Awtaad 'on fire' ahead of Ascot swansong according to Hayes

Awtaad is on fire and never looked or felt better according to his big race jockey Chris Hayes, who is convinced the Irish 2,000 Guineas winner will bow out on a high note in the Qipco Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Ascot will be Awtaad's swansong as retirement beckons for the Cape Cross colt who ought to have a successful career at Derrinstown Stud and Hayes believes everything is in place for him to produce a career-best effort in his final race.

"He has been on fire since Leopardstown. We left him a little bit short going into the Leopardstown race as we have had the QEII in mind for him since Goodwood. He has been trained for it and the boss has never had him in better shape. He has never looked better and he has never felt better. He will bow out on a good note no matter what happens, whether it is good enough to win it, only time will tell," Hayes said.