Queen Anne Stakes tips and runners guide to Ascot 2.30
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Royal Ascot 2023 kicks off with a bang courtesy of a red-hot renewal of the Queen Anne Stakes.
Inspiral, the winner of last season’s Coronation Stakes, makes her reappearance as Frankie Dettori bids to bag a winner in his final year before retiring from the saddle.
Modern Games leads the charge for the boys after victory in last month’s Lockinge Stakes but the next two home, Chindit and Mutasaabeq, are among a stack of runners renewing rivalries from Newbury.
The latest Queen Anne Stakes odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Queen Anne Stakes tips
Timeform: INSPIRAL showed her capability when fresh with a scintillating display in the Coronation Stakes on her 2022 reappearance and will take some stopping if returning in similar form. Modern Games had a few of these rivals behind him in the Lockinge and is the obvious big threat. The talented Cash should be suited by the return to 1m and is one who could go well at a big price.
Queen Anne Stakes runners
Angel Bleu
Trainer: Ralph Beckett Jockey: Hector Crouch Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 5
Dual Group 1 winner as a juvenile. First success since when edging ahead late on in 7f Haydock listed race last month but more will be required if he’s to play a prominent role here.
**
Berkshire Shadow
Trainer: Andrew Balding Jockey: Oisin Murphy Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 1
Coventry winner at 2021 Royal Ascot. Found life tough in his 3-y-o campaign but back to form with a bang this year, winning twice on AW before very good 2½ lengths third (Chindit second) of 12 to Modern Games in Lockinge at Newbury last month.
***
Cash
Trainer: David Simcock Jockey: Tom Marquand Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 9
Lightly-raced 4-y-o who chased home Chindit in C&D listed race on reappearance and backed that up when 5¾ lengths fourth of 6 to Hukum in Brigadier Gerard at Sandown (1¼m, good) 3 weeks later, fading late on as though this drop back to 1m should suit. Could outrun big odds.
***
Chindit
Trainer: Richard Hannon Jockey: Pat Dobbs Age: 5 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 12
Landed the Group 2 Summer Mile here (round course) last year and added a C&D listed race to his tally on his reappearance. Good 1½ lengths second of 12 to Modern Games in Lockinge at Newbury since. Fourth in this last year and should be in the shake-up again.
***
Light Infantry
Trainer: David Simcock Jockey: Jamie Spencer Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 2
Runner-up twice at Group 1 level in France last summer, including to Inspiral in Prix Jacques le Marois. Behind a couple of these rivals in Britain on first 2 starts this year but responded well to a change of tactics (went from the front) when head second in 9f Longchamp Group 1 22 days ago.
***
Lusail
Trainer: Richard Hannon Jockey: Ryan Moore Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 3
Dual Group 2 winner over 6f as a juvenile. Has drawn a blank since but he did go very close in St James’s Palace at last year’s Royal meeting. Behind a few of these rivals when a creditable sixth in Lockinge latest. Likely he’ll find a few too strong again.
**
Modern Games
Trainer: Charlie Appleby Jockey: William Buick Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 8
Gained a first domestic Group 1, and fifth overall, when proving 1½ lengths too strong for Chindit and 4 more of today’s rivals in Lockinge at Newbury (1m, good to firm) last month. Another bold bid looks assured from this most consistent of top-level performers.
****
Mutasaabeq
Trainer: Charles Hills Jockey: Jim Crowley Age: 5 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 10
Very smart performances with blinkers added when making all in 1m Group 2 events at Newmarket last September and on reappearance in April (Native Trail 3 lengths second). Found it harder trying to dominate a bigger field when only respectable fifth of 12 to Modern Games in Lockinge at Newbury since.
***
Native Trail
Trainer: Charlie Appleby Jockey: James Doyle Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 4
Last year’s Irish Guineas winner but he ended his 3-y-o campaign with a disappointing effort in the International at York and made no more than a satisfactory return from wind surgery when 3 lengths second to Mutasaabeq in 1m Newmarket Group 2 last month. Needs to recapture his very best.
***
Pogo
Trainer: Charles Hills Jockey: Kieran Shoemark Age: 7 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 7
Smart horse who landed a trio of Group events over 7f in Britain in 2022. However, well below his best in Saudi and Dubai earlier this year and even a sharp 1m seemed to stretch him at last year’s Breeders’ Cup. Others are preferred.
**
Triple Time
Trainer: Kevin Ryan Jockey: Neil Callan Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 11
Advanced his form again when winning a 1m Haydock Group 3 last September on his belated reappearance. Excuses at Longchamp on his only subsequent 3-y-o start and remains unexposed, but this is a tough ask.
**
Inspiral
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden Jockey: Frankie Dettori Age: 4 Weight: 8st 13lbs Draw: 6
Brilliant winner of Coronation at this meeting on her 2022 reappearance and underlined what a top-class miler she is on her day with victory in Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville last August. Blew the start when only fifth in QEII over C&D on final outing but the one to beat if back to her best.
