Rhododendron can step forward from Lockinge to win Queen Anne

Royal Ascot

RHODODENDRON (2.30) can confirm that she is the best older miler around with another victory in the curtain-raiser.

Aidan O’Brien’s four-year-old was a Group 1 winner during a patchy campaign last season and looked better than ever in the Lockinge on her second start of 2018.

That was a great demonstration of Ballydoyle team tactics as she tracked stablemates Deauville and Lancaster Bomber before staying on strongly to deny Lightning Spear in a tight finish.

She still looked a bit ring-rusty that day and should have more to offer with fitness now assured.

French raider Recoletos was a distant fourth behind Cracksman here last October but has won both starts in his homeland since a winter break. He continues to improve but has yet to race on a surface officially described as quicker than good.

SERGEI PROKOFIEV (3.05) has looked an outstanding prospect in Ireland this summer and has a great chance of completing a hat-trick.

Aidan O’Brien’s son of Scat Daddy narrowly lost out on his debut but made no mistake in two subsequent starts and looked a cut above his rivals in a Listed race at Naas last time out.

Calyx is comfortably best of the home team.

John Gosden’s youngster produced a hugely impressive display to win a Newmarket novice by five lengths. That was only ten days ago but he has huge potential.

This looks a match between two really smart sprinters and BATTAASH (3.40) can come out on top.

His juvenile campaign didn’t suggest he would be a superstar, but he made rapid strides last summer, showing blistering speed to win three of his four starts including the Prix de l’Abbaye in which nothing could get near him.

Charlie Hills’s star was let down by his temperament at York last August, but there were no signs of that in his reappearance at Haydock last month as he behaved perfectly before the race and overcame a tardy start to run down Kachy in the final furlong.
Lady Aurelia is the other leading contender.

Wesley Ward’s charge has won at the last two Royal Ascots by a combined total of ten lengths, but Battaash is in a different league to anything she faced when winning last year’s renewal.

TIP TWO WIN (4.20) can provide Roger Teal with a first Group 1 success.

The son of Dark Angel finished no worse than third in five starts last season and has taken his form to a new level in 2018, winning a pair of valuable contests in Qatar before a high-class effort in the 2,000 Guineas in which only Saxon Warrior was too strong.

Coming from an unheralded yard, he looks set to go off at a bigger price than his form entitles him to be.

Without Parole is one to take on at the prices.

John Gosden’s colt produced impressive displays to win a pair of novices but had to work a lot harder when stepped up to Listed company at Sandown last month.

Connections were keen to stress that the ground was softer than ideal and that he had suffered an interrupted preparation, but that form doesn’t entitle him to be favourite in a Group 1 and no winner of that race has followed up at Royal Ascot since Kris in 1979.

COEUR DE LION (5.00) has been runner-up in his last two Flat races and looks sure to be thereabouts again.

The Alan King-trained five-year-old was narrowly denied at Newbury in April and again had to settle for minor honours at Chester last time out when he stayed on in a manner that suggests this marathon trip would suit.

Willie Mullins has won this three times in the last six years and all three were ridden by Ryan Moore, so Chelkar deserves close attention.

He had some fair form in France before a layoff and is completely unexposed at this sort of distance.

LARAAIB (5.35) can get back to winning ways in the finale.

The Owen Burrows-trained colt won his first three starts and has arguably produced even better efforts when picking up minor honours in Group 3 races in his last two starts. Prince Of Wales’s Stakes contender Poet’s Word was too strong last time but he was a clear second best and looks sure to benefit from that first run in 285 days.

Mirage Dancer showed a good turn of foot to win a steadily run 1m4f Listed race at Goodwood last time out and is another to consider.

Thirsk

Three recent winners clash in the 6f handicap and MADRINHO (3.55) is best placed to follow up.

The five-year-old has struck up a good relationship with young partner Poppy Bridgwater in recent weeks and the duo added a second win at Salisbury last week. That came in an apprentice race so Tony Carroll’s gelding escapes a penalty.

FYRECRACKER (5.45) spent a year on the sidelines but has steadily rediscovered his best form since returning to action and scored a third career win at Musselburgh last time out.

Grant Tuer’s gelding has generally been campaigned over sprint trips, but he appreciated another go over 7f ten days ago, staying on strongly to beat Colour Contrast with a big gap back to the rest. He can defy a 4lb higher mark now that connections have found his optimal trip.

BAYSHORE FREEWAY (4.35) has been placed in all three starts for Mark Johnston and may be able to get off the mark in the 1m4f handicap.

She hasn’t really built on a debut second, but making the running possibly wasn’t ideal at Goodwood nine days later and give underfoot was a valid excuse last time out. These conditions should be ideal.

Brighton

GAINSAY (6.40) showed a liking for this idiosyncratic track last time out and can overcome a 9lb hike.

The three-year-old has been in good form since a winter break but took her form to a new level here three weeks ago, making nearly all the running and coming home more than three lengths clear.

She will be hard to catch if allowed her own way in front again.

Stratford

STYLISH DANCER (1.50) couldn’t follow up her Cheltenham win at Uttoxeter last time, but she ran a good race behind an in-form rival and can make the most of this easier opportunity.

She took time to find her feet over hurdles but made an immediate impact on her handicap debut at Cheltenham in April when scoring off a mark of 103 and then got close to the 122-rated Hurricane Dylan back in novice company at Uttoxeter last month.

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