The Queen Alexandra Stakes is a conditions contest run over 2m5f. It takes place at 18:15 on Saturday 22nd June, which is the fifth day of Royal Ascot 2024. View the runners here, and also make sure to check out the odds and tips on offer for this race.

NO.DRAW
FORM

HORSE

ODDS

JOCKEY& TRAINER

AGE

WGT

RPR

NR⁽¹⁰⁾

114-43

Trueshan

T: Alan King

10-0

114

117

Top-class stayer in his pomp and was still winning major races as a 7yo, namely the Doncaster Cup and Prix du Cadran (2m4f); not at the same level in two runs this campaign following further wind surgery, worryingly so at Sandown last time under his optimum conditions (soft); at this level his Group 1 penalty could be manageable but, when connections have been at pains to avoid fast ground throughout his career, he desperately needs some rain.

5⁽⁵⁾

6013-4

Postileo

J: James Doyle

T: Emmet Mullins

9-4

105

121

Lightly raced for a 7yo; probably goes on any ground; won four times for Roger Varian and left that yard for 78,000gns after finishing third in the 1m4f Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes here last October when close up behind Tuesday's Wolferton winner Israr; never took to hurdling for new connections but a 9l fourth behind Kyprios over 1m6f at Navan last time was encouraging; didn't quite see out the 2m4f of the Ascot Stakes here three years ago but he's perhaps a stronger horse now; has posted his two best RPRs in cheekpieces and they return; interesting.

2⁽⁷⁾

233-75

Dawn Rising

J: William Buick

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

9-7

105

115

Smart hurdler who proved up to the task when made favourite for this race 12 months ago (on good to firm), answering all of Ryan Moore's calls for a half-length success with an unlucky-in-running Run For Oscar in third; progressed to even better form afterwards and he returns for his defence having prepped in the same Group 3 at Leopardstown last month (ran a similar race to last year over 1m6f); good chance.

6⁽¹¹⁾

453-57

Run For Oscar

J: Maxime Guyon

T: C Byrnes

9-4

103

119

Won the 2m2f Cesarewitch in 2022; not your typical 9yo as he was better than ever last year on the Flat, including an unlucky third in this race (good to firm) and later placed behind Trueshan in the Group 1 Prix du Cadran at Longchamp (2m4f); perhaps best to not read too much into this season's 10l defeats over inadequate trips in Listed races (1m6f/1m4f), the latest of which he took in en route last year; the return of a visor is no bad thing; big shout.

NR⁽¹²⁾

80133-

Tashkhan

T: Brian Ellison

9-4

111

124

The ground was fast when fifth in the 2022 Ascot Gold Cup but he's a far more potent force when the mud is flying and his preference for softer surfaces has perhaps become all the more evident as he's got older; no questioning his class to feature if putting his best foot forward but the forecast conditions are a negative.

8⁽⁶⁾

4212-1

Uxmal

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

9-4

106

119

Late-developing 5yo who signed off last season with a 2m maiden success (on good) and a narrow defeat in Listed grade at Saint-Cloud (1m6f, soft); made all in a small field at Killarney on his comeback (1m6f, soft) and heads here as the least exposed horse in the field; has to be of strong interest, despite stamina reservations; wore cheekpieces in his last four runs.

10⁽⁴⁾

47-236

Maxident

J: David Egan

T: Raphael E Freire

9-3

Beaten seven times since winning a three-runner heavy-ground 1m4f novice at Leicester which was a non-event; has shown that he's a capable staying handicapper but there's nothing in his form to suggest he can compete on these terms.

3⁽⁹⁾

41392-

Fasol

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Paul Nicholls

9-4

101

121

Dual good-ground winner in France and held his own in Group 2/3 races at 1m7f; two runs over hurdles for Paul Nicholls, running well enough in the latest (second over 2m5f) to believe he retains plenty of ability; should stay okay, which ticks a big box in this race; tongue-tie applied; each-way claims.

4⁽²⁾

301-10

Magellan Strait

J: Hugh Horgan

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

9-4

100

111

150-1 winner of last season's Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh (2m1f, soft) and 117 days later he won a small-field race at Dundalk (AW); however, he does have his off days and the Chester Cup last month was one of them when fast ground may have been a factor; others appeal more.

NR⁽¹³⁾

/605-7

Ndaawi

T: Gordon Elliott

9-3

108

Placed in the 4yo handicap hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival this March (2m); returned to the Flat here on Tuesday when a weakener (beaten about 11l) in the 2m4f Ascot Stakes and again looks vulnerable to stronger stayers.

NR⁽¹⁴⁾

21-322

Queenstown

T: A P O'Brien

9-3

107

116

Looks a better horse for being gelded and commands considerable respect on his recent placed efforts behind star stayer Kyprios, especially as in the penultimate one he had Postileo, Run For Oscar and Dawn Rising behind him; however, being unraced beyond 1m6f, he'll be into unknown territory a long way from home; clearly a major player if he can see it out; has worn blinkers since second career start; proven on good and slower ground but unraced on faster.

9⁽³⁾

6414-6

Drawn To Dream

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

9-3

105

118

Bought for 180,000euros in December after a good career in Germany, the peaks being a 2m4f Listed win (soft) and placed efforts in a 1m4f Group 2 (good) and 1m3f Group 3 (soft); belied odds of 66-1 with a big run to finish sixth in the Copper Horse here on Tuesday (1m6f handicap; good to firm) when racing freely early didn't help her cause; however, two runs within four days on the back of a lengthy break may not be ideal.

NR⁽¹⁾

210-35

Grand Providence

T: Andrew Balding

8-12

112

Won last year's Cesarewitch Trial at Newmarket over 2m2f so she stays well and it was a good run to be fifth in the Chester Cup (good to firm), for all that she was kept out of trouble towards the head of affairs; has plenty more on her plate at these weights.

11⁽⁸⁾

3031-3

Nachtgeist

J: Hector Crouch

T: Gary & Josh Moore

9-3

110

1m6f winner when trained in Germany and placed in a Group 2 over shorter; however, he hasn't been pulling up any trees in these colours over hurdles (for Anthony Charlton) and this looks optimistic.

RACING POST TIP

Postileo

As is tradition, Royal Ascot closes with the Flat season's longest race and the Irish horses may have this between themselves. A key piece of form is last year's renewal in which Dawn Rising had a kinder run through than third-placed Run For Oscar. After similar preparations, this has evidently been the plan for both, and they'll be boxing on when others have cried enough. Their assured stamina is something POSTILEO lacks, but the selection finished ahead of both his compatriots at Navan last time and this 7yo, who had some class about him when with Roger Varian, had the option of shorter races at this meeting. That Navan form brings runner-up Queenstown firmly into the equation, though the 1m6f was perhaps a better fit for him and today's 2m5f might be a step too far at this stage of his career when no 4yo has won this marathon since 2008.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2023	Dawn Rising [10]	6	9-4	2/1F	Joseph Patrick O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2022	Stratum [3]	9	9-7	10/1	W P Mullins	William Buick
2021	Stratum [20]	8	9-2	4/1	W P Mullins	Ryan Moore
2020	Who Dares Wins [3]	8	9-2	EvensF	Alan King	Tom Marquand
2019	Cleonte [10]	6	9-2	7/2	Andrew Balding	Silvestre De Sousa
2018	Pallasator [1]	9	9-2	11/2	Gordon Elliott	Jamie Spencer
2017	Oriental Fox [3]	9	9-5	10/1	Mark Johnston	Joe Fanning
2016	Commissioned [15]	6	9-2	12-1	Gordon Elliott	Adam Kirby
2015	Oriental Fox [10]	7	9-2	4/1	Mark Johnston	Joe Fanning
2014	Pique Sous [15]	7	9-2	11/4	W P Mullins	Ryan Moore

Key race stats 2024

Key trends

Officially rated 90-plus, 10/10
Aged six to nine, 10/10
Contested a Group or Listed race since last season, 9/10
Top-six finish in race over 2m2f-plus, 8/10
Rated within 11lb of RPR top-rated, 8/10
Adjusted RPR at least 113, 7/10

Other factors

Only one winner had tasted victory on the Flat that season.

What happened in the Queen Alexandra Stakes last year?

DAWN RISING had a fruitful season over hurdles. Was well backed and always prominent, he stayed on willingly to provide Ryan Moore with his sixth winner of the week. The Grand Visir pressed the winner all the way to the line. Run For Oscar might well have been an unlucky loser as he was moving easily when he became trapped against the rail early in the straight.

Queen Alexandra Stakes

18:15 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats 2024

What happened in the Queen Alexandra Stakes last year?

All Races