I think Zarigana has drifted as a result of the Prix de Diane. She's out to 2.92/2.94. Falakeyah is in demand.

I backed the latter in multiples @ 3’s pre supplement.

Is the Coronation Stakes still under antepost rules? the race is friday 20th.

It’s four days that’s considered Anti from memory's but the rules and regs change like listing 11 and only offering 2!

Last declaration stage,normally 48Hrs.

I’ll add Sajir

Was entered last year

A year stronger and only a 1 1/2 L behind Seagils tip Top Gear for the 6f on sat

Andrew Balding's 25-strong team for Royal Ascot next week.

When it comes to being well represented at Royal Ascot this year, few will be able to match the firepower trainer Andrew Balding has at his disposal.

With 11 winners at Flat racing’s early summer highlight to his name, the Kingsclere handler is no stranger to tasting success at a meeting which comes at a pivotal point in the calendar.

However, the last two years have seen the Classic-winning trainer draw blanks at the meeting with his last success there coming in the 2022 Ascot Stakes courtesy of Coltrane.

But armed with a team in excess of 25 horses, spread out across the various divisions, the chances of Balding adding winner number 12 at the meeting to his CV appear strong.

He said: “We didn’t get a winner last year so it was disappointing, but we had a few placed horses that ran well. It is very competitive every year and it doesn't get any easier. I think any trainer, however big their string is, will say they are probably just happy getting one winner and anything else is a bonus.

“I think we are on par with the last couple of years in terms of the depth of the squad going there, but we just need that bit of luck. I think everything we are sending there we can make a case for and that is the most important thing for us.”


ANDREW BALDING ROYAL ASCOT RUNNERS

ARRAY (Buckingham Palace Stakes/Wokingham)
“He is in the Wokingham, but I think he is more likely to go for the Buckingham Palace Stakes as I think seven furlongs suits him better. Watching his two runs this year I think he is getting there. It is very difficult when a horse misses the whole season to come back. It was always going to take a couple of runs for him to find his feet. It was a strong race he ran in last time and his handicap mark of 102 hasn’t changed so that is significant.”

BELLUM JUSTUM (Hardwicke Stakes)
“He only ran the other day in the Coronation Cup, but he might well run back here as he is a hard horse to place having already won a Group Two this season. He needs fast ground and I think he was just toiling on the going at Epsom, it was as simple as that really. He doesn’t get a penalty in the Hardwicke and the chances are that he will run. He is here to race and he is a hardy type. He will have a busy campaign this season and he is more than likely to go travelling after this.”

BERKSHIRE WHISPER (Commonwealth Cup)
“The plan is to run Berkshire Whisper in the Commonwealth Cup. I thought he ran a very good race in the Carnarvon Stakes at Newbury and that form looks very strong. He gave away a little bit of ground mid-race as he was shuffled back. You could probably upgrade that performance by a couple of lengths.”

COLTRANE (Ascot Gold Cup/Queen Alexandra Stakes)
"I think we have got to have a look at the Gold Cup, but he might have an entry in the Queen Alexandra as well. At this stage of his career he has run two smashing races this season and he still looks like he would be competitive for a place in the Gold Cup.
“I would say the Gold Cup is the preferred choice, if he is fit and well. We know he stays, and for a couple of the ones more favoured in the betting than him there will be question marks over them staying the two-and-a-half miles. We know that the trip is not a problem for him as he has been second and fifth in very strong renewals of the race before.
“There is no Kyprios this year and that makes it a little bit more appealing. He has shown us in his two starts that he is no back number as he has been there or thereabouts. He could easily get a place and the prize-money on offer in the Gold Cup is five times that of the Queen Alexandra.”

COMICAL POINT (Windsor Castle Stakes/Norfolk Stakes)
“He is a horse that impressed on his debut at Salisbury and he will more than likely go for the Norfolk Stakes. He is a horse that we really like and he goes well at home. I think he is capable of running well at Ascot. We will go up to six furlongs in the fullness of time, but I think if they have won and shown enough speed over five furlongs it makes sense to stick at that trip.
“The strongest two-year-old race is always the Coventry Stakes as that is always going to attract the best horses. Hopefully one day he can mix it with them, but at this moment in time the Norfolk Stakes looks the best spot for him.”

FLORA OF BERMUDA (King Charles III Stakes/Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes)
“I’m not sure which race she will go for yet. She has been purchased by Wathnan Racing and they have obviously got other horses to run in those races. I feel she is probably better suited by six furlongs unless there was a lot of rain forecast for the beginning of the meeting when five on a slow surface would possibly suit. However, it will be a decision I imagine that we will leave until the last minute.
“She came to win the Group Two at York last time, but maybe she just got a little tired as she hadn’t run for a while. She travelled strongly and looked as good as ever. She has been a model of consistency in these Group-race sprints. From Wathnan’s point of view she has got the potential to make a really exciting broodmare as well. For them it is probably a purchase with the insurance of residual value. Let’s hope we can win a Group One with her before the end of the year.”

FOX LEGACY (Royal Hunt Cup)
“Hopefully if he gets in the Royal Hunt Cup he will go there, however he needs around ten or twelve to come out of the race so it is not a foregone conclusion he will get in. We won’t really know until they do the entries for the Buckingham Palace Stakes as that will take some of the horses away. We will just have to sit tight and see how it plays out. He travelled strongly over nine furlongs at Newmarket, but we think the mile over the stiff track at Ascot will suit him well.”

FURTHUR (Queen’s Vase)
“All being well we will step Furthur up in trip for a shot at the Queen’s Vase. He is a horse that won well at Newbury at the beginning of the season. He had a terrible trip in the Chester Vase, but after Saturday’s result in the Derby that form now looks excellent. I think that run can be upgraded. He will stay well and can go on any ground. He is definitely a player for a place at least. This has very much been the idea for him for a while.”

HIGH STOCK (Hampton Court Stakes)
“High Stock is a lovely horse that will probably run in the Hampton Court and I would hope he would run well in that. He ran very well to finish second in the Dee Stakes, but I think Chester is very tough for a horse having only their second start. They all had a bit more experience than him, but I thought he shaped like a very promising horse. I would hope he will go well, but you never know what you are taking on until the entries come out.”

HUMIDITY (Chesham Stakes)
“Humidity won well on his debut at Newbury and he ticks a lot of boxes for the race. It looks the right spot for him. I think the Coventry Stakes is a strong race, and if you qualify for the race [the Chesham] and have one that you think stays seven furlongs it has got to be the easier option. Since his last run he has been purchased by Wathnan Racing so hopefully he can build on the promise of his debut and reward their investment in him.”

JONQUIL (St James’s Palace Stakes/Commonwealth Cup)
“Jonquil will more than likely drop back to six furlongs for the Commonwealth Cup. He is a very versatile horse and has got a lot of speed and a lot of class. I thought it was an excellent effort in the French 2000 Guineas that he put up. Obviously we have to fit around the other pieces of the puzzle that Juddmonte have got to play. I don’t think it is compromising his chances too much in dropping back to six furlongs in a Group One race at a big festival.
“He started the year off in the Greenham and he travelled very strongly that day. The key to him is probably fast ground. He is a horse with a huge amount of ability. I think we can run him anywhere between six furlongs and a mile, but we will learn more at Ascot. I think whichever race he goes for he would be competitive in.”

KALPANA (Prince Of Wales’s Stakes/Hardwicke Stakes)

“The plans are fluid. She is in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, but we wouldn’t want to run over a mile-and-a-quarter unless it was good ground or slower. She has got the option possibly of a Hardwicke Stakes entry as she doesn’t get a penalty in that. If there wasn’t rain next week that option might just suit her better. She also has the entry in the Pretty Polly over in Ireland at the end of next month, but it is all up for discussion at the moment.
“Her main aim is not until much later in the year, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. We always thought the midsummer target would be the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. It is really what will suit as the best prep for that race really.
“She ran a great race in the Tattersalls Gold Cup on her comeback. She just got caught a little bit for space at a vital stage which probably cost her the race, but I like the way she finished off and it was a great comeback run. She is effective over a mile-and-a-quarter on slower ground, but it wasn’t slow in Ireland and she was there or thereabouts, and she would excel over that distance with give in the ground, but a mile-and-a-half is no problem as well.”

KASSAYA (Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap)
“There is a chance Kassaya could make her first start of the season in the Palace Of Holyroodhouse. She has not been since finishing down the field as favourite in last year’s Queen Mary at the meeting, but she is just about coming back to where she was. Off a mark of 88 she might not get in. We have a few that we are looking at for the race, but she would be the pick if we run her, however we will only run her in the race if we are happy.”

MARVELMAN (Jersey Stakes)
“He is heading for the Jersey and this has always been his aim. He looks a lively contender for it. He goes on any ground and he is versatile in how we can ride him. He has got a lot going for him. I thought the Listed race he ran in at Newmarket was a very strong race and obviously the winner Cosmic Year has run well in the Irish 2000 Guineas after that. It was a very strong race run in a good time so it was an excellent performance.
“He has had a nice break since then and he is a horse that is improving physically all the time. I couldn’t be more pleased with him. He clocked a good time at Kempton Park previously. He has a big engine and would have a good chance.”

MISS INFORMATION (Kensington Palace Stakes)
“We are going to try her over a mile again in the Kensington Palace as she got shuffled back the other day at Epsom. She ran a good race given the circumstances. She didn’t have a hard race because she was just in a bad position. We feel she is worth trying the mile again, and with this being a handicap for fillies that are four and up it is a good fit for her.”

MOUNT ATLAS (Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes)
“He ran very well stepped up to Group Three company in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester while he ran well in the Rosebery at Kempton Park the time before that. He would appreciate a little bit of give in the ground, but if things drop right I think he is a very capable horse.”

NEVER SO BRAVE (Wokingham Stakes/Buckingham Palace Stakes)
“It will either be the Buckingham Palace or the Wokingham. He is due to go up four pounds, and he would run off that new mark in the Buckingham Palace, whereas he would run off his old one in the Wokingham, so he would be four pounds well in there. We will keep both options open. He is probably a little bit better with a bit of give in the ground. He was a bit unlucky at Chester, but that was his first run for a long time. I thought he ran a really good race in the circumstances.”

OLD IS GOLD (Windsor Castle Stakes/Norfolk Stakes)
“I think the most likely scenario is that Old Is Gold will run in the Windsor Castle as opposed to the Norfolk. He ran well over five furlongs at Ascot on his debut then won well in a conditions race up at Beverley, which is always a good trial for the Royal Ascot races, I think. We liked the way he did it that day. He is a very professional horse that has got a lot of speed and I think he would be competitive in either a Windsor Castle or a Norfolk.
“He has been purchased by Wathnan Racing and they have got other horses for the Norfolk. The Windsor Castle might not be any easier to win than the Norfolk, but you never know until the race has been run. At this moment in time the Windsor Castle is our way of thinking.”

POINT OF CONTACT (Britannia Stakes)
“This would be Point Of Contact’s first time in a handicap, but he has got some decent novice form and would be the right type for it. I thought he ran an excellent race at York to finish second behind Bowman. They were both running with a penalty that day as that was a novice. This is a handicap and it is probably more to his advantage running in a handicap opposed to a stakes race. He is a decent horse.”

PUROSANGUE (Wokingham Stakes)
“He should be equipped to run a big race in a Wokingham. He is effective on any ground and a strongly run six furlongs is probably exactly what he wants. He ran in the King Charles III Stakes last year at the meeting and ran well against the best sprinters around. He wasn’t beaten far in that.”

QUAI DE BETHUNE (Golden Gates Stakes)
“He will get in this race and it looks like the natural step for him. He ran well to finish third in the London Gold Cup at Newbury on his first start over a mile-and-a-quarter. He has had five runs now so he should have enough experience for a race like this and he wouldn’t be without a chance.”

REGAL ULIXES (Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes/Golden Gates Stakes)
“It was good to see him win on his return at Doncaster. As he only ran on Saturday we have got to see how he trains this week, but he is a decent horse. If we decide to run there it has to be because we are happy with him, however if we do decide to roll the dice with him at the meeting I’d like to think he can be competitive.”

SANDS OF SPAIN (Windsor Castle Stakes)
“He would only run in the Windsor Castle if we had a lot of rain as he needs slower ground. He only finished eighth first time out at Goodwood, but stayed on well to make all at Carlisle, however that was on good to soft ground.”

SEE THE FIRE (Duke Of Cambridge Stakes)
“We might look at dropping back See The Fire down to a mile for the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes. After she won the Middleton in good fashion at York we did mention going over to Ireland for the Pretty Polly after Royal Ascot. However, her main aim this season is the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood which she ran very well in last year. I think the feeling, as a prep race for the Nassau, is that we would rather stay closer to home rather than go over to Ireland. Unfortunately, we didn’t put her in the Prince Of Wales’s and she would have no doubt been going for that if she was in it.”

SERENITY PRAYER (Ribblesdale Stakes)
“She is going to run in the Ribblesdale. She ran very well on what was just her second start in the Musidora Stakes up at York. That form was franked by the winner (Whirl) running so well in defeat in the Oaks (second to Minnie Hauk). We have always had this race in mind for her and she is improving all the time. This is another step up in trip for her, but she should be competitive in a race like this.”

TEUMESSIAS FOX (Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes)
“He did well winning the Rosebery at Kempton Park and he ran well back there in the Magnolia Stakes pitched into Listed company. We have been to Ascot a couple of times and I’m not totally convinced it suits him. All of his best form is around Kempton Park, but he will either disprove that theory or not.”

THE LOST KING (Britannia Stakes)
“He looks a likely candidate for the Britannia. He ran in the Esher Cup last time out. I thought he ran very well there as that was his first run back. This was always the aim so hopefully he can build on that effort and we see him at his best after that.”

TROPICAL STORM (King Charles III Stakes/Commonwealth Cup)
“I would favour the five-furlong option at the start of the week as he is a horse with a lot of natural speed. That would mean he is taking on older sprinters, but he has had his two runs this year to sharpen him up. His work has improved at home since winning that Listed race up at York, where I thought he did well to win. He is only going to keep on improving and I would hope he would have a live chance.
“He took a little time to get on top at York, but there was quite a strong headwind and Oisin (Murphy) just felt when he pulled him out into the headwind he just took 100 yards to really find his feet, but he was strong at the end of the race and I thought it was an excellent effort.
”He was just a little slow into stride on his comeback at Newmarket, but you can’t miss a beat in these five-furlong races as it is over before you know it. It was the perfect run to blow the cobwebs away and set him up for York. I would have thought this very next run we should see the best of him.”

URBAN GLIMPSE (Golden Gates Stakes)
“I don’t think he will get in at the meeting as he is only rated 86, but I would love to think he will because he is well handicapped. He looked like he was going to win at Sandown, but that was his first run back and he finished second, and he was second again at York, where they went no gallop and crawled and it didn’t suit him. I think in a strongly run mile-and-a-quarter handicap he would be a player. He is one to keep an eye on.”

ZGHARTA (Sandringham Stakes)
“I think she has got a huge chance in the Sandringham as she ticks a lot of boxes for a race like this. Over the mile-and-a-quarter at Newmarket she was just running on fumes near to the end of the race so this stiff, strongly-run mile should suit her well. I thought she was nailed on to stay ten furlongs, but luckily we managed to get away with it at Newmarket.”

Five Irish-trained horses to follow at Royal Ascot


Andab
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien.
Race: Coventry Stakes (Tuesday).
General odds: 20-1.
Andab was weak in the market when he won his maiden on debut at The Curragh in May. Actually, Dylan Browne McMonagle was due to ride his stable companion Substance, who was an 11th-hour scratching, but he was positive from early on aboard Andab who stretched away from his rivals impressively.
The runner-up that day, Gavoo, enhanced the form when he won a maiden nicely at Listowel next time out.
Stepped up in grade last time for the Group Three GAIN Marble Hill Stakes, Andab moved up nicely to join the leader, Power Blue, as they raced to the furlong marker. Eventually, he couldn’t repel the late challenge of Albert Einstein, but time may prove that there was no disgrace in that.
He was defeated a length and a half by Aidan O’Brien’s charge who would have been favourite for the Coventry had he not been ruled out of the race.
The selection should improve again for that run and, a full-brother to Victoria Road, who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf over a mile, he should appreciate the stiffer test that Ascot presents.


Tokenomics
Trainer: David Marnane.
Race: Royal Hunt Cup (Wednesday) or Buckingham Palace Stakes (Thursday).
General odds: 33-1 (Royal Hunt Cup) and 20-1 (Buckingham Palace Stakes).
Tokenomics was seriously progressive for David Marnane last season, winning three of his last five races in 2024 and improved from a handicap rating of 75 to 90.
He continued his progression at Cork on his debut this season when he won a seven furlong handicap off a rating of 90. He travelled like the winner from a fair way out that day, and showed a fine turn of foot when he got the gap, leaving the impression that he was winning with more in hand than the winning margin suggests.
The handicapper raised him 6lb for that success, and a mark of 96 would probably have seen him get into the Royal Hunt Cup nicely. However, a subsequent across-the-board 2lb reduction in the ratings of the majority of Irish-trained horses leaves him on a rating of 94, which may not be high enough to see him get into Wednesday’s big handicap, a race that his trainer won with Settle For Bay in 2018.
If he doesn't get into the Royal Hunt Cup, the Buckingham Palace over seven furlongs is a viable option, but he will be of interest wherever he goes.


Gleneagle Bay
Trainer: Stephen Thorne.
Race: Buckingham Palace Stakes (Thursday).
General odds: 12-1.
Fifth in the Irish Lincoln on his seasonal debut, Gleneagle Bay ran a big race in the Victoria Cup last time over the Buckingham Palace course and distance to finish third behind Hickory and Qirat.
Drawn high in the Victoria Cup, Stephen Thorne’s charge made up ground towards the near side, and he had to do a lot of running on his own on that side late on. He was beaten by a nose and a short head by two rivals who went toe-to-toe in the centre, and Gleneagle Bay might have done even better if he had been over there beside them.
A 3lb hike for that run was fair. Recently acquired by Amo Racing, he should come on again for that outing which was his second run of the season and just the seventh of his life, plus first outing at Ascot.
A fast-run seven furlongs suits him well, Ascot suits his hold-up style of racing, and it is significant that his astute rookie trainer nominated the Buckingham Palace as a next target for him very quickly after the Victoria Cup.


Catalina Delcarpio
Trainer: Paddy Twomey.
Race: Ribblesdale Stakes (Thursday).
General odds: 4-1.
An impressive winner of a ten-furlong three-year-old fillies’ maiden at Leopardstown in April on debut, Catalina Delcarpio stepped forward from that last time when she finished second in the Group Three Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes at Navan.
Slowly into stride and back in the field early on at Navan, she travelled well into the home straight, but she didn’t have much racing room, and didn’t get into the clear until after the two-furlong marker.
She stayed on well once gaining daylight to finish a clear second behind Wemightakedlongway, who made all the running plus was able to lead at a moderate pace. That rival added ballast to the form when she finished fourth in the Betfred Oaks afterwards.
A half-sister to Grand Stars, a Listed race winner over ten furlongs, and out of a half-sister to High Heeled, winner of the Group Three St Simon Stakes over a mile and a half, Paddy Twomey’s filly should improve for that run, just the second of her career, and for the step up to a mile and a half.


Cercene
Trainer: Joseph Murphy.
Race: Coronation Stakes (Friday).
General odds: 25-1.
Cercene hasn’t scored since she won her maiden as a juvenile at Navan last year on her second outing, but she has been keeping good company this year.
A close-up third in the Leopardstown Guineas Trial over seven furlongs on her seasonal debut, when she finished off her race well after being short of room early in the home straight, Joseph Murphy’s filly was beaten just half a length behind Atsila in the Coolmore Stud Auguste Rodin Irish EBF Athasi Stakes next time out.
She then produced a career-best performance last time out when third in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas behind Lake Victoria.
She raced in mid-division at The Curragh, behind a sedate pace and, while she was never getting to Lake Victoria, she did well to get as close as she did to the runner-up, California Dreamer, who led from early.
The selection did best of the fillies who didn’t race prominently, and a faster pace should suit her better. She could outrun chunky odds in the Coronation Stakes on Friday.

Interesting to hear your Coventry thoughts Uncle . Have my rags at 3 figure prices - Gavoo ,Do or Do Not and like Underwriter . Would have backed Warsaw if Ryan had ridden so probably points to chances of jolly .

Thanks for putting up your selections and thoughts on the draw.

Amnat has a bad draw out wide in the POW, funny that White Birch isn’t showing up again! What reason this time?

Thanks for putting up the thoughts Luckyme re: Balding on See The Fire thought they’d like another go at Goodwood.

The Queen Anne Stakes verdict. (From RP!)

1. Field Of Gold
By Steve Boow

What price is he for this?!

There’s 20 French runners turning up this year. Last year was a record of 23, for one win.

This year they have two Favs, Zarigana & Lazzat.

One must go back to the meeting of 2019 and the victory of Watch Me in the Coronation Stakes, to find the last French success in a group I. Six years ago...

The POW is a hot race and they must feel that they need cut for him to show his best. Makes you laugh the excuses for not running.

Before the Guineas Impossible Gosden Sid he wouldn’t want extremes, mentioning that real firm wouldn’t be good. Whereas Henri will love it.
AOB was also saying yesterday that they run at Longchamp with him to prep (in a Group 1) for this race at Ascot.

There was only 1/2 a length between the pair with Field of Gold in front of Henri on soft at Longchamp, around the bend again.
This ground will suit him (Henri) better than at Longchamp.

I know Field OF Gold looked impressive at the Curragh, but Scorthy Champ gives a line to both Guineas.

7 1/2 Ruling Court - Newmarket  -  Winning time: 1m 37.28s (slow by 1.18s) Gd
6 1/4 Field Of Gold -  Curragh     -  Winning time: 1m 36.58s (fast by 0.12s) Gd

The Irish guineas time was quicker, backing up that they went slow @ HQ.

Will a strong pace not Suit Ruling Court as much as Field of Gold? Both have been talked of going over further.

Whereas Mattisse is a miler.

Most pundits think that Field OF Gold only has to turn up. If you’ve got the 5/2 that you talked of Impossble then you’re sitting pretty, but odds on, no thanks for me.

Rashabar has form with them both from Longchamp but ran disappointing in the Irish version, he’d had an extended wait for the race having missed the French Version. The stats were against him for that not having had a run for 50 or something days.
Could that have been slightly needed? Still five lengths to make up.

Consistent in place terms before then but only has the one win - although only lost narrowly when second.

I shall put up my pics in the morning, but I'm with Field of Gold.. I feel Ruling Court has been trained for 12f and may have lost the edge..

No ride for Soumi in the Queen Anne the Warrior is a non

With the stalls in the centre the draw shouldn’t make that much difference in the Queen Anne. Rossalion is widest in 10 but being a hold up horse he’ll be dropped in anyway. I assume Quddwah will lead with Dancing Gemini and Diego Velasquez looking to track the pace. Quite possible an early move could prove decisive if the hold up horses get a bit far back or run into trouble, but it’s just too hard for me so no bet. If he drifts enough maybe a token e/w on Docklands for old times sake.

The draw in the SJP is more significant being on the round course but with only 7 runners it will be disappointing if there are any hard luck stories. Officer will surely cut across from 7 and lead and maybe they will try and get Henri Matisse in behind him so he can get a dream run with Officer impending those behind as he drops back. Field Of Gold will be ridden just like in the Irish 2,000 to the outside.
Another no bet race for me.

In the King Charles I have decided at the prices to make Regional my main bet at 8/1 with a saver on Asfoora. I’ll also have a token bet on Jasour as I would be suicidal if he won without any money on it.

The Wolferton is very tough but I’m not really seeing the case for Enjifar being such a clear favourite. I’m also not keen on Haatem at the trip for all that James Doyle has picked him from the four Wathnan entries. 
So there should be a bet there somewhere. I always like previous Royal Ascot form (similar to Cheltenham) so last years second and third will do for me with the main bet on Haunted Dream

Today’s the day!

How Night Raider is third fav as short as 6/1 without ever having won on turf is beyond me! People are against Notable Speech because of his flop at Ascot last year. A look back and you’ll see that NightbRaider was stone cold last when he ran in last years Commonwealth Cup!
He can win in Tom Seagul’s eyes and true he has pace but I’ll be playing a long shot in this. Watching his races before sleep I saw that the he’s been trained to learn to settle and harness his energy. At the odds I have to have a go that this well regarded type and stable fav will be able to do so.

I asked yesterday whether Rashabar had the ideal run up to the Irish Guineas and Meehan’s comments yesterday backed that notion up.

“We had an interrupted spring with him and even going into the Irish Guineas he was still a little bit short and in need of the run,” Meehan said. “He’s been super since then and did a particularly nice piece of work last week, I have to say.
“If you look at all the big European three-year-old races for colts this year over a mile and pick a formline, which is the old-fashioned way people approached these things, then you’ll see him coming up time and again; he has form with all of these horses from last year’s Coventry, the Prix Morny and the Lagardere.

“He wasn’t 110 per cent for the Irish Guineas, but I’m going into this race with maximum confidence in him that he’ll do his best, as he always does, and that he’s as well as I can have him. He’s a class horse.”

It’s D day for him and his season and perhaps returning to the bend will see him in a better light. (Yes he’d won the Coventry on the straight track). The turn of foot he showed in the Lagadere when he left Field Of Gold for mud has so far been missing this year. As Impossible has said time and again this is the daddy of them all over a mile.

And crikey I’m old fashioned!

Bills are taking on FOG slightly giving best price, JoesLads are paying 3 places still despite the numbers. 

All the pundits are for the Fav can he go shorter still? Seagul sees him win by 3L.

Frankel was 30/100 fav

Jonny Zoffany 20/1 second and last year Henry Longfellow 11/2 I think Mattisse is in a different class to those two and even Excellent Art 8/1 who won having done nothing in the French version beforehand.

AOB always has his at pitch for this. Should be (fingers crossed a classic!!)

Can anyone tell-  I’m excited!?!