Ranger steps up to marathon distance in Queen Alexandra

Ryan Moore will be aboard US Army Ranger for Aidan O'Brien in the Queen Alexandra Stakes on Saturday, when last year's Derby second steps up to the marathon trip of 2m5½f.

Thomas Hobson, who Moore partnered to victory in Tuesday's Ascot Stakes, has been declared for the meeting's concluding event, but unlike Simenon, who did the Ascot Stakes and Queen Alexandra double in 2012, he will not receive the assistance of Moore.

O'Brien said: "We have plenty of horses to divide up for different races and as the race conditions suit US Army Ranger very well, we decided to try something new with him.

"Obviously, we don't know if he will stay the distance and the race should tell us a lot. If he does show that he stays at least two miles and possibly further, it will widen our options and he just could be a horse for the Cup races next year. We'll just have to wait and see."

Nineteen have been declared for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, including last year's July Cup winner Limato, Champions Sprint winner The Tin Man, impressive Duke of York winner Tasleet and Charlie Hills's Magical Memory. Washington DC and Jungle Cat were the only absentees.

Frontiersman, who finished second to Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Highland Reel in the Coronation Cup last time, will not be running in the Hardwicke due to a bad scope.

Ascot Saturday card