For all that Solow has been impressive since being brought back in distance to a mile, he looks the wrong favourite for the Queen Anne Stakes, a fascinating and star-packed race to open this Royal Ascot. We have probably not seen the best of Freddy Head’s grey and he will surely do well here, but this is a much tougher test than those he has met in his two Group Ones so far.
Hong Kong’s Able Friend is a big beast with a potent turn of foot and the pin hovered over him for a lengthy period. But few horses can run to their best form having travelled so far and this race being run on a straight mile may not suit him as he has been performing on a round course his whole life.
Straight miles hold no fears for Night Of Thunder (2.30), who won last year’s 2,000 Guineas, beating Kingman and Australia, as well as this year’s Lockinge in such circumstances. On Ascot’s straight mile he looked a most unlucky loser on Champions’ Day.
Night Of Thunder has sometimes looked a bit short of pace when racing round a bend but take out the turns and he has time to build up a head of steam. He hit it off with James Doyle when they first paired up at Newbury last month and they look overpriced at 5-1.
3.05 From the stable that won this three years ago, Round Two seems a most impressive animal. Having made a winning debut over six furlongs, Jim Bolger’s colt was stepped back to five for a Listed race last time and briefly looked like being collared before powering away from his rivals.
3.40 Naturally a case can be made for many of these, including Sole Power, who seeks a hat-trick of wins in the race and gets his ground. The French colt Rangali may run above his odds but Muthmir appeals as the winner, being not far short of a rocket when things go right. A strong pace over this uphill five could be close to his ideal.
4.20 Make Believe had the run of the French Guineas and Consort may be a bigger danger to the favourite, Gleneagles. But danger is all he is because Gleneagles overcame trouble in running to win the Irish Guineas and should be extremely hard to beat in this smaller field.
5.00 Lycidas warmed up for this by landing the same York handicap which was a springboard for Well Sharp, who took this two years ago. Lightly raced for a six-year-old, Lycidas still has scope for better and seems a proper stayer.
5.35 Beaten only by Round Two at The Curragh last time, Washington DC may give Aidan O’Brien a long overdue first success in this race.
