18:15 Royal Ascot

Saturday 22 June 2024

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

Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions Race)

Off time: 18:15 | Winning time: 4m 48.00s

(7)

Dawn Rising³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 105| CD

3/1

Justified strong support when landing this corresponding race last year, finding extra when tackled final 1f. Has finished down the field on both outings this season but his latest effort at Leopardstown was a step back in the right direction and should be spot on for this.

Form: 1233-75

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(9)

Fasol^t1⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Rossa Ryan| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 101

14/1

Smart performer in France, winning at Angers last year. Sold from Christophe Ferland for €155,000 after his runner-up effort in Prix Gladiateur in September and improved from hurdling debut when second in maiden just under 7 weeks ago. Tongue tie on and he's interesting returned to the Flat.

Form: 741392-

(2)

Magellan Strait^b⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Hugh Horgan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 100

40/1

Caused a 150/1 shock when landing the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh (16.8f, heavy) last September and returned with odds-on success in small-filed Dundalk event. However, he ran poorly faced with firmer ground than previously in Chester Cup just over 6 weeks ago so that tempers enthusiasm.

Form: 0301-10

(5)

Postileo^p⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: James Doyle| T: E Mullins| OR: 105

7/1

Smart performer for Roger Varian last year and following a couple of underwhelming efforts over hurdles, took a step back in the right direction when 9 lengths fourth of 7 to Kyprios in listed race at Navan (14f, good to soft) 8 weeks ago. Cheekpieces back on and hiked up in trip.

Form: 16013-4

(11)

Run For Oscar^v²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: M Guyon| T: C Byrnes| OR: 103| D

4/1

Trouble in running from a poor position tactically prevented him going very close in this last year, finishing with running left into third. Has found both this year's assignments wholly inadequate tests (14f and 16f respectively) and he should be in the mix with headgear reapplied.

Form: 3453-57

(6)

Uxmal^p³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 106

2/1

Bumped into a now borderline very smart rival in listed race at Saint-Cloud last September but capitalised on the drop in grade in straightforward style to double his career tally on return at Killarney (14.2f, soft) just under 6 weeks ago. Hiked up in trip and is 1 of 3 for this yard.

Form: 2/4212-1

(3)

Drawn To Dream⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J A Osborne| OR: 105

10/1

4-y-o filly who developed into a useful performer in Germany last season, winning listed race at Mulheim (19.9f) in September. Shaped well on her first outing since leaving Peter Schiergen after 8 months off when sixth of 16 in Copper Horse Handicap here on Tuesday and now stepped back up in trip.

Form: 66414-6

(4)

Maxident²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: David Egan| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 80

40/1

Heavy-ground novice winner at Leicester last spring and underlined how well he copes with testing ground when second in 2¼m Pontefract handicap on reappearance. Another good effort when third at Goodwood next time, but not at his best on a sounder surface most recently.

Form: 347-236

(8)

Nachtgeist¹⁰⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: H Crouch| T: G & J Moore| OR: 99

66/1

Useful performer at best in Germany, winning a maiden at Baden-Baden for Waldemar Hickst last year. Just modest form over hurdles for Anthony Charlton last season and this looks a stiff task on first start for another new yard.

Form: 33031-3

Non-Runners

(10)

Trueshan³⁰

Weight: 10-0| Age: 8

T: A King J: Hollie Doyle

(12)

Tashkhan²³⁷

Weight: 9-4| Age: 6

T: B Ellison J: Ben Robinson

(13)

Ndaawi⁴

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: G Elliott J: J P Spencer

(14)

Queenstown³⁶

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: A P O'Brien J: R L Moore

(1)

Grand Providence⁴³

Weight: 8-12| Age: 4

T: A M Balding J: Oisin Murphy

Forecasts

Uxmal (2/1), Dawn Rising (3/1), Queenstown (7/2), Run For Oscar (4/1), Postileo (7/1), Trueshan (8/1), Tashkhan (8/1), Drawn To Dream (10/1), Fasol (14/1), Grand Providence (16/1), Magellan Strait (40/1), Maxident (40/1), Nachtgeist (66/1), Ndaawi (100/1)

The traditional Royal Ascot finale is run over the longest distance in the Flat calendar and it's TASHKHAN who gets the nod to come out on top provided he's ready to roll on return. The main threat may emerge from Queenstown, who has taken his form up a level this season and is Aidan O'Brien's sole representative, while last year's first and third in this Dawn Rising and Run For Oscar can do battle for minor honours in what is a truly unique test.