Queen Anne Stakes

It’s not the best renewal of the Queen Anne Stakes, but there is still an intriguing battle at the fore of the market with Modern Games (9/4) and Inspiral (5/2) more or less the joint-favourites.

The argument for Inspiral is that she goes well fresh, but fillies and mares don’t have a great record in the Queen Anne and she’s yet to face the boys first up in a season.

I’m, therefore, swayed towards Modern Games. His form line is consistent over the last 12 months (2121-21 since last July) and all those races were Group 1s.

Coventry Stakes

Group 2 Coventry Stakes favourite River Tiber (15/8) is my day one NAP. It’s a hard race to call with a big field and not much form to go off from these 2YOs, but River Tiber has been the most impressive from his two runs so far and he’s a deserved favourite.

King’s Stand Stakes

Hate to stick with the favourites, but I can’t look beyond Highfield Princess (9/4) in the King’s Stand.

It’s a race loved by international runners and Aussie raider Coolangatta is second in the market, but Highfield Princess is a three-time Group 1 winner — two of which came over 5f at York and the Curragh last year.

She was a close second to a good horse in Azure Blue in the Duke Of York Clipper Stakes over 6f on reappearance, but is better over this shorter distance and is out to defend her unbeaten record on turf over 5f.

If you’re looking for a slightly bigger-priced horse, Dramatised could be worth an each-way bet at 15/2. She has C&D form after winning the Group 2 Queen Mary at Ascot last June and her best form is on the quicker side of good.

St James’s Palace Stakes

This race has the potential to be a cracker, with 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean going up against Irish 2,000 Guineas champion Paddington. The former is the 6/4 favourite for the Group 1 contest, but I’m siding with O’Brien’s Paddington — who is my NB at 11/4.

He’s a rapidly-improving type, making his reappearance in a handicap at Naas in March before winning the Irish Guineas two months later. On that basis, the Coolmore horse is open to even further improvement and conditions could suit him better today depending on how much rain Ascot has had and if it dries out by 16:20.

Ascot Stakes

The Ascot Stakes is a race I don’t really have much of an opinion tbh. To have a good week it’s key to leave certain out races and this is on my no-bet list today. If I had to pick someone, it would likely be an E/W punt on Calling The Wind at 10/1.

The Richard Hughes horse has plenty of experience at Ascot with five runs and has twice placed in the Queen Alexandra over a furlong more than today’s trip of 2m4f.

Wolferton Stakes

Buckaroo is one I’ve had in my tracker since I spoke to Oisin before he travelled over to Ireland for the Qatar Racing horse’s seasonal reappearance in a Listed Race at Leopardstown in April — which I tipped him to win at 11/4 and actually ended up spelling the start of the telegram.

He was a close fourth in a Group 1 at Longchamp most recently, finishing just a neck behind the eventual winner, and he’s a major player dropped back down in class for this.

I have him at 6/1 to win the Wolferton Stakes today, but he has been backed into 9/2 — which is still a good price.

Copper Horse Handicap

Another race I will likely leave out, I’ll be watching Vauban (6/4) from a pure interest POV. Ryan Moore is booked to ride Willie Mullins’ top-class hurdler, and I really liked the horse over obstacles last season.

Ruling Dynasty (4/1) is an interesting one for Godolphin as well. He’s making his handicap debut here, but is still unexposed at four and is closely related to several winners.

Newsletter exclusive tip

Today’s newsletter exclusive is Cloudy Rose (9/5) in the 8:30 at Brighton. She won over C&D in May and followed up with a win over 1m4f at Beverley lto. The John Berry horse is up 3lb today but is fancied for the hattrick