15:20 Ascot

Saturday 19 October 2019

All13:3514:1014:4515:2016:0016:40

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1) (Sponsored By Qipco) (Str)

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 1m 44.88s

(9)

Accidental Agent^p⁵⁶

50/1

C&D Queen Anne winner in 2018 but hasn't won since and he's become unreliable from the stalls, refusing to race here earlier in the campaign. First start since wind surgery and comes with risks attached.

Form: 3R4823

(13)

Benbatl^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 126| C| D

7/2

Won the Group 1 Dubai Turf last season and put in a huge run when winning a Newmarket Group 2 last time out, making all in impressive fashion. However, yet to show his best form on this sort of ground.

Form: 01512-1

(11)

Century Dream^t²⁰³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: W Buick| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 114| CD

22/1

Ran some fair races in defeat at Meydan earlier this year. However, yet to show he's up to this level and others preferred.

Form: 4D3-247

(16)

Imaging¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld| OR: 107| BF| D

28/1

Group 3 winner at Naas earlier in the campaign before fair efforts in both a German Group 2 and a Tipperary Group 3 last time. Has more on his plate at this level though.

Form: 52-1122

(15)

Lord Glitters⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 117| CD

11/2

Saves his best for this venue, winning the Balmoral Handicap on this card in 2017 and gained Group 1 success in the Queen Anne this year. Unsuited by the step up in trip in the Juddmonte last time and respected back here.

Form: 6-30156

(3)

Raising Sand¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Nicola Currie| T: J A Osborne| OR: 109| CD

80/1

A four-time winner here including two wins over this trip. Failed to show up here last time out when well beaten but it was a promising effort at Haydock last month when tackling Group company; needs more to mix it with these.

Form: 6-43130

(8)

Safe Voyage¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Spencer| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 113| BF

40/1

Progressed from handicap company to win Listed/Group 3 races at Haydock earlier in the campaign. While not disgraced subsequently, this is his toughest test yet and he struggled here in handicap company last year.

Form: 111334

(10)

The Revenant^h1¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: P C Boudot| T: F Graffard| D

4/1

In the form of his life at present and very impressive when getting the better of a useful sort in Group 2 company at Longchamp last time out. Proven with cut in the ground and well worth a crack at this level.

Form: 11-1111

(5)

Happy Power²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 114| D

25/1

Listed winner at York in June but hasn't looked up to Group company in four subsequent starts. This is his toughest test yet and others preferred.

Form: 317435

(12)

King Of Change³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 115| D

12/1

Put in a huge run when runner-up in the 2,000 Guineas and won a Listed race well on his first run since at Sandown last month. Still completely unexposed but unproven on this ground.

Form: 22-121

(14)

King Of Comedy^p1²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 118| BF| D

9/1

Looked a shade unlucky when runner-up in the St James's Palace Stakes. Ran okay when beaten 2L in the Juddmonte but no match for Benbatl at Newmarket last time out. Ran okay on sole previous run on soft. Cheekpieces on.

Form: 2-11242

(1)

Magna Grecia¹⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 118| BF| D

13/2

Vertem Futurity Trophy winner as a juvenile and returned with an impressive Guineas success at Newmarket. Couldn't reproduce that performance in the Irish equivalent but had excuses (reportedly injured) and certainly worth giving another chance to.

Form: 121-15

(2)

Mohaather¹⁸⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Jim Crowley| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 114

16/1

Low mileage making just his fifth start here but has already landed two Group 3 races. Could be even better over this longer trip and proven with some cut in the ground; interesting contender.

Form: 211-1

(4)

Move Swiftly^p1⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 112| CD

33/1

Put up a huge effort when winning the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes over C&D. Nowhere near that level when well beaten at Deauville last time but respected back here in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 1222-16

(7)

Phoenix Of Spain⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: C Hills| OR: 118| D

20/1

Only narrowly denied by Magna Grecia in a Doncaster Group 1 at the end of last season but reversed form with that rival when an impressive Irish Guineas winner. However, seems at his best on quick ground.

Form: 22-1665

(6)

Veracious^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Watson| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 113| D

20/1

Group 1 winner of the Falmouth at Newmarket and that form has been franked by the runner-up landing another Group 1 since. Ran well in the Duke Of Cambridge and another respectable effort last time back at Newmarket; each-way claims.

Form: 6-43412

Forecasts

Benbatl (7/2), The Revenant (4/1), Lord Glitters (11/2), Magna Grecia (13/2), King Of Comedy (9/1), King Of Change (12/1), Mohaather (16/1), Veracious (20/1), Phoenix Of Spain (20/1), Century Dream (22/1), Happy Power (25/1), Imaging (28/1), Move Swiftly (33/1), Safe Voyage (40/1), Accidental Agent (50/1), Raising Sand (80/1)

A wide-open renewal of this contest with a host of Group 1 winners bidding for glory but it might be worth taking a chance on the progressive MOVE SWIFTLY who put a career best effort in at this venue earlier in the campaign. She's been freshened up since and she's well worth a crack at this level for a yard that do well with their fillies. French raider The Revenant is an obvious danger while Magna Grecia won the Guineas in fine fashion earlier in the campaign and is another threat if back at that level of form.