16:25 Tuesday

Starting with the 6/4 favourite for the Day 1 feature race at Royal Ascot 2024, Stu Williams has looked at each of the runners and picked his winner.

St James's Palace Stakes Runners Guide

Notable Speech

Notable Speech didn’t set foot on a racecourse as a two-year-old and made a low key debut at Kempton in January when contesting a Class 5 maiden. 

It’s safe to say he hasn’t looked back since as he notched two further triumphs at Kempton before landing the 2000 Guineas on his turf debut last month.

Very few horses would be capable of going from debutant to classic winner in just five short months and the Godolphin bred three-year-old clearly remains open to even further improvement on just his fifth career start.

The form of the 2000 Guineas is working out well as the second placed Rosallion and third placed Haatem finished first and second respectively in the Irish 2000 Guineas next time out and the sixth placed Inisherin dropped back in trip to plunder the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock in impressive fashion.

It’s obviously impossible to know just how good Charlie Appleby’s charge is at this stage of his career. However, he is clearly the one to beat judged on his Newmarket victory.

Rosallion

The aforementioned Rosallion won three of his four outings as a two-year-old culminating in the Group 1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp in October and he has more than proven his effectiveness over a mile this term.

Richard Hannon’s three-year-old travelled powerfully throughout the 2000 Guineas and comfortably saw off all barring Notable Speech.

Rosallion confirmed Newmarket placings with Haatem at the Curragh and he demonstrated his liking for Ascot when scoring in Listed company at the track last July.

A rematch with his 2000 Guineas conqueror is eagerly anticipated.

Henry Longfellow

Henry Longfellow was beaten a total of four lengths when placing eighth in the Group 1 Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains on his seasonal reappearance and he will have his second outing over a mile in this contest.

The impeccably bred three-year-old looked like a future star when landing all three of his starts last year including Group 2 and Group 1 contests by margins of two lengths and five lengths respectively.

Henry Longfellow is naturally entitled to improve from his outing last month and he should also appreciate returning to a sounder surface.

He remains a fascinating prospect who should not be underestimated. 

Metropolitan

French raider Metropolitan triumphed in the aforementioned Group 1 Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains at Longchamp last month and he therefore commands respect.

That victory represented a return to form for Mario Baratti’s charge following an underwhelming seasonal reappearance and it undoubtedly booked his ticket to this contest.

The Zarak colt showcased his ability to handle slightly quicker ground when landing a conditions race at Chantilly last September and, like the majority of his rivals, he still has scope for improvement. 

Alyanaabi

Alyanaabi won two of his first three outings as a two-year-old before chasing home subsequent Epsom Derby hero City Of Troy in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket and he remains a horse of significant potential following his fifth placed effort in last month’s 2000 Guineas.

Owen Burrows’ charge did himself no favours in the early stages at Newmarket as he travelled keenly in the hands of Jim Crowley and perhaps took too much fuel out of the tank as a result.

In fact, it’s to his credit that he finished as close as he did on that occasion and he could get even closer if settling better in this contest. 

Darlinghurst

Darlinghurst has tasted victory on all four of his visits to the racetrack this year including the Group 3 Prix de Guiche at Chantilly last month and connections are clearly eager to see where his limitations lie.

The Dark Angel colt disappointed on both of his outings as a two-year-old but has clearly benefited from his winter break, winning a brace of 8f races at Cagnes-Sur-Mer before scooping Listed and Group 3 glory at Chantilly, over 9f on each occasion.

This obviously represents a significant rise in class for the French trained challenger and he will almost certainly need to take another big step forwards. However, it would be foolish to completely rule out a horse whom is on such a steep upward curve.

Almaqam

This represents a steep rise in class for Almarqam who was last seen scoring in Listed company at Sandown. However, he is 2-2 since returning from his winter break and he could easily have more to offer.

Ed Walker’s charge finished fourth on his only outing as a two-year-old but hasn’t put a foot wrong since, winning his two starts this year by a combined distance of five lengths and seemingly improving with each outing. 

There was plenty to like about the way in which Almaqam kicked clear of a promising rival at Sandown last month and he could easily outperform market expectations.

Unquestionable

Unquestionable has a shade over six lengths to find with Rosallion on their Irish 2000 Guineas form. However, the winner had the benefit of a previous run this term and Aidan O’Brien’s charge in naturally entitled to improve for the outing.

Unquestionable was only one length behind the same rival when placing second in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp last October and he signed off his two-year-old campaign with a smart success in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

It’s easy to make a case that the Wootton Bassett colt is slightly overpriced on the pick of his form, for all that he will face a fearsome set of rivals on this occasion. 

St James's Palace Stakes Tips & Prediction

Henry Longfellow looked like a potential superstar on the back of his unbeaten two-year-old campaign and he could easily get his career back on track if truly seeing out the mile trip.

While stablemate Unquestionable could easily outperform market expectations if running up to the form of his Breeders’ Cup success.

Alyanaabi could also perform better than the market may suggest if settling better in the early stages as his runner-up effort in the Dewhurst is easily one of the best pieces of form on offer following City Of Troy’s impressive performance in the Epsom Derby.

French raiders Metropolitan and Darlinghurst should not be easily dismissed as both are seemingly progressive. The former would arguably be the pick of the pair following his Group 1 victory last month.

However, this could easily boil down to the 2000 Guineas winner and runner-up with preference being given to NOTABLE SPEECH, who found plenty when asked for his effort at Newmarket.

The Dubawi colt travelled well throughout that contest and comfortably made up ground before the button was pressed, and that experience will have done him the world of good after three comfortable victories on the All-Weather.

Needless to say, it takes a talented racehorse to go from debutant winner to classic hero in just five short months and the manner of his crowning victory suggested there was plenty more to come.

Rosallion is a top class prospect in his own right and he may be able to reduce the deficit on this occasion or even pounce should a weakness appear in Notable Speech’s armour.

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