The Queen Anne Stakes is a Group 1 contest run over a mile. It takes place at 14:30 on Tuesday 18th June, which is the first 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

14⁽⁴⁾

0-5339

Witch Hunter

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

9-2

109

128

Successful over 7f at Royal Ascot (handicap) and Newbury (Group 2) last term; kept on for third, albeit no match for first two, in the Lockinge on most recent 1m attempt; disappointing favourite back down in trip/class at Haydock since but has frame possibilities granted a rebound; the likely strong pace will suit this hold-up runner.

1⁽¹⁴⁾

6223-1

Audience

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-2

120

135

Acts on soft and good to firm; front-runner who was not for catching in this year's Lockinge at Newbury on first attempt beyond 7f, having ploughed his own furrow up the centre; however, needs to prove it wasn't a fluke and may struggle to repeat the all-the-way feat over this stiffer 1m, especially if the luxury of another uncontested lead doesn't materialise.

5⁽⁹⁾

33-112

Charyn

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Roger Varian

9-2

116

132

Acts on soft, unraced on firmer than good; finished third in the St James's Palace Stakes on this card last year; better than ever this term, winning Doncaster Listed event and Sandown Group 2 then clear second behind Audience in the Lockinge at Newbury; likely to reverse those placings over this stiffer 1m; now 0-6 in Group 1 races but warrants respect in current form.

12⁽¹¹⁾

112-27

Poker Face

J: James Doyle

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

9-2

116

131

Solid record over 1m until comfortably held in good-ground Lockinge on first Group 1 attempt; possibly not up to this level but may rebound granted ideal conditions, namely softer than good; his other races at this trip comprise five wins and two seconds, including a good effort behind Charyn at Sandown in April.

11⁽¹³⁾

14/5-3

Maljoom

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

9-2

110

130

Unraced on soft/heavy; very progressive 2022 campaign featured a success in the German 2,000 Guineas and unlucky fourth (would have won with a clearer run) in the St James's Palace Stakes on good to firm here; seen only twice since and needs to prove he retains peak ability but his C&D effort (one place behind Docklands) seven weeks ago wasn't devoid of promise; not written off.

8⁽⁷⁾

3232-1

Facteur Cheval

J: Maxime Guyon

T: J Reynier

9-2

120

135

Versatile ground-wise; French gelding who has form figures of 32321 since upped to Group 1 level; finished second to Big Rock in last year's QEII over C&D, then went one better in the Dubai Turf at Meydan (1m1f; held on narrowly) in March; could well build on that reappearance win and improve further; sire Ribchester won this race seven years ago (in course record time); very solid claims.

3⁽⁸⁾

11-197

Brave Emperor

J: Luke Morris

T: Archie Watson

9-2

114

128

Well-travelled gelding who has won good races in France, Germany, Italy and Qatar; however, needs a drop back in class judged on Group 1 defeats at Sha Tin and Longchamp the last twice; something to prove at this level.

NR⁽²⁾

398-91

Royal Scotsman

T: Paul & Oliver Cole

9-2

113

129

Acts on soft and good to firm; smart as a 2yo in 2022 and finished third in the 2,000 Guineas last year; back in top form when making all for an emphatic success in the Diomed Stakes (Group 3) at Epsom this month, proving well suited by the change of tactics; unexposed as a front-runner but faces strong competition for the lead in this field.

7⁽⁵⁾

/11134

Dolayli

J: Mickael Barzalona

T: F-H Graffard

9-2

116

127

French gelding who has done all his winning in maiden/conditions races (turf/AW); however, ran well in the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp (1m1f, soft; close fourth) upped to Group 1 level most recently; inferior to his compatriots Big Rock and Facteur Cheval on ratings but promises to do better still, being steadily progressive.

4⁽¹⁾

30-202

Cairo

J: Kieran O'Neill

T: Alice Haynes

9-2

109

125

Good second in last year's Irish 2,000 Guineas when trained by Aidan O'Brien; however, has failed to repeat that form, most recently runner-up in Leopardstown Listed event (1m1f, good) on debut for new yard; stiff task returned to Group 1 level.

6⁽⁶⁾

163-22

Docklands

J: Hayley Turner

T: Harry Eustace

9-2

108

122

Acts on any ground; consistent sort (unplaced just once in nine starts); has form figures of 1132 over C&D, notably a success in the 2023 Britannia Handicap and neck second in Listed race on penultimate outing (similar effort in France latest); faces a stiffer task upped to Group 1 level but the Ascot factor gives major cause for optimism; each-way possibilities.

10⁽¹⁰⁾

990-35

Hi Royal

J: Ryan Moore

T: Kevin Ryan

9-2

112

127

Still hasn't added to his 2yo novice win; placed in the 2,000 Guineas and Irish equivalent last season but far from consistent since; midfield (never dangerous) in the Lockinge most recently; chance depends on how well he responds to new headgear (blinkers replace cheekpieces).

9⁽¹²⁾

231-05

Flight Plan

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: K R Burke

9-2

112

127

Ran creditably in Group 3 at Haydock (7f, good) ten days ago when carrying a 5lb penalty for his Irish Group 2 win (1m, good) last September; soundly beaten in both Group 1 attempts, latest in this year's Lockinge; something to prove.

2⁽³⁾

2221-6

Big Rock

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: Maurizio Guarnieri

9-2

127

140

French colt whose form dipped in the Lockinge on stable/seasonal debut, having been unable to dominate in his usual manner (Audience had the overall lead); progressive otherwise and may rebound with that reappearance under his belt; top rated on his peak performance, namely a 6l success in soft-ground QEII over C&D last October (final start for Christopher Head).

RACING POST TIP

Facteur Cheval

This year's Queen Anne is loaded with pace and likely to be strongly run, which leaves Lockinge winner Audience looking vulnerable, especially over this stiffer 1m. Big Rock is also among the likely front-runners but his peak rating, achieved in last year's QEII over C&D, sets an impressive standard. This should set up nicely for Charyn (second choice) who commands major respect on 2024 form, while 2023 Royal Ascot winners Docklands (third choice) and Witch Hunter are interesting at bigger odds. Maljoom, who was desperately unlucky on this card in 2022, also figures in calculations. However, the selection is FACTEUR CHEVAL who has been a solid performer throughout his career and is evidently still improving judged on his Dubai Turf success. Furthermore, he's bred to run this course fast, being a son of Ribchester who broke the track record (which still stands) in this race seven years ago.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2023	Triple Time [11]	4	9-2	33/1	Kevin Ryan	Neil Callan
2022	Baaeed [4]	4	9-2	1/6	William Haggas	Jim Crowley
2021	Palace Pier [11]	4	9-0	2/7F	John & Thady Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2020	Circus Maximus [4]	4	9-0	4/1F	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2019	Lord Glitters [1]	6	9-0	14/1	David O’Meara	Daniel Tudhope
2018	Accidental Agent [4]	4	9-0	33/1	Eve Johnson Houghton	Charles Bishop
2017	Ribchester [1]	4	9-0	11/10F	Richard Fahey	William Buick
2016	Tepin [12]	5	8-11	11/2	Mark Casse	Julien R Leparoux
2015	Solow [4]	5	9-0	11/8F	F Head	Maxime Guyon
2014	Toronado [8]	4	9-0	4/5F	Richard Hannon	Richard Hughes

Key race stats 2024

Key trends

Aged four or five, nine winners in last ten runnings
Distance winner, 9/10
Rated within 4lb of RPR top-rated, 8/10 (five were top-rated)
Adjusted Racing Post Rating of at least 132, 8/10
Group 1 winner, 7/10

Other factors

Seven winners had previously scored at the track.

What happened in the Queen Anne Stakes last year?

TRIPLE TIME, a Group 3 winner on last season’s belated reappearance, appeared to take a strong hold, but it was clear he wasn’t stopping, just outlasting another making a belated reappearance in Inspiral who ran a big race from off the pace on a day when it proved difficult to make up ground. Modern Games, the favourite, lacked the pace to challenge, finishing back in fourth.

Queen Anne Stakes

14:30 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats 2024

What happened in the Queen Anne Stakes last year?

All Races