Leading hopes for Royal Ascot two-year-old races

Coventry Stakes

Aidan O'Brien is the leading trainer having won the Group Two on eight occasions, including in three of the last six years and he's saddled a second and a third in two of the years he hasn't won it.

Two of those last three winners won the Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh on their preceding start, a race won this year by ante-post favourite Brother Bear. As well as the O'Brien winners, the Marble Hill has also produced Round Two (disappointing in the Coventry but sent off the 9/4 favourite) and 2014 runner-up Capella Sansevero along with 2013 Norfolk runner-up Coach House.

Al Shaqab Racing won with John Quinn's The Wow Signal in 2014 as well as seeing Mehmas and Eltezam place in the last two seasons. The latter two were trained by Richard Hannon whose father won the race three times, including with Canford Cliffs and Strong Suit.

Brother Bear - Jessica Harrington (Click on the horse name for race record and video replays) 

The Kodiac colt is the first foal of an unraced dam who fetched 125,000 guineas as a yearling. Impressive winner on debut at Leopardstown, after which Harrington revealed: "His homework has always been smart and he is up there with the best of my two-year-olds. He floated across that ground."

The second and third both won next time with the O'Brien trained runner-up Sioux Nation re-opposing in the Marble Hill Stakes where his margin of defeat was extended by six lengths.

Denaar - Richard Hannon

Acclamation colt whose sales price rose from 34,000 euros as a foal to 300,000 guineas at this year's breeze-ups. A half-brother to the useful Majeed, he was odds-on for his debut in a Chelmsford novice, the form of which is modest, and duly stepped up on that in a conditions race at Newbury. 

That contest carried the name of Al Shaqab's Olympic Glory and had been won the previous season by the same connections' Mehmas and Frankie Dettori drew comparisons between that winner and Denaar saying: "Denaar is a brave little horse and reminds me very much of Mehmas. He sticks his head out. He coped with the ground but it tested his stamina big time. I think he's going to end up in the Coventry."

Declarationofpeace - Aidan O'Brien

It was hard enough to know how O'Brien would roll the dice for the Derby let alone for a race like the Coventry with entries still awaited. War Front colt Declarationofpeace is the shortest of his contenders in the ante-post market and the Marble Hill had been mentioned as a target for him following his win at Dundalk in May so it would be no surprise to see him emerge as the yard's leading contender despite missing that Listed race.

That all-weather victory was achieved at odds of just 1/4 but the six length second did win a Navan maiden in good style next time. Declarationofpeace had only finished third as the 13/8 favourite on debut but raced keenly without cover; the winner is unraced since while the second finished fourth in a maiden won by the well-regarded Commander Grigio.

Queen Mary Stakes

American Wesley Ward has been the dominant force in recent seasons, winning the last two renewals with Acapulco and Lady Aurelia having first struck with Jealous Again in 2009. He also saddled the second home in 2013.

Ward is expecting a big run from Happy Like A Fool who worked in company with Coventry Stakes possible Arawak before shipping.

"Arawak was really good against Happy Like a Fool," he said of the Uncle Mo colt. "Happy Like a Fool is pointed for the Queen Mary. 

"I think she's going to have an unbelievable chance; her last few works have been monstrous. Arawak has a bigger longer stride, kind of like Bound for Nowhere, and he's going to be in the Coventry. He had a nice work, keeping up with a fast, fast filly like her."

High praise indeed for the homebred daughter of Distorted Humor who forced the pace with a stablemate on her debut on the dirt at Keeneland before asserting to win by four lengths.

Out Of The Flames - Richard Hannon

Tiggy Wiggy went close for the Hannons in 2014 and this first foal of a five furlong juvenile winner looks capable of making her presence felt in pattern company. Purchased for 190,000 guineas at the breeze-ups, she looked all over the winner on debut at Ascot only to be headed near the finish. The winner hasn't been seen out since but the runner-up duly won at odds-on next time, with the front two clear of the field, with the fifth also successful.

Out Of The Flames made relatively short work of winning her maiden at Windsor next time, winning by three lengths from a rival who went on to run respectably in Listed company in France, and she looks capable of making the step up in grade.

Norfolk Stakes

No one yard has dominated this race but the market has proved a decent guide with five of the last six winners returned at 8/1 or under albeit without a favourite among them.

Buridan - Richard Hannon

McErin, trained by Ward, currently heads the ante-post markets and his handler did send out No Nay Never to win in 2013 but Hannon saddled the 2014 winner and the second and third in 2015 and Buridan, another expensive breeze-up purchase at 360,000 euros, could be an interesting contender if taking his chance.

He was all the rage ahead of his debut at Windsor on Monday but only scrambled home and that was all after his main market rival had been taken out of the race in mid-afternoon. However, there are reasons for believing that he can step up on the bare form as he jumped and travelled really well and found enough for pressure.

Entitled to come on for the run and the experience, a drop back to the minimum trip could well be in order as Hannon suggested on his website: "He is a lovely colt who we have really liked ever since he arrived in the stable. He did well to win on the first time of asking and will come on plenty for the run. He has a great disposition and an air of class about him. I will see about Ascot, that decision will be made this week."

Murillo - Aidan O'Brien

The Scat Daddy colt could also be in the reckoning for the Coventry Stakes but O'Brien but it would be no surprise to see him line up here after a deeply impressive victory at the Curragh.

He offered little on his racecourse bow but he banished memories of that run at Tipperary, leaving Seamie Heffernan in no doubt that he'd be among the stable's Royal Ascot team.

His sire has enjoyed plenty of success at the meeting in recent years with the likes of Acapulco, No Nay Never, Lady Aurelia and Caravaggio and it would be no surprise if he were able to continue the run, no matter his target.

Albany Stakes

Only established in 2002, Mick Channon is the leading trainer having won the six furlong Group Two with Silca's Gift, Nijoom Dubai and Samitar.

Richard Hannon and Aidan O'Brien have won the last two renewals and are again likely to be well represented.

Short Call - Mick Channon

Channon may not have the strength in depth of years gone by but he did send out Malabar to be a close fourth at 25/1 in the 2014 renewal and he's earmarked this race as a likely target for Short Call.

A daughter of Kodiac out of a juvenile winner, she's certainly bred to make an impression this season and she did just that at the first time of asking at Goodwood, quickening clear from her two rivals in fine style.

The runner-up, beaten almost three lengths, gave the form a major boost when winning a novice race at Sandown next time and Short Call looks an exciting prospect who could fly under the radar.

Alpha Centauri - Jessica Harrington

Alpha Centauri certainly hasn't flown under the radar and she is the shortest priced favourite for the juvenile races in the ante-post markets. 

A daughter of Mastercraftsman, she has beaten Actress into second by two lengths and five lengths on her two starts to date and has made a big impression on jockey Colm O'Donoghue who said: "She's such a big girl and she covers so much ground that everything feels like slow-motion to her."

September - Aidan O'Brien

She has a fascinating pedigree being by Japanese sensation (both on and off the course) Deep Impact out of Oaks winner Peeping Fawn and she made a pretty sensational start to her career at Leopardstown.

Seamie Heffernan pointed out that she was the first of the yard's juveniles to win on debut this season which can only be a decent pointer to her ability and the way that she stretched clear of her rivals to win by over five lengths certainly pointed to her being very smart.

That race was over seven furlongs so the drop back in trip could be an issue but the turn of foot that she showed suggests that it won't be.