Fresh cannot be faulted on his course form and he was unfortunate to bump into Rohaan in an excellent running of this race 12 months ago. However, if he fails to run up to form it will probably be because the ground is faster than ideal as this will be his first attempt on ground firmer than good. Blackrod is improving all the time and he rates the main danger to SILVER SAMURAI who has made a big impression as a sprinter of late and it's rare to see a 6f handicap won in such flamboyant style as that of his recent Haydock success. Asjad also enters the reckoning with the return to a stiff 6f likely to suit, while First Folio will love the drying ground and is also considered.

A host have chances in just the second running of this race but HAZIYA and White Moonlight do stand out as progressive candidates. Preference is for the former who looks the better drawn of the pair and whose Curragh third last time out shows she can cope with the demands of a big-field handicap. State Occasion is one who could go well at likely bigger odds, while Improvised has obvious handicapping scope if her stamina holds now that she races beyond 7f for the first time.

Willie Mullins has proved time and time again that he can choose the right candidate for this race, so his Bring On The Night has to be the starting point for calculations. Gordon Elliott tries to pull off the same trick with Pied Piper, who is among several other notable hurdlers in this field. John Queally has a vastly smaller string but his Irish challenger ARCADIAN SUNRISE (nap) has already proved himself in competitive staying handicaps on the Flat, as well as over hurdles, and today's extra distance can help him turn tables on the highly respected Coltrane who was just ahead of him in the Chester Cup. That may well be good enough to win, as they are the top two on the list. Make My Day is very interesting among those at longer odds, with Golden Flame and last year's winner Reshoun also requiring a mention.


Settling CEMHAAN (nap) is a major difficulty but he keeps on winning regardless and leaves the strong impression that he has a good deal more to give. He took a valuable 1m6f race on his latest start but the style of his 1m4f win the time before suggests that this drop back in trip can help him to register another win. The chief threat looks to be Trawlerman, on just his second start since last season's Sandown Classic Trial. Contact has been in storming form this season and Candleford could improve on this seasonal debut, while Hughie Morrison has such a superb record in this race that his Stay Well must also be on the shortlist. Ever Present may be the best option among three interesting Irish runners.


The Antarctic is likely to make a bold bid to remain unbeaten but narrow preference is for WALBANK. David Loughnane's charge streaked clear late on at York last month in the manner of a really smart juvenile and can provide connections with some compensation for Go Bears Go's narrow reversal in this last year. Michael Bell saddled The Lir Jet to win this in 2020 and his easy Doncaster debut scorer Brave Nation completes the shortlist.


Aidan O'Brien's Meditate made it 2-2 with her comfortable success in a Group 3 event at Naas and she's strongly respected, along with Queen Olly and Fully Wet who made a deep impression with their debut wins last month. Musselburgh scorer Cathy Come Home has plenty of scope for progress upped in trip on her second start, while Lady Bullet and Powerdress also enter the reckoning. However, the vote goes to Godolphin's MAWJ, who looked the real deal when surging almost 5l clear from subsequent winner Believing at Newmarket and recorded a useful RPR in that race at the first attempt. Meditate is feared most.


The Group 1 Falmouth Stakes entry HEREDIA did very well to maintain her unbeaten record at York last time, having found trouble in running, and she can make it 4-4 with the step up to 1m likely to be a plus. Second choice, at a much bigger price, is No Nay Nicki who made some late headway in a Listed race at York last month and could relish this big-field scenario over a stiff, straight mile. The well-bred Invigilate is next on the list, ahead of her Nottingham conqueror Washraa, with Gatecrasher Girl and Persist others who are open to further improvement. Crenelle isn't written off, while last-time-out Doncaster winner Fresh Hope represents Charlie Fellowes and Hayley Turner who won this in 2019 and 2020.


A typical Britannia conundrum with Group horses no doubt lurking in the shadows. SAGA might yet scale such heights despite his disappointing handicap debut here when last seen in early May, which wasn't him at all. If assessed on the form he has shown in chasing home a couple of Classic winners, he has to be of strong interest. King Of Time and Yonafis have that canny knack of only doing enough in their races and both are potential Pattern performers lurking on handy weights, while others likely to thrive in this type of environment are Amortentia (second choice) and Whoputfiftyinyou.


Alfred Munnings holds obvious claims, being a smart prospect from a yard that has an excellent record in this contest. However, there are several plausible alternatives at bigger odds, notably CRYPTO FORCE whose Curragh debut race threw up the winner of this contest last year and who was bought by new owners for a princely sum on Monday. He looks very interesting. From a punting perspective, second choice is The Foxes whose yearling price and pedigree suggest he'll improve a good deal on his Newbury effort behind Dark Thirty. The three runners from the Gosden stable are all open to progress.

It's ten years since a filly won the Jersey Stakes but STAR GIRLS AALMAL (nap) has excellent credentials. Lightly raced and progressive, she shaped better than the bare result when fourth in the Irish 1,000 Guineas last month and that form has been boosted several times, notably when runner-up Tuesday went one better in the Oaks. Today's drop back to 7f is the icing on the cake. C&amp;D winner Alflaila is feared most, just ahead of Noble Truth who represents last year's winning connections. European raiders Rocchigiani and Toimy Son command respect as well, as do the unbeaten pair Monaadah and Samburu.

A large proportion of these have potential and some of them, including seasonal debutants, could conceivably take a leap forward. One of the most promising may well be FALLING SHADOW whose superiority in a Newbury maiden last time was probably much greater than the bare result. A gelding operation may help him to prove it, as it has done with many of his stablemates. Blue Trail is a second Charlie Appleby-trained candidate to consider, while Godolphin is also represented by the Gosdens' Aldous Huxley, who can play a very serious part if negotiating a safe passage from stall 1, and Honiton who stretched out so well in a Sandown maiden last Saturday. Just ahead of Aldous Huxley as the chief danger, though, may be Knightswood who looks set to make his mark in middle-distance handicaps for the Johnstons. Like him, Missed The Cut and Chairman come here on a hat-trick.

Six of the last ten runnings of this race have been won by horses starting from stall 18 or higher, but stall 1 was successful in 2016 and 2021 so a low draw may not be a major disadvantage. Seismic Spirit seems likely to blaze a trail as he did when only just caught on his debut at Churchill Downs. His trainer has won this race twice and this latest representative has to be feared, as does Chateau (second choice) who already has useful form and did not have a clear run in either of his first two starts. However, the vote goes to LITTLE BIG BEAR who has looked a classy sort in his first two outings, especially when winning easily at Naas last month, and looks to be held in high regard. Others to consider are Bolt Action, Far Shot, Knebworth and Union Court, all of them unbeaten, while Jumbeau looks the most interesting of those at much bigger prices.

Run of the race is crucial so often in this and not that easy to predict before the race or find during it. Plenty of horses drawn high have done well and Vina Sena coming wide and late might represent the best option among the high numbers this time. Post Impressionist, from 13, is firmly on the shortlist, such is the promise he brings with this step up in trip, with similar comments very applicable to the London Gold Cup winner Israr in 12. Those with single-figure draws include some striking candidates, however. Newfoundland is one from Ballydoyle and it's not hard to envisage him as the winner if he gets the breaks, probably coming from off the pace. Secret State, from Charlie Appleby's, is also eyecatching but the best option might just turn out to be YASHIN whose win over Vina Sena last time came over 1m2f but that highlights the potential he brings now that he goes back up to 1m4f. So Yashin gets the vote ahead of Post Impressionist and Newfoundland.


Frankie Dettori can ride a Royal Ascot winner for the Queen in her Platinum Jubilee year thanks to REACH FOR THE MOON, who has by far the best form and is bred to appreciate today's step up in trip. Craven runner-up Claymore had an excuse in the French 2,000 Guineas and could be best of the rest, ahead of Ballydoyle contender Howth.


Several of the runners have solid form here and Star Of Orion was touched off when leading his group home in a major race over C&amp;D last July. The drying ground is sure to suit him but MONTASSIB (nap) shot the lights out on his handicap debut at Goodwood despite being denied a clear run on ground that was thought to be too soft. He needs to negotiate a draw on the wing but should still come up with a very good run. Silent Film is also unexposed but to a lesser extent, while Vafortino, Chiefofchiefs, River Nymph and Dance Fever all come into it on past efforts here. Tactical and Ouzo are also worth a look.


This 1m6f race, restricted to three-year-olds and designed to bring along future St Leger and Cup horses over staying trips, is in its sixth year over that distance and the reduction in trip from 2m may even have increased its influence. The 2017 winner Stradivarius went on to establish himself as the dominant stayer of recent years and there was Classic success for Vase winners Kew Gardens (2018 St Leger) and Santiago (2020 Irish Derby). Whatever the distance, the race has been dominated by stables with the best resources for staying and middle-distance horses, with Mark Johnston and Aidan O’Brien (both seven winners), Godolphin and Sir Michael Stoute (both three) dominating the scoreboard in the past quarter of a century. 

Having been slowly away in the Derby, NAHANNI did well to keep on into seventh and his pedigree also indicates he could relish this step up in trip. There's a slight concern this run may come too soon, just 11 days after Epsom, but otherwise there's lots to like. Eldar Eldarov has shown bundles of promise when winning his first two starts and he's second choice now up in grade and in trip. Anchorage is well worth a second look being the sole representative for Aidan O'Brien, who has won this race seven times since 2007, while the unexposed Gosden runner Baltic Bird is another interesting candidate.

A seriously tight Listed race in which a host can be given a chance. JUAN ELCANO won this second time up last season and might be capable of repeating the feat. Foxes Tales (second choice), who also won at this meeting last year, finished in front of the selection at Sandown in April and had lack of stamina as a plausible excuse for a slightly below-par run at Newbury, so he could pose a major threat if the outside stall isn't too troublesome. Tasman Bay hasn't been seen since finishing third in a Deauville Group 2 last August but that was one of a series of good efforts in his 3yo campaign and he'll be thereabouts if reappearing in similar form. Harrovian, who should be able to get a nice position from his draw, and sole filly Aristia are also on the shortlist.


Last year's Queen's Vase third STOWELL hasn't been seen to best effect in slowly run 1m4f races on his two starts this season but has still performed creditably, and now he's back up in trip he can provide the Gosden stable with back-to-back wins in this race. Okita Soushi kept on for a fine Listed second over 1m4f at the Curragh last month and is open to improvement over this longer trip on just his fourth start. He's feared most ahead of Chester Cup winner Cleveland and last month's impressive course winner Juan De Montalban. Not So Sleepy is an intriguing contender given his record over hurdles at Ascot.


Being drawn middle to high has provided a significant edge in the last decade, with only two winners having exited single-figure stalls. Love Reigns is therefore not perfectly pitched in box 5 but she did look the real deal at Keeneland and, with Wesley Ward talking up her chances, she is understandably favourite. However, there is no shortage of alternatives with an array of unexposed winners locking horns in what is a hot renewal. The suggestion is DRAMATISED, whose raw talent was there for all to see as she defied her blatant inexperience in making a winning debut at Newmarket's Guineas meeting. With that form reading all the better now, she's exciting. Katey Kontent and Maria Branwell are shortlisted and, at lengthier odds, Miami Girl could be a lively one.

The Coventry can produce an occasional shock result but the betting is usually a good guide and this year's market principals look strong, with PERSIAN FORCE the pick. This imposing son of the 2016 runner-up Mehmas has impressed with his professionalism in winning both his starts and it's high praise indeed that his trainer Richard Hannon has made comparisons with the stable's superb 2009 winner Canford Cliffs. There's also infectious confidence behind Blackbeard's bid to provide Aidan O'Brien with a tenth success in the race, and it's easy to see why after such a taking display at the Curragh. Of those at greater odds, Harry Time, Rousing Encore and Scholarship all merit a second look.


As is now tradition, Royal Ascot closes with the Flat season's longest race. The entire complexion of it would change dramatically should there be sufficient rain for Trueshan to take his chance, in which case he would take some stopping on these terms. However, as things stand, preference is for WORDSWORTH. He had flashes of very classy form last year, in Group 1 events that his rivals can merely dream about, and, given how he was boxing on at the finish of the 2m Sagaro Stakes here in April, it would be a surprise should his stamina fail him. Last year's principals Stratum and Calling The Wind have big runs in them and, as Andre Fabre's only runner here all week, it wouldn't be a bolt from the blue to see Timour get involved, for all that he'll be entering unknown territory a long way from home over this extreme distance.

US speedster Ruthin should ensure this is run at a breakneck pace and her central draw will give her rider options. It won't be easy trying to make all in this field though and her prominence in the betting looks more a reflection of her trainer's record at the meeting rather than her being a handicap blot. The British challenge is led by Korker, who was so impressive at York and could still develop into a Group performer. He is high on the list for last year's winning yard, with the thriving Sterling Knight, Shamlaan and Loves Me Likearock also firmly in the picture. The prize may be going to Ireland courtesy of LADIES CHURCH, though. She had useful 2yo form, including on fast ground, and was second on her reappearance when the smart favourite got first run on her. She is a strong traveller who should relish an end-to-end gallop off which to challenge. Of those at big prices, Bond Chairman is the most intriguing.


How lucky it is for us that connections of the two highest-ranked sprinters in the world, Nature Strip and Golden Pal, have taken the very popular decision to bring them over from Australia and the United States for what promises to be a vintage King's Stand. The main hope is that they will do themselves justice but this is not an easy track for a front-running sprinter and Golden Pal may just have to give way to Nature Strip, who can be ridden any way, in the closing stages. They are not the only ones to consider, though, as MAN OF PROMISE looked out of the top drawer himself when winning at Meydan in March and he is a fascinating prospect dropped to 5f. King's Lynn can prove himself a better horse here than elsewhere and he has realistic hopes of improving considerably on last year's unlucky seventh. Twilight Calls, who ran so well behind the latter at Haydock, also has a squeak.


From a punting perspective, the two suggestions against the field are the William Haggas-trained colts MY PROSPERO and Maljoom in that order. They are improving fast and look interesting alternatives to short-priced Coroebus, who is top rated and commands respect but goes into unknown territory on his first run away from Newmarket. Even if we assume Coroebus runs to form, the Haggas runners are still attractive propositions given their rate of progress. Mighty Ulysses, another improving type, completes the shortlist.


A 5lb penalty will make things harder for SAFFRON BEACH but Jane Chapple-Hyam's likeable daughter of New Bay still appeals the most. She holds Mother Earth on the form of her win in last autumn's Sun Chariot and we may not have seen the best of her yet. Aidan O'Brien's tough campaigner, wearing cheekpieces for the first time, may still pose the main threat, while the upwardly mobile Bashkirova looks well worth her place in this higher grade and is also considered. The French-trained Sibila Spain completes the shortlist.

It remains to be seen whether there's any draw bias but there appears to be a fairly good spread of pace across the track. Regardless, the nicely bred LEGEND OF DUBAI (nap) is taken to progress further and defy an 11lb rise for his impressive Newmarket success. He could well be a Listed/Group performer in the making. Second choice is Dark Shift, who has a good record here and is well treated. Astro King (third choice) and Totally Charming (fourth choice) are respected, while Desert Peace and Intellogent are other suggestions for the shortlist. Inevitably, several others also have possibilities in a typically sizzling Royal Hunt Cup.

Sir Michael Stoute won this in 2018 and 2019 and, having landed his sixth Derby recently, his fine season can continue with another Group 1 win courtesy of BAY BRIDGE. The lightly raced 4yo was extremely impressive when winning the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes by 5l at Sandown last month and can score on his first attempt at the highest level. Japanese-trained horses always command respect and Shahryar is the chief danger following his win in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March. The other three can't be ruled out, however.

Trueshan's likely withdrawal due to the fast ground leaves the grand old man Stradivarius as a very strong candidate. He's won three Gold Cups already and although there was a hiccup in last year's edition, he did not get the run of the race that day, left with a lot to do entering the straight, and the same can be argued for the British Champions Long Distance Cup here in October in which he finished third. PRINCESS ZOE, however, saw off Stradivarius for second 12 months ago and, like him, has warmed up in encouraging fashion this year with a win. She was once regarded as something of a mudlark but that's in the past now, following her two big runs in the last 12 months at Ascot on good to firm. Tashkhan would have been an appealing bet on good to soft or soft. Aidan O'Brien has picked out some formidable Gold Cup horses over the years and his Kyprios needs a great deal of respect after this season's two wins, but he has something to prove away from Ireland, has not been beyond 1m6f and has been priced up as a warm favourite. Mojo Star has not raced on fast ground, beyond 14.5f or in any race this season but he's a striking sort who came second in last year's Derby and St Leger, so no way is he dismissed, while Alignak looks interesting at huge odds on the Meydan evidence this March.


This is an easier assignment than Changingoftheguard faced in the Derby and he perhaps deserves extra credit for finishing fifth having had to work hard in the early stages to bag the lead. He's very much respected, despite his Epsom exertions coming just 13 days ago, but preference is for Godolphin contender OTTOMAN FLEET. He recovered from an early stumble to win a 1m2f Listed race at Newmarket last month on just his second start and he looks a fine prospect for 1m4f. Lysander is open to further improvement, while Grand Alliance isn't written off despite having been well beaten in the Derby.


This race looks tailor-made for EHRAZ judged on his strong-finishing effort last time and bearing in mind that he's already a C&amp;D winner. He should be capable of further progress and is taken to reverse Newbury placings with Tiber Flow, who still warrants respect on form but needs to prove he's effective in headgear (he now goes in first-time cheekpieces). Second choice is Go Bears Go, who has a good record here and whose Sandy Lane effort can be marked up. Perfect Power (third choice) holds major claims returned to sprinting, El Caballo is progressing well, Twilight Jet recorded a big figure on his reappearance and Slipstream is an intriguing US raider.


This is a riveting Coronation Stakes despite the absence of Homeless Songs, who was spectacular in the Irish 1,000 Guineas. Inspiral lacks recent match practice but she was flawless as a 2yo and commands major respect on her belated reappearance. However, there are several plausible alternatives at bigger odds, notably DISCOVERIES who is an ideal candidate judged on breeding and should leave her 1,000 Guineas effort behind her. From a punting perspective, the second choice is Prosperous Voyage who appears to have a major race in her. Cachet is firmly in the mix, while French raider Mangoustine and US fillies Spendarella and Pizza Bianca add strong international flavour to an engrossing line-up.


This year's Hardwicke largely revolves around whether HURRICANE LANE, who won two Classics last term and finished third in the Arc, returns from his layoff in top form. He'll be hard to beat provided he runs to somewhere near his rating. Second choice is Broome who has plenty of smart form, including a solid effort in this contest last year. Third Realm would be interesting if the ground happens to turn softer than good, while Mostahdaf and Solid Stone are likely to perform well provided they stay the distance.

Australian-based trainer Chris Waller won the King's Stand on Tuesday with the ultra-impressive Nature Strip, who was beaten by his stablemate HOME AFFAIRS in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington in February. Home Affairs was not at his best at the same course subsequently but was found to have an issue with his back and he'll be tough to beat if rediscovering his peak form. Fellow Aussie raider Artorius is a strong stayer at this trip and should relish the stiff track, but the chief threat may come from the classy filly Sacred who is an intriguing contender dropped back to sprinting. US challenger Campanelle is 2-2 at Royal Ascot and can again go well, while Emaraaty Ana and Vadream are interesting among those at much bigger odds.

This year's Queen Anne is all about BAAEED, who quickly developed into a star miler last year and enhanced his reputation further still with a reappearance success in the Lockinge in which he impressively flexed his class. On the figures he's improving, which raises the goosebumps-inducing possibility that he can produce an even more magnificent performance. Real World is unlikely to reverse Newbury placings with the selection but he looks rock solid for another silver medal. The battle for third place looks quite open but Chindit is taken to fill that position and repeat his Lockinge effort.


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