Queen Anne Stakes 2.30 Ascot

I like Notable Speech. He's a stonking chance. A lot has been said about Ascot may not be his track hence, the price of 2/1. However, this year's renewal is not as deep as the last or the SJP prior. No unforeseen negative in-running, I hope.

Easy race to leave alone, particularly with 34 more races to come. The favourite is the best horse, but doesn't always deliver, and does he really want a stiff mile? Then you have Buick, Appleby , and quick ground to factor in. Not worth the risk.

Impossible - this is such a difficult one re back/lay as he's the best horse in the race and is an improved performer since he last ran at Ascot.
I don't think the opposition in the races you mentioned has any real bearing as he's clearly underperformed both times for whatever reason...
and top of the possible causes has to be the track.

It's not uncommon at Ascot as I've seen that a few times before with inexplicably poor shows...most recently from my memory banks has to be the
much underrated Makfi. He was brilliant in the Guineas, and two dire Ascot runs sandwiched a career best at Deauville - and on neither occasion
could the ground be the cause - bewildering!

Maybe like Makfi, Notable Speech has struggled to shake off the exertions of solid runs prior to those flops?
Who knows...but tomorrow should clear up that mystery - I'm a fan of the horse but I really don't know what to expect.

Just remembered that a couple of years back, Modern Games ran 7 - 10 lb below his best when disappointing twice...and I also recall Hawk Wing
being nowhere near his peak too.

I'm sitting this one out as I couldn't deter anyone from backing him as he's the best horse, or laying due to the track doubts.
If I do have a bash then as a value hunter, a small E/W bet on Damysus at 14/1 would appeal...though I'd be concerned he may be a bit outpaced.

Last year saw two absurd 1 mile group 1s in quick succession. The QA and then the Sussex. In the QA they hacked the first 6f. And NS found trouble at exactly the wrong time, when the sprint started.

Not saying he's a bet, though I've always loved the horse. But no way in my view can last year's performance be taken at face value.

Cider - it's not easy to erase the memories of his poor runs at Ascot and although last year's renewal wasn't very
satisfactory, the interference was minimal and a messy race should've inconvenienced the opposition more than him.

He wasn't given a poor or misjudged ride as he was close enough to pounce with his explosive pace which we've since
witnessed numerous times - he even ran in the July Cup after that below par showing!

So as the undoubted speed horse in the race (despite the relentless bóllóx about Rosallion's legendary foot) it can't
be used as an excuse...nor can the ground as he's versatile and goes on anything - that leaves the track and it's most
definitely a concern, though optimistically scrambling for an excuse...maybe the Guineas took more out of him than they
thought and then last season he could've been slow to come to hand with a below par Lockinge run, followed by another
couple though they weren't appalling runs...just 7/8 lbs light, before stepping on the gas & finishing the seaon in style.

Its a cracking race this year, here's hoping that Opera Ballo improves past them all, unbeaten as a four year and readily beat Fields Of Gold in the 365 Mile at Sandown, Docklands loves it here, won or placed 7/8 over course and distance, and won this last year of course, for the place.

Thanks for all the comments. I have decided to lay him for the place as well. If he hasn't finished in the first three to date why should he today? I also read Appleby's stats at RA are 1 winner from 36 runners in the last 3 years. GL.

Also just found out I am not going to able to watch the race! Prior Appointment I had forgotten about. Should be back for later races.

You guys could be right. There's money for his stablemate Opera Ballo. I think he was 2nd fav against Field Of Gold in the Craven.

Classic form, worthy favourites imho, Doubling up Notable Speech with Bow Echo.

appleby RA record, current form giving as reasons for not been with fav, next post highlighting money for opera ballo as a reason for not been with the fav,that would be the opera ballo trained by  APPLEBY, .com

just seen super boost on the fav to finish top2 7/4 with sportsbook on here, i put a £10 on, Sorry max bet ia £0.10

Burke's had 2 runs to get Zeus Olympios spot on for today.Looked a good
horse in the Joel Stakes end of last season where he beat Opera Ballo just
under 3Ls.Was behind Opera Ballo @ Sandown but that had been ticking over
racing in Meydan where it was Zeus Olympios' 1ST outing since September.
Hope to see him run a big race today in what's a cracking race on paper.
Around 11-12s on here atm 10/1 generally books.
   GL ALL

Top two in betting don't appeal to me at current odds, Docklands always goes well here and at about 6/1 on here could represent the value
won this last year and jockey rode horse at Sha Tin and keeps the ride today, More Thunder was easy enough to back in Lockinge and could
reverse form with fav but we've had shocks in this before and really any of the field winning would not surprise me, but Docklands ew(3) for me today

its a cracking race and looking forward to it


gl chaps

NE - he's a consistent horse with a fabulous Ascot record but somehow I've never taken to Docklands.
I just don't rate him and I think he's average for a G1 winner and I can't see him winning this.

Damysus esp when the race is pacey. She'll finish very strong.

Really surprisd to see support for Ten Bob Tony on this ground but you never know until he tries it.
He's capable of a Cicero's Gift kind of surprise in G1 class one day when it's bottomless and nobody fancies him.

Well done Shoemark! You do not need Field Of Gold, and his connection.

what a khazi this straight track is

must have put plenty on for that to win

very well done herbie hope ya backed it

Probably worth a guinea NOW

they went too fast - held up last - ran the most even splits

Cant understand why Marquand switched right when all he had to do was stay here he was.

wonder what the excuse will be this time for notable spunk

Trainers dont even know what theyve got chancers the fecking lot of them.

these outsiders winning group1, just proves what a load of rubbish these are these days

60            £692.25       
65            £2,904.93       
70            £2,689.72       
75            £3,503.65       
80            £1,587.65       
85            £327.43       
90            £307.45       
95            £423.06       
97.1579778067954                £319.16    £43,843.33
100            £549.77       
110            £357.64       
120            £432.81       
130            £590.79       
140            £223.45       
150            £142.12       
160            £132.32       
170            £17.71   

Backed that a few times but left it today

Was very unlucky last year in European Group races in France and Germany

Thunder was defo a little unlucky but there you go FAV looked a DOG.

Jun 16, 2026 -- 2:36PM, elisjohn wrote:

these outsiders winning group1, just proves what a load of rubbish these are these days

straight track has been a khazi since they re-built it 20 years ago

Backed it at Epsom but couldn't see how it would get near these, never mind these. Loved Johnny Murtagh as a jockey but his assertion that this wasn't a shock is nonsense.

Yes, it's definitive. Notable Speech does not run well at Ascot, period!

Jun 16, 2026 -- 2:38PM, liberator of the oppressed wrote:

Thunder was defo a little unlucky but there you go FAV looked a DOG.

poor excuses made for defeats prior to today, wonder what we'll get today

WD Shoemark,nice GP1 for him.

doesn't run well @ keeneland either

Heavenly Heather on turbo charge next first 5 will do.

Foyles - I didn't mate despite really liking the horse.

I messaged my mate (Tony) to say there was a free fiver with 365 on the race
but it'll be tough on the ground so don't get too despondent as there will
be a few races when the bottomless ground comes and he WILL definitely have
more than a squeak in ANY class!

I can't believe he didn't touch 100/1 and as 50 was too short for me, I left it

had a £1  on the winner here 100/1, only as cover on my ante post market, i wanted the 2nd to win

Some liers on here ,,were is irons ,,getting ready for the championship

Calling irons

unfortunately today has ruined your price for soft ground herbie

for whatever reason going forward you can forget about the ground at RA,its RA traight course ground equates to  nothing at any other course

Spare a thought. Harry Findlay & Glen Gill have done their money with their biggest bets of the year. They missed the 5/2 this morning too.

Looks like the Ascot conundrum with Notable Speech has been clarified.
Charlie's bullshit in a quick interview just before the race was bewildering...he blamed last year's
disappointment on the slow pace (not a little bit of interference) a horse whose next run was as a
beaten July Cup favourite! Unsuited by the slow pace...instead of conceding that for whatever reason,
he just doesn't perform at Ascot...and he doesn't have a clue as to WHY!

I was on MT, just pointing that out as it isn't pocket talk. For me no excuses for NS today, he's just not turned up. Not the track, not the going not the pace. the set up was perfect, he just didn't fire. But obviously they won't run him at Ascot again.

bad luck herbie sods law

spare a thought for layers of 10 bob

spare a thought for layers of 10 bob

the "here's how you make easy money" merchants ?

no such thing on here lads, count ya losses

Cider • June 16, 2026 3:04 PM BST
For me no excuses for NS today...he just didn't fire.

other than adding the word "again", that sums up my view as well cider

Horses for courses and NS just doesn't perform at RA, 3 years in a row outside the top 3, beaten fav twice! I just picked the wrong 50/1 for the win! Great result though.

true hulk laying the no hopers is free munney  till a no hoper decides its his day in the sun.