One trainer, one jockey, one horse and one race to watch at Ascot on Tuesday

Trainer

Charlie Hills has enjoyed a brilliant start to the year courtesy of Battaash and Phoenix Of Spain, and the pair will bid to give the trainer a big-race double on the opening day.

The Lambourn-based trainer, who saddled Muhaarar to win the 2015 Commonwealth Cup, also runs the talented Equilateral in the King's Stand. He is likely to relish the 5f trip.

What an afternoon it could be for the Hills team.

Jockey

Adam Kirby has picked up an intriguing spare ride in the form of Heron Stakes scorer King Of Comedy in the St James's Palace Stakes (4.20).

The son of Kingman, who has won three of his four starts to date, is following a similar route to last year's winner Without Parole and seemingly has plenty of talent to mix it with the top milers of his generation.

Kirby has ridden King Of Comedy before when the colt made a successful debut at Sandown last year, beating none other than Phoenix Of Spain.

The rider also gets the leg up on Golden Horde in the Coventry Stakes (3.05). The Lethal Force colt improved significantly from his debut fourth to run out a ready winner at Windsor this month and could be one to note at a bigger price.

Horse

Battaash returned to action with an explosive display in the Temple Stakes at Haydock and it will be interesting to see how he reacts to the red-hot atmosphere of Royal Ascot this time.

The Charlie Hills-trained star is undoubtedly known for his brilliance but also for his temperament and, while he was hardly disappointing in finishing second in this contest last year, at his best he is extremely hard to beat.

He once again faces Blue Point and Mabs Cross in the King's Stand Stakes (3.40). Fasten your seatbelts.

Race

The St James's Palace Stakes (4.20) promises to be an intriguing contest, with Phoenix Of Spain and Too Darn Hot renewing rivalry.

Phoenix Of Spain: pulls clear of Too Darn Hot in the Irish 2,000 GuineasCredit: Caroline Norris

The Group 1 mile contest should go some way to establishing the leading three-year-old miler in Europe and, if you add in the likes of rising star King Of Comedy plus Dee Stakes scorer Circus Maximus, there looks to be plenty of depth to the race.

Can Too Darn Hot bounce back or have others simply progressed beyond him? We will find out here.

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