14 runners will fight it out in Royal Ascot's opening race, the Queen Anne Stakes on Tuesday.
14:30 Tuesday
The Royal Ascot opener will see 14 runners take to the stage.
The race has an established history of producing some of the best horses we have ever seen, and below you will find my runners guide and tips for this year’s renewal.
Queen Anne Stakes Runners Guide
Audience
- Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
- Jockey: Rab Havlin
- Form: 162231
- Odds: 8/1
Largely consistent and improved upon all previous form when dominating the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury from the front last time out. It will be hard for him to pull off similar tactics here, especially from a wide draw, but on the back of that career-best performance, he should run well.
Big Rock
- Trainer: Maurizio Guarnieri
- Jockey: Christophe Soumillon
- Form: 122216
- Odds: 11/2
The highest-rated runner in the field. This high-quality French raider had finished runner-up in three consecutive Group 1 races prior to opening his account at the highest level with an emphatic six-length romp in the QEII over C&D.
He was below-par when he could only finish sixth behind Audience on his return, but he had excuses, and I can envisage him improving significantly on that performance and being competitive here.
Brave Emperor
- Trainer: Archie Watson
- Jockey: Luke Morris
- Form: 211197
- Odds: 33/1
Excellent flag-bearer for connections, winning 10 of his 19 starts and having multiple Group 2 and Group 3 wins to his name. He has yet to prove he is capable of Group 1-winning form, though, as he has finished well beaten in a pair of Group 1 races this year and ran poorly at this meeting last year in a Group 3 race. Others hold stronger claims.
Cairo
- Trainer: Alice Haynes
- Jockey: Kieran O’Neill
- Form: 230202
- Odds: 40/1
Former Group 3 winner when trained by Aidan O’Brien and finished a neck-second behind Brave Emperor in Qatar in February. He recently made a good start for this stable when finishing second in a Listed event at Leopardstown, but he will do well to get involved here. Overlooked.
Charyn
- Trainer: Roger Varian
- Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
- Form: 833112
- Odds: 10/3
Highly consistent performer who placed in five Group 1 races last year, including when finishing third at this meeting last year in the St James’s Palace Stakes. This season, he has raised his game again, with back-to-back wins prior to a very good second in the Lockinge Stakes. This stiffer course will suit him better, and he has a great chance of gaining his first win at this level.
Docklands
- Trainer: Harry Eustace
- Jockey: Hayley Turner
- Form: 116322
- Odds: 16/1
Loves this place, with his form here reading 1132, and deserves a shot at this grade. He won the Britannia at this meeting last season and has produced good efforts in finishing second both times this term. This is a huge step up in class, but the race will be run to suit his hold-up style, and he could sneak himself into the frame.
Dolayli
- Trainer: Francis Graffard
- Jockey: Mickael Barzalona
- Form: 211134
- Odds: 20/1
The second of three French raiders with six wins from 10 career starts. However, he was well held when only fourth in the Prix d'Ispahan, which was his first start at the highest level. His profile is likeable, and his connections are always feared in Britain, but he’s probably out of his depth here.
Facteur Cheval
- Trainer: Jerome Reynier
- Jockey: Maxime Guyon
- Form: 232321
- Odds: 10/3
Top-class French raider who doesn’t know how to run a bad race, having finished no worse than fourth in all 14 career starts. Proved no match for Big Rock when finishing second in the QEII in October but returned a game winner of the Dubai Turf when last spotted. Should go well.
Flight Plan
- Trainer: Karl Burke
- Jockey: Danny Tudhope
- Form: 723105
- Odds: 50/1
Won a decent Group 2 race in Ireland in September, but looks massively up against it in this company and cannot be fancied for win or place purposes based on his two average runs in easier class this year. Others are preferred.
Hi Royal
- Trainer: Kevin Ryan
- Jockey: Ryan Moore
- Form: 399035
- Odds: 66/1
Made the frame in both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas races last season, but the wheels seemingly fell off in three subsequent starts. He sparked back to life when third at Newmarket, but he was behind a few of these in the Lockinge Stakes last time out, and is likely to be outclassed. Too inconsistent for me.
Maljoom
- Trainer: William Haggas
- Jockey: Tom Marquand
- Form: 111453
- Odds: 14/1
Unbeaten in his first three starts, including a win in the German 2000 Guineas before a very unlucky fourth in the St James's Palace at this meeting last year. He’s only been seen twice since, and his only effort last year came in a Group 2 race when far from his best. However, he shaped well on his return here last month when third, and despite needing a lot more improvement, he is dangerous to rule out.
Poker Face
- Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford
- Jockey: James Doyle
- Form: 111227
- Odds: 25/1
Rarely runs a bad race, and following a hat-trick of wins last year, he only found Charyn too strong when second in a Group 2 race at Sandown on his return. He wasn’t in the same form when only seventh in the Lockinge Stakes last time out, though, and a place might be the best he can hope for in this warmer contest.
Royal Scotsman
- Trainer: Paul & Oliver Cole
- Jockey: Jamie Spencer
- Form: 239891
- Odds: 20/1
Smart at two and three and has course form, including when third in the Coventry Stakes here two years ago. He had excuses in his three starts following his third-place finish in last season’s 2000 Guineas but got right back on track when outclassing his rivals in a Group 3 at Epsom last month. It will be no easy feat trying to dictate this field, but he’s earned his spot in the field.
Witch Hunter
- Trainer: Richard Hannon
- Jockey: Sean Levey
- Form: 105339
- Odds: 33/1
A winner at this meeting last year when successful in the Buckingham Palace and nicked some prize money when keeping on well to finish third in the Lockinge Stakes. Conversely, he failed to fire at Haydock when last seen, and this is even tougher, so he has work to do.
Queen Anne Stakes Tips & Prediction
BIG ROCK (best price 13/2) wasn’t at his best last time out, but that was his first run of the campaign, and a sluggish start cost him dearly before the race even began.
Despite that defeat, he remains the clear top-rated horse in the line-up at 127, and the fact that connections have booked Cristophe Soumillion suggests they mean business here.
The four-year-old’s breathtaking victory in the QEII over track and trip is the best piece of form on offer. If he brings his best form to the table, it will take an extremely good performance from anything else to see him beaten.
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