Lack of run no concern as Battaash bids to end Ascot hoodoo in King's Stand

King's Stand Stakes (Group 1) | 5f | 3yo+ | ITV/SKY

Charlie Hills is not concerned about the lack of a recent run for Battaash and hopes his perfect record first time up can translate into a first Ascot success.

Battaash warmed up for his two King's Stand seconds with wins in the Temple Stakes at Haydock but, with racing in Britain resuming only 15 days ago, a direct path to the royal meeting has been charted this year.

Hills said: “We would have probably run at Haydock if we'd had that race, but he’s gone well fresh over the years. He’s won first time in all four of his seasons, so it shouldn’t be a problem for him at all.

"It’s fair to put a line through his last run [in the Abbaye at Longchamp]. The draw wasn’t ideal and it was desperate ground.

“It should be lovely ground at Ascot, all being well, and the draw looks okay, it’s better than the one last year."

The box-office six-year-old has failed to win at Ascot in three starts, including when sent off at 9-4 and as 2-1 favourite in the last two King's Stands, but Hills points out that the perception of how this year's odds-on favourite handles the Berkshire course would be entirely different without the intervention of a three-time Royal Ascot winner.

He added: “If you take Blue Point out he would have won there twice and everyone would be saying he loves the track."

Battaash's stablemate Equilateral is also in the King's Stand equation and Hills is hopeful of a big run.

“I’ve been happy with Equilateral since Dubai and he runs well fresh," said the Lambourn trainer. "It’s been the plan to come straight to this race. He’s never won a Group race but he’s certainly showed some serious ability and I think he should run a big race. It would be great if he could make it into the frame."

What they say

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Sergei Prokofiev
What this fella wants is a seriously fast pace to chase and it looks like he'll get that here. He's a fast horse and hopefully he'll improve on what he showed at Naas.

Clive Cox, trainer of Tis Marvellous and Shades Of Blue
Tis Marvellous performs far better at Ascot than anywhere else, he absolutely loves the place. We had a hold-up with him in the spring but he's really come to himself in the last couple of weeks and I'm thrilled he's joining the line-up. Shades Of Blue didn't really handle the track at Newmarket, but she went into the race in tremendous nick and has come out of it well. She had cheekpieces on last year but on slower ground and from a bad draw in the Abbaye. On her form with Glass Slippers on her previous run in France, she has to warrant her place here. I don't think it's a concern she's drawn on the flank with this number of runners, but we just feel we should put the blinkers on to help with her concentration and Ascot is somewhere she has winning form.

Alastair Donald, racing manager to King Power Racing, owners of Well Done Fox
He had very good two-year-old form but was injured last year. We were delighted with his comeback run and, had he been drawn on the rail, I think he'd have gone close at Newmarket. He's a heavy horse, so he should improve for the run. If the rain stays away, I think he'll run a really nice race at a good price.

Glass Slippers: winner of her only previous Group 1 outing at LongchampCredit: Edward Whitaker

Kevin Ryan, trainer of Glass Slippers
She's in great order, has been working consistently well and is exactly where we want her. It'll be her first race of the year but she doesn't need a prep run, she just needs a bit of sun on her back. When she went to Newbury first time out in April last year she hadn't come in her coat but when she went to Ayr, which was in Royal Ascot week, she ran an absolute stormer. We never expected her to jump out and show the speed that she did at Longchamp – and she looks as though she's got quicker again this year. The ground will be nothing like as soft as it was in the Abbaye but she's pretty versatile.

Henry Candy, trainer of Kurious
She seems in great form. She's not a filly you would want to be terribly hard on, so I wouldn’t know whether she's good enough for the job. We took the view that there wouldn’t be the usual amount of foreign runners and we’d try and nick a place in a Group 1. She's down the bottom of the ratings in the race, so it’s probably a bit optimistic. But it’s a family that improves a hell of a lot and hopefully she can do the same.

John Quinn, trainer of Liberty Beach
I've been happy with her since Haydock. The deciding factor between this and the Commonwealth Cup was the stiff six at Ascot – I think she'd get it all right but she might just be better off over five. I'm hoping she'll run a good race. She's taking on the older brigade, which is a tough ask, but it's a different year and she's in good form.

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