Trainers would not have anticipated good to soft going on the opening day of Royal Ascot 2019. However, this is not the first time that this summer festival has been staged at the end of a wet spell. The weather is forecast to steadily improve throughout the week but the Royal carriages will definitely make an impression in the grass in their procession down the home straight for the first two days at least.
Queen Anne Stakes – can Eve’s Agent upset the odds again?
Eve Johnson Houghton’s Accidental Agent was a shock 33/1 winner of the Royal meeting’s first race last year and is back for more. The Group 1 race over the straight mile is the most valuable race on day one but it normally goes to a better-fancied runner with Refuse to Bend, in 2004, the only other winner in the last 17 years to start at double-figure odds.
Queen Anne Stakes Race Trends
- All winners since 2002 have been aged four or five
- All recent winners had won over a mile previously
- Most recent winners had run more than twice that season
Mustashry produced a career-best performance to land the Lockinge Stakes last month. Sir Michael Stoute’s gelding has matured with experience and had a host of his Ascot rivals behind at Newbury when quickening clear. But forecast conditions may not be his optimum and it could be that runner-up LAURENS takes her revenge.
Karl Burke’s stable star didn’t have the benefit of a previous run at Newbury but ran her usual game race and wasn’t stopping in the closing stages having been prominent throughout. She’s already won four times at the highest level, including on good to soft.
Queen Anne Stakes Current Best Odds
Le Brivido 9/2 , Barney Roy and Mustashry 6/1, Laurens 7/1, Hazapour and Accidental Agent 12/1, Lord Glitters 14/1, Olmedo 16/1, Dream Castle, Matterhorn, One Master and Sharja Bridge 25/1, Mythical Magic 33/1, Stormy Antarctic and Romanised 40/1
Coventry Stakes – a happy hunting ground for previous winners
Eight of the last 13 winners of the Coventry Stakes for two-year-olds have been favourite or joint favourite so the market is obviously a good guide. The last 17 winners had won their previous start but only one had run at Ascot before. Several winners went on to make top-class three-year-olds including Dawn Approach and Canford Cliffs. Aidan O’Brien has won it five times.
There are four runners from Ballydoyle with three previous winners. Arizona may be the pick of the quartet but Archie Watson’s GUILDSMAN was hugely impressive at Goodwood considering he was hampered leaving the stalls. That showed he handles soft ground and he might be the value at a general 8/1.
King’s Stand Stakes – will the real Battaash turn up?
The first Group 1 sprint of the week probably centres around the mood of last year’s runner-up Battaash. Brilliant on his day and an impressive winner at Haydock on his reappearance, Charlie Hills’ speedster can get worked up before the start. That was the case 12 months ago when only second to Blue Point. Third Mabs Cross has improved since and lost a shoe when third in that Haydock race – she is also 5lb better off with Battaash.
BLUE POINT was in simply stunning form in Dubai at the start of the year and can record back-to-back victories in the King’s Stand Stakes at the general 3/1.
St James’s Palace Stakes – rerun of the Irish 2,000 Guineas
Phoenix Of Spain very much had the of the race when making virtually all the running on his return to action in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh. He also had an inside draw, which helped, whereas runner-up TOO DARN HOT (a general 5/2) had to race wide throughout and probably paid the price in the closing stages.
John Gosden’s top-rated two-year-old has had an unusual campaign to date, running over 1m2f at York before reappearing at the Curragh just nine days later. The mile at Ascot looks to be his trip and, better drawn this time than his old rival, the Gosden colt can pick up the winning thread again. The stable won the St James’ Palace Stakes last year and Frankie Dettori has ridden the winner in two of the last three years.
Ascot Stakes – jumps trainers to the fore again?
Fourteen of the last 17 winners of the Ascot Stakes have hailed for stables better known for the exploits on the National Hunt scene. Willie Mullins has trained the last two winners and Irish-based runners have a formidable recent strike-rate overall in this stayers’ handicap over 2m4f.
Mullins saddles the mare Buildmeupbuttercup this year. She has never won on the Flat but has won two bumper races and a maiden hurdle. There is a chance she is well handicapped but is only a general 9/2. Alan King’s COEUR DE LION won the Chester Cup consolation in a hack canter. Thore Hammer Hansen is having the biggest ride of his career in this race but the promising apprentice claims a valuable 5lb and the general 8/1 about his mount looks solid each-way value.
Wolferton Stakes – Latrobe seeks to recapture classic form
Last year’s Irish Derby winner Latrobe is attempting to recapture his best form in this Listed race. But he’s shown his best over longer distances and there are some 1m2f specialists in opposition. Magic Wand won the Ribblesdale Stakes at the meeting last year but ADDEYBB is fancied to recoup Chester losses on this more conventional track. William Haggas’ gelding was all at sea around the tight turns on the Roodee and will love the going at Ascot – he is a best 8/1 with Coral.
(Odds correct at 3.00pm June 16)
