy-ground reappearance at Longchamp in April. He is given a shot at top-level company, though will need more if he is to trouble the market principles.

The open feel to the race means that Suedois is a fascinating contender. The seven-year-old was reinvented as a miler by David O’Meara last term, taking advantage of a good bit of placing to win a Grade 1 at Keeneland last October. His peak efforts have come when recording an In-Play Position rating of 2, and he may receive a more attacking ride than given last time by Danny Tudhope, a jockey who has a strong record on prominent runners according to our data.

Something to prove

Whilst Limato and Benbatl are Group 1 winners, both have been seen to best effect over differing distances to what they will face here, particularly Limato, whose connections continue to flirt with contests over a mile. However, he was below form in the Lockinge on reappearance, and has yet to truly convince in his three previous attempts at the trip.

Beat The Bank arrives here having disappointing on each of his last two starts, including on his first try at Group 1 level in the QE II here last term, but he was one of the most progressive horses around prior to that and would be a threat if arriving here on top form.

Overseas contenders

We're all far too aware of England's usual struggles on the main stage in football, and the British team may find the foreign challenge too strong here, too. Whilst Wesley Ward’s yard are the most synonymous when it comes to American raiders stealing the show at Royal Ascot, Yoshida is an interesting inclusion for William Mott. He produced a career-best effort to win his first Grade 1 at Churchill Downs on return last month, finding plenty to assert, and would be a big threat to Rhododendron if improving again.

However, it is Recoletos who makes the most appeal at the current prices. The four-year-old has a little bit to find in terms of form with Rhododendron, but produced a career-best effort when winning the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan over nine furlongs at Longchamp last month, giving the impression that a mile would suit him better. He remains unexposed at this trip, and, with the straight mile fancied to suit this hold-up performer down to the ground, he is taken to notch an early success for the French on what could be a fascinating five day meeting.

Recommendation:

Back Recoletos at 11/2 in Tuesday's Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot