15:05 Royal Ascot

Wednesday 19 June 2024

All14:3015:0515:4516:2517:0517:4018:15

Queen's Vase (Group 2)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 3m 0.57s

(7)

Birdman³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 101

13/2

Debut winner at Cork in April (had Highbury back in third) and showed much improved form to maintain unbeaten record in 4-runner listed race at Navan (13f, good) last month, leading entering final 1f. Has already outstayed his pedigree and looks capable of better still.

Form: 11

(2)

Highbury³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 98

3/1

Galileo colt who was much improved from debut when getting off the mark by a wide margin in a Leopardstown maiden (12f, good to firm) last month. That form is proving extremely strong (all 6 that have run since either won or placed next time), so he looks ready for this step up in class.

Form: 31

(5)

Illinois³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 106| BF

7/4

Took a step forward from debut when third in a French Group 1 (strong form) last year. Stepped up on reappearance despite looking unsuited by the track/ground when runner-up to subsequent Derby-second Ambiente Friendly at Lingfield (11.6f, good to firm) last time and there should be more to come.

Form: 13-32

(9)

Imperial Sovereign³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 95

28/1

Debut winner at Newcastle and shaped well when runner-up in a Kempton novice (11f) in March, just failing having missed the break. Ran about as well as could have been expected when sixth in listed Derby Trial at Lingfield (11.6f, good to firm) last month so he's likely to come up short.

Form: 1-26

(4)

Lavender Hill Mob²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Callum Shepherd| T: M L W Bell| OR: 96

50/1

Found improvement when taking 6-runner handicap at Goodwood last month and seemed to excel himself in better company when 3¾ lengths fourth of 7 to Meydaan in listed race at same track (11.2f, good to firm) 3 weeks later. That form may not be reliable, and he's a big outsider in this grade.

Form: 133914

(8)

Meydaan²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 104

5/1

Progressed with each start thus far, franking the form of the Lingfield Derby Trial when winning 7-runner listed race at Goodwood (11.2f, good to firm) last month by neck from Space Legend, leading on bridle 2f out (better placed than runner-up). Likely he has more to offer with Buick booked.

Form: 1-531

(12)

Mina Rashid^h⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 89

20/1

Promise in a Nottingham novice on debut and confirmed that promise at the second attempt fitted with a hood when winning 5-runner maiden at Chester (12.3f, good to firm) just under 6 weeks ago, benefiting from a bit of a pace collapse over a much longer trip. Looks a stayer in the making.

Form: 36-1

(1)

Mr Hampstead¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: David Egan| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 86

125/1

Fairly useful form when placed on all 3 starts for Roger Varian but was out of his depth when finishing tailed off in the Derby at Epsom (12f, good to soft) earlier this month. Faces another stiff task.

Form: 2-430

(11)

Pappano²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: K Shoemark| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 90

66/1

Off the mark at the second attempt at Wolverhampton (12.2f) in April but struggled to make an impact in the Chester Vase and a listed event at Goodwood on his last couple of outings. Clearly well regarded but seemingly needs his sights lowering for now.

Form: 3-165

(3)

See The Green²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 74

100/1

Very green on debut at Wolverhampton and took a big step forward when finishing runner-up at Ripon next time. Probably didn't need to reproduce that form to get off the mark in 7-runner maiden at Catterick (12.1f, soft) just under 4 weeks ago but this a completely different kettle of fish.

Form: 421

(10)

The Equator²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Declan McDonogh| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 101

17/2

Confirmed debut promise on return when winning 9-runner maiden at Leopardstown (10f, heavy) in April. Still very much a work in progress but shaped with plenty of encouragement when fourth in a Group 3 at the Curragh last month and he looks all about stamina. 1 of 4 for Aidan O'Brien.

Form: 4-14

Non-Runners

(6)

Grosvenor Square⁴²

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: A P O'Brien J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Illinois (7/4), Highbury (3/1), Meydaan (5/1), Birdman (13/2), Grosvenor Square (7/1), The Equator (17/2), Mina Rashid (20/1), Imperial Sovereign (28/1), Lavender Hill Mob (50/1), Pappano (66/1), See The Green (100/1), Mr Hampstead (125/1)

Plenty of lightly-raced budding stayers tackling this sort of test for the first time line up and it's HIGHBURY who looks the most persuasive option having bolted up in a Leopardstown maiden (strong form) last month. He can provide Aidan O'Brien with an eighth success in this race at the expense of stablemate Illinois, who found only subsequent Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly too strong last time, while Birdman, who beat the selection on debut, rounds off the shortlist.