COOLANGATTA (3:40) can waltz to victory in the King's Stand Stakes on Day One of Royal Ascot. Team Maher and Eustace’s raider is tailor-made to be Australia’s latest winner of this Group 1. The filly first announced herself by edging Russian Conquest in the Magic Million at Gold Coast . She ran well again despite hating the heavy ground when third in the Golden Slipper at Rosehill. The speedster put in another good shift when filling the same spot in a Moonee Valley Group 2. She broke her duck at Group 1-level when chinning Bella Nipotina in the Moir at the same track. The four-year-old wasn’t disgraced again when fifth in another top-level contest at Flemington. The bay then looked world-class when cosily denying I Wish I Win in the Lightning on her return. The star has been excelling on the gallops since arriving so she can conquer the global sprint elite.
Frankie Dettori can begin his last Royal Ascot by taking the Queen Anne Stakes on INSPIRAL (2:30). Team Gosden’s horse hammered Prosperous Voyage in the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket back in 2021. That marked her out as a top 1000 Guineas contender but she had to miss the Classic due to injury. Despite that absence, the filly was still sent off favourite for the Coronation at this meeting last year. And the bay totally defied any doubts about her fitness by absolutely bolting up from Spendarella. However, three-year-old blotted her copybook with a lacklustre second in the Falmouth back at HQ. She soon got back on the rise when outbattling Light Infantry in the Jacques le Marois at Deauville. The star then gave her critics renewed ammunition when flopping in the QEII back here in October. The daughter of Frankel has been given time to recover so she can redeem herself on her comeback.
The Gosdens can double-up with FRANCESCO CLEMENTE (5:35) in the Wolferton Stakes. The colt looked a cracking prospect when crushing Secret State first time out at Newmarket. He then relished stepping up to 1m 2f with a convincing defeat of the useful Ajero at Sandown. The bay improved again when putting Miramichi to the sword on his handicap bow back at HQ. Given time to develop, he was just denied by King Of Conquest in a Goodwood Listed contest. The four-year-old should be primed so he can turn the tables on his conqueror in terrific style.
The top jockey can quickly add the Coventry Stakes to his tally on GIVEMETHEBEATBOYS (3:05). Jessica Harrington’s juvenile was an unfancied 12-1 shot ahead of his debut in a maiden at Navan. However, the colt defied those odds by decisively defeating the promising Jalaybee in a fair event. That victory earned him an immediate promotion to Group 3 level in the Marble Hill at the Curragh. And he fully justified that decision with a tenacious neck defeat of fellow improver Noche Magica. The youngster clearly has a bright future so he can triumph for a trainer who excels at this meeting.
PADDINGTON (4:20) can bear his claws for Aidan O’Brien in the red-hot St James's Palace Stakes. The colt clearly needed the run when fifth to City Of Kings on debut in a maiden here in September. The son of Siyouni put that effort to excellent use when hammering Rochester Mike at the Curragh. He raised his game yet again when brushing aside Duke Of Leggagh in the Madrid Handicap at Naas. The three-year-old further boosted his reputation when caning Drumroll in a Curragh Listed event. That performance led the Ballydoyle Ace to target the Irish 2000 Guineas back at the Kildare venue. That proved a very smart move as Paddington overcame a troubled passage to hack up from Cairo. There is plenty more to come from this top-class miler who can claim the notable scalp of Chaldean.
AHORSEWITHNONAME (5:00) can top the charts for Nicky Henderson in the Ascot Stakes. The mare ended her novice hurdle campaign with a superb second to Love Envoi at Cheltenham. She made a successful switch to the Flat when thrashing Auriferous in a strong event at Newbury. The eight-year-old then shrugged off a 6lb hike when showing Master Milliner no mercy at York. The bay ran another stormer when fifth behind Run For Oscar in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket. The daughter of Cacique failed to fire on her first couple of outings back over hurdles last Winter. However, she atoned by decisively defeating Zestful in Listed company back at Cheltenham in April. The likeable stayer remains nicely unexposed on the level so she can prevail under William Buick.
RULING DYNASTY (6:10) can continue Charlie Appleby’s revival in the Copper Horse Handicap. The gelding looked promising when second to the talented Magisterial on debut at Leicester. He confirmed that impression when showing Elshaameq a clean pair of heels at Newcastle. The bay then stayed 1m 3f well when totally dominating King Of The Plains in a Haydock novice. The four-year-old was doing all his best work late so he can deny the top Jump yards up in trip.
ASCOT
2:30 INSPIRAL
3:05 GIVEMETHEBEATBOYS
3:40 COOLANGATTA (NAP)
4:20 PADDINGTON
5:00 AHORSEWITHNONAME
5:35 FRANCESCO CLEMENTE
6:10 RULING DYNASTY
THIRSK
1:50 NARIKO
2:20 TIME'S EYE
2:55 MAGICAL MERLIN
3:30 CLIFFCAKE
4:10 KINTARO
4:45 MERESIDE ANGEL
5:25 READY TO SHINE
STRATFORD
2:40 BOUNDSY BOY
3:15 TITANIUM MOON
3:50 CARRIGEEN KAMPALA
4:30 TOO FRIENDLY
5:10 GO FOX
5:45 DO IT FOR THY SEN
BEVERLEY
5:40 MISTER DAYDREAM
6:15 SUB ROSA
6:45 HOW BIZARRE
7:15 CALIFORNIA GEM
7:45 BELTANE
8:15 URBAN ROAD
8:45 SUN FESTIVAL
BRIGHTON
6:00 JUNGLE FEVER
6:30 SOVERAINE
7:00 BIG TIME MAYBE
7:30 FILM STAR
8:00 LUCKY MASCOT
8:30 CLOUDY ROSE
9:00 RIVAS ROB ROY
