17:35 Royal Ascot

Saturday 24 June 2017

All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:35

Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions Race)

Off time: 17:38 | Winning time: 4m 49.09s

(5)

Winning Story^p⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: S De Sousa| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 108

10/1

Exciting prospect who broke the track record on AW Championships Final's Day. Struggled in a Group 3 last time and this no easy task off top-weight but he will enjoy this drop in class at least.

Form: 361-215

(4)

First Mohican^h⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: Josephine Gordon| T: A King| OR: 98

40/1

Runner-up in the Cesarewitch last season but often spoils his chances with slow starts. Drawn well here so won't want to give up a good position with similar antics here and gives the impression he has a race such as this in him. Can't be ruled out with jumps trainers having such a good record in this contest.

Form: 82-3170

(20)

Fun Mac^t⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: H Morrison| OR: 103

14/1

Won a Class 2 conditions race at Salisbury in September and made a very encouraging return at Chester last time out overcoming a poor draw. Will need to do the same here but entitled to come on for that run and can't be ruled out with the Champion Jockey in the saddle.

Form: 01303-3

(3)

Oriental Fox²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 102| CD

10/1

Very smart winner of this back in 2015, making easy work of a smart field and certainly not disgraced when placing in this contest again last year. No surprise to see him run well again but he does look a little vulnerable for win purposes.

Form: 0195-25

(10)

Arthur Mc Bride^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Thomas Brown| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 83

66/1

Winner at Goodwood towards the end of last season but looks well out of his depth in this company. No guarentee to get an easy lead here and needs a huge amount of improvement.

Form: 214-743

(18)

Excellent Result^p³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: S Donohoe| T: R Spencer| OR: 92| C

66/1

Group 2 winner on the Flat for Godolphin back in 2014 but seems to have lost a fair amount of ability since then. Scored twice over hurdles for his new yard but up against it back in this sphere. Yard had a winner here earlier in the week.

Form: 0705/0-4

(11)

Guard Of Honour^b⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: P Cosgrave| T: George Baker| OR: 89

80/1

Has looked ineffective on two attempts on the AW this winter but formerly useful on turf in 2015 with a firm ground Bath win followed by a couple of smart efforts over the Irish Sea. Built on his comeback run at Dundalk with a fair effort at Newbury and not without a place chance if he settles better early in the race.

Form: 22/46-54

(1)

Medburn Cutler^p¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: J F Egan| T: P Henderson| OR: 76

100/1

Struggling in class 3 & 4 handicaps and unlikely to make any sort of dent at this level on these terms.

Form: 372-422

(15)

Qewy²³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 110

3/1

Smart hurdler who placed in Grade 2 company for John Ferguson back in 2015. Group 3 winner in Australia since joining this yard on the Flat and ran an excellent race in the Melbourne Cup when he finished fourth. Leading player here on that form.

Form: 50/2214-

(13)

Thomas Hobson⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: M Harley| T: W P Mullins| OR: 100| C

2/1

Formerly smart for John Gosden and made into a useful hurdler for Willie Mullins last season. Ran out an excellent winner of the Ascot Stakes here earlier in the week on first Flat start for this yard, benefiting from a fine Ryan Moore ride. Doesn't get the assistance of that jockey here but should be thereabouts if he returns in the same form.

Form: 11211/1

(14)

His Dream⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Spencer| T: J & A O'Neill

66/1

Won a bumper on final start before joining this yard last month but this is quite some step up in class against seasoned performers. Best watched.

Form:

(6)

Motherland²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 103

16/1

Joined this yard from the Aidan O'Brien yard and won two of his three starts for this trainer in 2016. Well beaten by Order Of St George last time when he had the run of things on the front end but no rival of that quality in here and there's still more to come. Each-way player.

Form: 6311-23

(8)

October Storm³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: G Lee| T: M R Channon| OR: 76| BF

33/1

Hit and miss performer who was a beaten short-priced favourite at Goodwood last time. This is a big step up in class and would appear well out of his depth here.

Form: 5743-13

(19)

Paris Protocol^p1¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: P J Smullen| T: R Hannon| OR: 88

66/1

Not won since 2015 but improved a little for the step up in trip on his first two starts of this season. Well beaten last time though and this is much tougher.

Form: 660-335

(7)

Us Army Ranger²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 112

7/2

Looked a very smart prospect when runner-up in last year's Derby following a win in the Chester Vase but he hasn't won since and gives the impression he's not giving everything in the finish. Finished last of 10 at Epsom earlier in the month and may struggle here with stamina also called into question.

Form: 428-320

(12)

Soiesauvage^h1,t1⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: T E Whelan| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 70

125/1

Winner in France but showed nothing for the Gary Moore yard over both hurdles and a claimer on the Flat. First-time hood and first-time tongue-tie need to work miracles if she is to get involved here.

Form: 21-4

Non-Runners

(16)

Big Thunder²²⁷

Weight: 9-2| Age: 7

T: Micky Hammond J: A Kirby

(9)

Grumeti³⁷

Weight: 9-2| Age: 9

T: A King J: F Sweeney

(2)

Montaly⁴⁵

Weight: 9-2| Age: 6

T: A M Balding J: Oisin Murphy

(17)

Vent De Force³⁰

Weight: 9-2| Age: 6

T: H Morrison J: James Doyle

Forecasts

Thomas Hobson (2/1), Qewy (3/1), Us Army Ranger (7/2), Oriental Fox (10/1), Winning Story (10/1), Montaly (10/1), Fun Mac (14/1), Vent De Force (14/1), Motherland (16/1), October Storm (33/1), First Mohican (40/1), Grumeti (50/1), Big Thunder (50/1), Arthur Mc Bride (66/1), His Dream (66/1), Paris Protocol (66/1), Excellent Result (66/1), Guard Of Honour (80/1), Medburn Cutler (100/1), Soiesauvage (125/1)

QEWY is a fascinating runner after his expeditions down-under. His Melbourne Cup fourth is amongst the best form on offer and he's narrowly preferred to Tuesday's Royal Ascot winner Thomas Hobson, who may just find this run coming too soon. Motherland is entirely unexposed and could go well for the Joseph O'Brien yard.