Expert - Bill Esdaile
Bill Esdaile has worked in racing journalism in the United Kingdom for over 20 years. He began his working career at the Sporting Life back in 1995, and has since worked for the Racing Post, The Sportsman, and is currently racing editor of London-based City AM. He is a keen form student, and will bring a unique insight into the major European races.

Expert Column for King's Stand Stakes Day (S2) (Bill Esdaile)

S2-1 Queen Anne Stakes

Royal Ascot starts with a bang, with three G1s and a G2 contest in the opening four races. The G1 Queen Anne Stakes is for the 1,600m specialists and Aidan O’Brien’s LE BRIVIDO looks likely to go off favourite. He landed the G3 Jersey Stakes over 1,400m at this track two years ago when trained in France by Andre Fabre, but he is yet to win in three starts since then. Although promising when third in a G3 1,400m contest at Naas in April, he could only finish fifth in the G1 Lockinge Stakes over 1,600m at Newbury last month. He’s a talented horse held in very high regard, and if he puts everything together on the day he could prove very hard to pass.

MUSTASHRY won the aforementioned Lockinge on his last start, looking a much-improved horse with another year under his belt which is so often the case with Sir Michael Stoute’s runners. He could continue on an upward curve this season and has to be respected. However, he is another unlikely to represent any value in what looks a wide-open contest.

Last year’s winner ACCIDENTAL AGENT caused a big shock when taking the prize for Eve Johnson Houghton at monster odds and is back for more. Although he had solid Ascot form prior to that display, it was all in handicap company so it was easy to see why he was overlooked. Things went backwards after that, but he ran well to finish third in the Lockinge on his reappearance and he seems to come alive at Ascot, so he can’t be ruled out.

Last year’s runner up LORD GLITTERS is another interesting contender who has regularly shown decent form over this track and trip. He was admittedly disappointing in the Lockinge last time, but the recent rain won’t inconvenience him and he will appreciate the likely strong pace. He’s arguably not quite good enough for win purposes, but is likely to be on the scene once again at decent odds.

The French have won this twice in the past decade and they could be celebrating another victory with OLMEDO. Jean-Claude Rouget doesn’t bring horses over to Ascot unless he thinks they have a big chance and this horse’s sire, DECLARATION OF WAR, won the race in 2013. OLMEDO won the 1,600m G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp last year, and even though he hasn’t won again since, he was beaten just a neck in a G2 at Saint Cloud over the same distance last month. He’s a talented 4YO, is still relatively unexposed and should run well at a big price.

LAURENS is just about the most popular Flat horses in training in the Great Britain and, as always, she is likely to run her race. A five-time G1 winner, the daughter of SIYOUNI ran well on her comeback when second in the Lockinge and should come on for that. The only worry with her is that she has disappointed on her only previous visit to Ascot.

Charlie Appleby now trains BARNEY ROY who won the 1,594m St James’s Palace Stakes for Richard Hannon at this meeting two years ago. He was a failure at the breeding sheds so is now back racing, running second in a trial for this race over track in trip in May before landing a Listed contest over the same distance at ParisLongchamp shortly after. He’ll have to step up on that last win to go close in this G1 contest on the biggest stage of all, but is more than capable of doing so based on his form of two years ago.

BEAT THE BANK wasn’t beaten far in this 12 months ago and is another who could pick up some prize money if things go his way, while HAZAPOUR had some good form as a 3YO and trainer Dermot Weld has set him up nicely for this with a win in the G3 Amethyst Stakes at Leopardstown last time out.

SELECTIONS: 11. OLMEDO, 7. LORD GLITTERS, 1. ACCIDENTAL AGENT, 15. LAURENS & 9. MUSTASHRY

S2-2 Coventry Stakes

The G2 Coventry Stakes is the most prestigious 2YO race of the meeting and one which Aidan O’Brien has already won a record eight times, so it makes sense to start with the Irish training wizard who looks to have another potential star lined up in ARIZONA, well drawn in barrier 3. A son of the flying NO NAY NEVER, who won the 1,000m G2 Norfolk Stakes here, ARIZONA bumped into a more experienced rival in the smart SUNDAY SOVEREIGN on his debut at Curragh over 1,200m, but he made no mistake back over the same course and distance three weeks later, breaking his maiden in scintillating fashion by putting daylight between himself and the chasing pack in the last 200m and hitting the line strongly eight lengths clear.

However, it’s worth recalling that three of O’Brien’s past winners of the race started at double-figure odds, so his three other runners – FORT MYERS, KING OF ATHENS and ROYAL LYTHAM – ought to be respected too.

The beautifully-bred FORT MYERS, together with the Godolphin-owned WELL OF WISDOM, filled the places in a rough race at Newbury recently over 1,200m, a big improvement on his debut success on the polytrack at Dundalk over 1,200m. His mother won an G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and he is better than he looked last time.

Also interesting is KING OF ATHENS, though he had a fast disappearing view of ARIZONA at Curragh and, is bred to be more effective at middle-distances, while ROYAL LYTHAM, who has a great attitude, impressed Seamie Heffernan when overcoming traffic problems to win on his Navan debut over 1,100m.

The Hannons, who won this race with both CANFORD CLIFFS and STRONG SUIT, always target their best juvenile at it, and Richard Hannon thinks the world of THREAT, though the trainer was surprised he was sharp enough to win on his Newmarket debut over 1,000m. In the event THREAT, who is a big, imposing colt, proved far too good for a couple of highly-rated Godolphin youngsters and Hannon, who thinks he’ll improve again going up in distance, reckons he is not only his best chance of the week but possibly the best 2YO that he has trained. High praise indeed.

No trainer has enjoyed a better start to the season with his 2YOs than Archie Watson, whose GUILDSMAN was an impressive six length winner in soft ground on his debut at Goodwood over 1,200m. That looked an ordinary maiden, but the way he blitzed his opposition took the breath away and he could also be a player.

Champion trainer John Gosden runs LIGHT ANGEL, but he is small and lacks scope and, having been a beaten favourite first time out at Doncaster over 1,003m, he won what was an average maiden at Newbury over 1,200m. Before Newbury, where WELL OF WISDOM took a nasty bump at the 300m pole, yet finished best of all and flashed home in bronze medal position, he had impressed at Newmarket.

SELECTIONS: 1. ARIZONA, 16. THREAT, 5. GUILDSMAN, 15. ROYAL LYTHAM & 17. WELL OF WISDOM

1ST DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S2-2:   
Banker – 1. ARIZONA
Selections – 16. THREAT, 5. GUILDSMAN, 15. ROYAL LYTHAM & 17. WELL OF WISDOM

S2-3:   
Banker – 1. BATTAASH
Selections – 2. BLUE POINT, 8. MABS CROSS, 9. SERGEI PROKOFIEV & 5. IMPRIMIS

S2-3 King's Stand Stakes

BLUE POINT was the winner of the G1 1,000m King’s Stand Stakes over 12 months ago and he has a great chance of becoming the first horse to win back-to-back renewals since SOLE POWER (2013 and 2014). Charlie Appleby’s charge arrives in great form having won his last three at Meydan, including at G1 level in the 1,200m Al Quoz Sprint. The return to Ascot is certainly a positive as he has won there on three of his previous four appearances, with defeat by CARAVAGGIO in the 2017 G1 1,200m Commonwealth Cup the only blot on his record.

Last year’s victory in this race came at the expense of Charles Hills’ BATTAASH, who lines up hoping to gain revenge. He too arrives in winning form having won the G2 Temple Stakes over 1,000m at Haydock in May on his seasonal reappearance. BATTAASH was on his A-game that day and is a very hard horse to pass if in the mood, but he sometimes allows his temperament to get the better of him and Royal Ascot isn’t an easy place to settle. However, he showed signs of more maturity at Haydock and he has an excellent chance of turning the tables with BLUE POINT if in the mood. He ended last season with a below par performance after getting worked up in the preliminaries to the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes over 1,000m at York, before bouncing back to finish fourth in the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp at ParisLongchamp over 1,000m, beaten less than a length by MABS CROSS in a bunched finish.

MABS CROSS, trained by Michael Dods, won the aforementioned ParisLongchamp battle and certainly arrives with a strong chance of taking some prize money. She followed that victory up on her seasonal debut when coming home in front in the G3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket over 1,000m, narrowly denying EQUILATERAL. However, she was a little disappointing when third behind BATTAASH in this season’s G2 Temple Stakes and needs to prove she has the ability to reverse that form.

One that could prove to be a bit of value is Aidan O’Brien’s SERGEI PROKOFIEV, who only finished just over two lengths behind MABS CROSS in that Newmarket contest. Being a 3YO, he receives a weight-for-age allowance from the older horses and could put it to good use. Prior to that Newmarket fourth, he won a listed contest over 1,149m at Navan and was a good winner of the G3 Cornwallis Stakes over 1,000m at Newmarket at the back end of the 2018 season. More is expected from O’Brien’s challenger and it would be no surprise to see him run a big race as his trainer bids to win the race for the first time.

EQUILATERAL shaped well last time out when finishing a neck behind MABS CROSS in the G3 Palace House Stakes. He was slowly away but still put in a solid effort that will have pleased connections going into this. He will need to improve on that last run to challenge here but arrives in good form and could be battling it out for a place but would need the ground to dry out.

American trainer Wesley Ward won this contest in 2017 with the super talented LADY AURELIA and fellow countrymen Joseph Orseno’s entrant, IMPRIMIS, could prove best of the rest. This 5YO has won three of his last four runs, two of which have come this season over the fast 1,100m and 1,000m trips of Keeneland and Gulfstream Park, and is an interesting contender.

Archie Watson’s SOLDIER’S CALL has a bit to prove having only managed to finish third in a listed contest at York over 1,000m last month, while the rest look up against it at this level.

SELECTIONS: 1. BATTAASH, 2. BLUE POINT, 8. MABS CROSS, 9. SERGEI PROKOFIEV & 5. IMPRIMIS

S2-4 St James's Palace Stakes

There really is something for everyone at Royal Ascot and the 1,594m G1 St James’s Palace Stakes is normally an extension of the G1 2000 Guineas Stakes and the Irish 2000 Guineas (both 1,600m). Unfortunately, the 2000 Guineas Stakes winner MAGNA GRECIA isn’t here, but the impressive Irish 2000 Guineas victor, PHOENIX OF SPAIN and runner-up, TOO DARN HOT, are set to do battle again. There were three lengths between the pair in that race, but there is every reason to believe that the gap will be narrower here, and possibly even overturned.

John Gosden has admitted that things haven’t gone to plan for TOO DARN HOT, last year’s champion 2YO, having missed the Guineas through injury and then finding her reappearance run over 2,051m in the G2 Dante Stakes at York too much of a stamina test. Following the Dante Stakes, TOO DARN HOT stepped back down in distance to 1,600m and run credibly behind PHOENIX OF SPAIN, but he’s still yet to fulfil the potential after being the top-rated 2YO last season. It hasn’t been the best start, but Gosden reports him to be in top form and it’s impossible to forget the impression he left last season. Frankie Dettori rides Ascot better than anyone and if he and the trainer are confident that they’ve got their horse back in top form, he must have every chance.

PHOENIX OF SPAIN is going to be a very tough horse to beat based on his Irish 2000 Guineas performance, though. He wasn’t fancied by many for that race, but in hindsight he had only been beaten a head by 2000 Guineas Stakes winner MAGNA GRECIA in a 1,600m G1 contest at Doncaster last October, so the form was in the book. Prior to that, he was behind TOO DARN HOT in the G2 Champagne Stakes over 1,405m at the same track, but has clearly progressed markedly over the winter and will be ready to put it up to Gosden’s runner once again.

Gosden has another bullet to fire in the shape of KING OF COMEDY who won the Listed Heron Stakes over 1,600m at Sandown last month. Stablemate WITHOUT PAROLE landed that prize last year, before coming on to win the St James’s Palace Stakes, and a repeat could happen 12 months on. The son of KINGMAN, whose stallion career has started in spectacular style, has won three of his four career starts and is clearly progressing very nicely.

Although the French have won plenty of races at Royal Ascot, this prize hasn’t been particularly kind to them, with Alain de Royer-Dupre the last successful handler form France back in 1999 with SENDAWAR. However, that is not going to stop Carlos Laffon-Parias going all out to try to end the drought with his SHAMAN. The SHAMARDAL colt won a 1,600m Listed race at Saint Cloud on his reappearance before following up in a 1,800m G3 at ParisLongchamp. Next up was the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains over 1,600m where he finished a more than respectable second to PERSIAN KING. He is clearly much improved this season and has a good chance of finishing in the money.

William Haggas’ SKARDU won the 1,600m G3 Craven Stakes at Newmarket on his seasonal debut and has followed up with a third and fourth in the G1 2000 Guineas Stakes and Irish 2000 Guineas respectively. He cannot be disregarded, although he will need to improve to get the better of PHOENIX OF SPAIN and TOO DARN HOT.

Aidan O’Brien normally plays a strong hand in this, but his best chance looks to be the supplemented CIRCUS MAXIMUS, who is going to be a fairly big price. He finished sixth over the 2,405m G1 Derby Stakes at Epsom and the step back down in trip doesn’t look like a conventional move.

FOX CHAMPION has won all three races he has contested so far this season, but is another who will need to improve to trouble the market leaders.

SELECTIONS: 10. TOO DARN HOT, 5. PHOENIX OF SPAIN, 7. SHAMAN, 4. KING OF COMEDY & 8. SKARDU

2ND DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S2-4:   
Banker – 10. TOO DARN HOT
Selections – 5. PHOENIX OF SPAIN, 7. SHAMAN, 4. KING OF COMEDY & 8. SKARDU

S2-5:   
Banker – 5. MENGLI KHAN
Selections – 17. BATTS ROCK, 8. COEUR DE LION, 19. FUN MAC & 18. BUILDMEUPBUTTERCUP

TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S2-4: Multiple – 10. TOO DARN HOT, 5. PHOENIX OF SPAIN & 7. SHAMAN
S2-5: Multiple – 5. MENGLI KHAN, 17. BATTS ROCK & 8. COEUR DE LION
S2-6: Multiple – 2. ELARQAM, 5. ADDEYBB & 16. MAGIC WAND

S2-5 Ascot Stakes (Handicap)

With the ground riding on the soft side, this marathon handicap over 3,991m will be a real test of stamina, but one in which Irish trainers enjoy a great recent record, having won the last five runnings.

The Emerald Isle are again strongly represented, with six of the 20-strong field, and with Ryan Moore having ridden five of Willie Mullins’ six Royal Ascot winners, it was no surprise when Ireland’s champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins booked Europe’s most sought-after jockey for BUILDMEUPBUTTERCUP. Twice a bumper (National Hunt Flat race) winner for Mick Channon, BUILDMEUPBUTTERCUP joined the Mullins yard last summer and won over hurdles at Navan over 3,200m at the first time of asking. Mullins has won the race four times in the last seven years and feels that this slog will suit this mare.

Gordon Elliott, Mullins’ arch-rival during the winter, is again going to be dangerous, saddling two fancied runners, MENGLI KHAN and BATTS ROCK.

MENGLI KHAN is a Grade 1 horse over hurdles and fences but hasn’t run on the Flat for three years, finishing fourth at Goodwood over 2,400m for Newmarket trainer Hugo Palmer. Elliott also has solid prospects with BATTS ROCK, who won the Ladies Derby Handicap over 2,400m on the Flat at Curragh and warmed up for this with an easy win in a maiden hurdle over 3,750m at Downpatrick three weeks ago. The booking of Frankie Dettori is significant.

Of the other Irish raiders, the mud-loving SNOW FALCON is another top-class jumper with a couple of Flat wins on his CV, while KEROSIN, though arguably better on an all-weather surface, did win on the turf at Navan over 3,200m.

Alan King, also better known as a jumps trainer, has made his mark on the Flat in recent seasons, celebrating a Royal Ascot winner with PRIMITIVO, who subsequently did well in Hong Kong when known as GOLD MOUNT and won a Listed race at York on Saturday for new trainer Ian Williams. King has had this race in mind for COEUR DE LION ever since the horse was a staying on sixth 12 months ago, and the recent rain has enhanced his chance as he relishes the soft and bolted up in testing going at Chester over 3,727m last time. If he is ridden closer to the pace than he was last year, he has what it takes to be in the money.

And let us not forget Nicky Henderson, former champion jumps trainer who has won this race in the past. He runs GUNNERY, who has not been seen on the Flat for three years but had the class to finish sixth in a Queen’s Vase at this meeting, and THE CASHEL MAN, who will be better suited by the ground than he was the fast surface at York last time when he started favourite.

Remarkably, this will be the 8YO FUN MAC’s fifth attempt at the race. He was runner-up in 2015 off a higher mark, and, having thrived for a winter break, he showed that there was still plenty of fire in his belly when finishing fifth on his comeback in the competitive Chester Cup over 3,727m.

SELECTIONS: 5. MENGLI KHAN, 17. BATTS ROCK, 8. COEUR DE LION, 19. FUN MAC & 18. BUILDMEUPBUTTERCUP

S2-6 Wolferton Stakes

John Gosden has won this 1,993m Listed race four times in the last eight years, including with MONARCHS GLEN in 2018, when it was run for the first time as a conditions race rather than a handicap. Gosden had the classy very WISSAHICKON entered but relies instead upon STAR OF BENGAL, who has been very lightly raced but has won his last two races, both on artificial surfaces, winning a maiden at Wolverhampton over 1,895m by ten lengths last year and a strong handicap at Chelmsford over 2,000m on his reappearance. His turf form so far is nowhere near so good, however.

Mark Johnston will be represented by ELARQAM, who last year was fourth behind SAXON WARRIOR in the G1 2000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket and who returned to his best after suffering injury when an impressive winner from WILLIE JOHN in a Listed race at Goodwood last month over 1,979m. WILLIE JOHN reopposes, but is likely to struggle to reverse placings. His trainer Roger Varian also runs the progressive MOUNTAIN ANGEL, who is stepping up in grade after winning two 2,015m handicaps at Epsom this year.

It’s very rare to see a Classic winner dropping to Listed company, but that’s the case with LATROBE, who has been below form over this distance so far this year but is nevertheless a very interesting runner for Joseph O’Brien, having won the G1 Irish Derby at the Curragh last year over 2,400m and been second afterwards in the G1 Irish St Leger on the same course 2,800m and in the G1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington over 2,000m.

This is a big drop in class for Aidan O’Brien’s MAGIC WAND, who was an easy winner of the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes over 2,392m at Royal Ascot last year, since when she has been campaigned exclusively at G1 level. She has been a little below her best this year, but has been placed at Gulfstream Park over 1,900m and more recently at Belmont 2,200m. She ought to find this company much easier.

ADDEYBB has yet to fulfil the promise of last year’s wins in the Lincoln Handicap over 1,600m and G2 Sandown Mile over 1,600m, both of which he won in tremendous style, and he was only fourth when favourite for the G2 at Chester over 2,064m. However, ease in the ground suits ADDEYBB really well, and he has no penalty. He should be effective at this distance and if he recovers his best form in first-time cheekpieces he would have every chance.

RIVEN LIGHT is an interesting runner for Ireland’s champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins. He was below his best when sent abroad for valuable prizes at Caulfield in Australia over 2,000m and Seoul in South Korea over 1,800m, but he was in better form when beaten only a short head in a Listed race at Curragh over 2,000m earlier this month on his first start since November.

FIRST NATION was last seen finishing fifth behind ZABEEL PRINCE in a G3 Earl of Sefton Stakes over 1,800m which has worked out exceptionally well. He had previously won a good handicap and been placed in a G3 at Meydan (both over 2,000m).

Godolphin also have OASIS CHARM, who won a 2,000m handicap at Meydan in January but has not run since February, as well as MOUNTAIN HUNTER, who won handicaps over 2,410m and 2,000m there, and ZORION, who was receiving weight from him when second in the latter race and looks held.

SELECTIONS: 2. ELARQAM, 5. ADDEYBB, 16. MAGIC WAND, 7. LATROBE & 11. RIVEN LIGHT

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