Royal Ascot 2024 starts with a bang courtesy of the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes as 22/1 Lockinge winner Audience bids to repeat last month’s shock success.
The five-year-old led his rivals a merry dance with an all-the-way victory at Newbury on his first try over a mile, but the stiffer track at Ascot and bigger field will provide a test of his credentials.
Charyn renews rivalries after following Audience home in the Lockinge and attempts to turn the tables in his quest for a maiden victory at the highest level.
The likes of Witch Hunter, Hi Royal, Poker Face and Flight Plan have a lot of ground to find from the Lockinge as does Royal Scotsman but the Gleneagles colt has since got on the scoreboard thanks to a career-best effort in the Diomed Stakes.
There is a three-strong battalion from France as Big Rock – on his second start for new trainer Maurizio Guarnieri – Dubai Turf winner Facteur Cheval and Dolayli bid to scoop the £425,325 top prize in Tuesday’s 14:30.
The latest Queen Anne Stakes odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
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Queen Anne Stakes 2024 verdict
Timeform: CHARYN is still improving, the only one to get anywhere near the well-positioned Audience in the Lockinge, and he’s fancied to turn the tables on that one with this stiffer track in his favour. He’s taken to land an open renewal of the Queen Anne. QEII winner Big Rock and Facteur Cheval represent a strong French challenge, while one to consider at bigger odds is 2023 Britannia winner Docklands, who is building up a very good record over C&D.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Queen Anne Stakes 2024 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Queen Anne Stakes 2024.
Audience
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden Jockey: Robert Havlin Age: 5 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 14
Seen to good advantage as he made all in the Lockinge on his return, racing apart from the rest and looking to have things sewn up a long way from home. Front-running tactics will be harder to pull off successfully here even if he is drawn wide.
***
Big Rock
Trainer: Maurizio Guarnieri Jockey: Christophe Soumillon Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 3
Broke his Group 1 duck with a bang in the QEII here in October, making all from Facteur Cheval, posting the best performance seen by a miler in 2023. Blew the start and unable to lead when well held in the Lockinge on his return and clearly much better than that. Big run expected.
****
Brave Emperor
Trainer: Archie Watson Jockey: Luke Morris Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 8
Has been a real money spinner on the continent for connections, completing a hat-trick in 1m Group 2 in Qatar in February as he held on from Cairo. Not so good at the top level twice since and this will surely be too tough also.
**
Cairo
Trainer: Alice Haynes Jockey: Kieran O’Neill Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 1
Useful sort who was a Group 3 winner for Aidan O’Brien and chased home Brave Emperor in Qatar in February. Decent start for this yard in listed Leopardstown contest a fortnight ago but looks to be biting off more than he can chew here.
**
Charyn
Trainer: Roger Varian Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 9
Has returned an improved performer, winning Doncaster listed race and Group 2 Sandown Mile (beat Poker Face 1¼ lengths) before a fine second to Audience in the Lockinge, pulling well clear of the rest. Stiffer track here will suit (finished well in the St James’s Palace last year) and he’s a player.
*****
Docklands
Trainer: Harry Eustace Jockey: Hayley Turner Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 6
Has quickly developed into a smart performer and has a cracking record over C&D, winning the Britannia last season. Good efforts in listed races this term (again here first occasion) and while this is a big step up in grade it’s not impossible to see him reach the frame at a big price.
***
Dolayli
Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard Jockey: Mickael Barzalona Age: 5 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 5
Smart performer who has won 6 times at up to 1½m and ran well in the Prix d’Ispahan last month, racing keenly and run out of the places approaching the finish. Well-run race over a mile should suit him.
***
Facteur Cheval
Trainer: J. Reynier Jockey: Maxime Guyon Age: 5 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 7
Six-length second to Big Rock in the QEII here in October before running out a determined winner of the 9f Dubai Turf in March, battling well under this rider. That is good form and this consistent sort seems sure to go well again.
****
Flight Plan
Trainer: K. R. Burke Jockey: Daniel Tudhope Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 12
Improver with positive tactics employed, winning 1m Leopardstown Group 2 in September. Well beaten in the Lockinge on return but better at Haydock 10 days ago. Looks up against it in this company.
**
Hi Royal
Trainer: Kevin Ryan Jockey: Ryan Moore Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 10
Placed in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Irish version last season. Promising return at Newmarket but not so good ridden more patiently with cheekpieces back on in the Lockinge. Sterner headgear now tried.
***
Maljoom
Trainer: William Haggas Jockey: Tom Marquand Age: 5 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 13
Quickly made up into a smart miler at 3 yrs, winning the German 2000 Guineas and an unlucky fourth in the St James’s Palace here. Raced just twice in 2 years since, shaping as if retaining at least most of his ability in listed race here last month (raced freely in the lead). Needs to build on that.
***
Poker Face
Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford Jockey: James Doyle Age: 5 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 11
Improved again last year, landing hat-trick in Longchamp Group 2. Good 1¼ lengths second to Charyn giving 3 lb in Sandown Mile on reappearance but not so good in the Lockinge next time. More needed.
***
Royal Scotsman
Trainer: Paul & Oliver Cole Jockey: Non Runner Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 2
Non Runner.
Witch Hunter
Trainer: Richard Hannon Jockey: Sean Levey Age: 5 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 4
Won the Buckingham Palace Handicap here and Group 2 Hungerford at Newbury last season. Not quite hit the same heights so far this term despite grabbing a place in the Lockinge and has plenty on his plate again.
**
Royal Ascot Day 1 Tips
- Matt Chapman’s Royal Ascot tips for Day 1 on Tuesday
- Rory Delargy’s Royal Ascot Day 1 tips for Tuesday
- Ruby Walsh’s horse racing tips for Royal Ascot Day 1 on Tuesday
Read More on Royal Ascot
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest horse racing tips
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