Frankie Dettori will miss the ride on Coral-Eclipse favourite Emily Upjohn after being handed a nine-day careless riding ban by the stewards on a frustrating first day at Royal Ascot.
Three second-placed finishes was the best the Italian could muster and he picked up the hefty suspension when deemed to have caused significant interference to multiple horses aboard royal runner Saga, who finished fifth in the Wolferton Stakes.
Dettori attempted to switch right handed towards the rail in the early stages of the 10-furlong Listed contest and in doing so, he caused James McDonald to quickly snatch up Cadillac. Certain Lad and Notre Belle, who were behind Cadillac, were also hampered in the scrimmaging.
Cadillac finished 15th of the 16 runners, while Notre Belle and Certain Lad were 11th and 13th respectively in the race won by Royal Challenger.
The ban, which runs from July 4 to 12, means John and Thady Gosden, who trained Emily Upjohn to win the Coronation Cup at Epsom on her last start, will not have the services of the popular jockey at Sandown, where she currently heads the market at 9-4 with the race sponsors.
His suspension will finish a day before the three-day July festival at Newmarket begins, where the 52-year-old will hope to fill one of the few significant Group One holes in his glittering CV – riding a July Cup winner – before his retirement at the end of the year.
Dettori came close to riding a winner on Tuesday, with Inspiral a neck behind 33-1 chance Triple Time in the Queen Anne.
He he also filled the second spot aboard St James’s Palace Stakes favourite Chaldean, who was beaten by Paddington, and played second fiddle when Absurde was runner-up to runaway winner Vauban in the concluding Copper Horse Handicap.
Andy Murray suffered a major blow to his Wimbledon hopes after falling to a first-round defeat at the cinch Championships.
The five-time Queen’s Club winner paid for an error-strewn, irritable performance as he slipped to a 6-3 6-1 loss against Alex De Minaur.
Murray had won 10 matches in a row in claiming back-to-back grass-court titles in Surbiton and Nottingham.
But Australian seventh seed De Minaur – the world number 18 – was a major step up in class and probably one of the trickiest first-round opponents Murray could have drawn.
The 24-year-old certainly knew his way around a grass court; he is a former Eastbourne champion and reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last year.
He was simply too strong for 36-year-old Murray, sending him spinning to a defeat which means, barring an unlikely raft of withdrawals, that he will not be seeded at Wimbledon next month.
Murray probably needed to reach the quarter-finals at least to have a chance of being one of the top 32 players at SW19, but now the two-time champion – currently ranked 38 – is at risk of facing one of the big guns in the early rounds.
Murray’s appearance in the singles may have been fleeting, but tournament organisers will at least be relieved he has opted to play doubles with British number one Cameron Norrie; they face Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram on Wednesday evening.
They were breathing a sigh of relief earlier on Tuesday when Carlos Alcaraz survived a scare.
The top seed and world number two insisted he can challenge on the grass this summer despite needing a third-set tie-break to beat French journeyman Arthur Rinderknech.
The 20-year-old was playing only his seventh match on the surface, and his first outside of Wimbledon.
Lucky loser Rinderknech only found out he was playing the Spaniard shortly before midday after fellow Frenchman Arthur Fils, Alcaraz’s scheduled opponent, withdrew from the tournament.
But the 27-year-old almost knocked the headline act out, taking the first set and giving Alcaraz an uncomfortable afternoon before going down 4-6 7-5 7-6 (3) in just over two-and-a-half hours.
Alcaraz, the US Open champion who was playing his first match since losing to Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals at Roland Garros, said: “It has been a really tough match, he has played four or five matches on the grass and this was my first one.
“It was really difficult to adapt my game to the grass. For me it’s tough to play here, but Queen’s is a tournament I really wanted to play.
“I couldn’t play tennis on grass at home but I practised the movement on grass. I practised here a little bit before the tournament and I felt really good, even though it was the first match.
“I would say I’m going to be better in the next round.”
Britain’s Liam Broady was denied a notable win after world number 46 Adrian Mannarino came from a set down to win in three.
Broady, ranked 97 places behind the Frenchman at 143, raced away with the first set but was pegged back in a 1-6 6-4 6-3 defeat.
Fellow Brit Ryan Peniston – who beat Ugo Humbert on Monday – will face second seed Holger Rune in round two after the Danish youngster won 7-6 (4) 7-6 (3) against Maxime Cressy for his first career victory on grass.
High-class hurdler Vauban looks like developing into an equally smart horse on the Flat following his facile victory in the Copper Horse Handicap.
His success completed a treble on the day for jockey Ryan Moore and gave him a 76th winner at Royal Ascot.
Rated 160 over hurdles, the Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old looked thrown in off a mark of 101 in this mile-and-three-quarters contest.
Winner of three top-level races over the sticks for owner Rich Ricci, he had just failed to make it four when chasing home stablemate State Man in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on his last run in April.
Moore immediately kept it simple aboard the well-supported even-money favourite, sending him to the front early and though he looked under pressure turning in, Vauban quickened smartly and in a matter of strides approaching the two-furlong pole he powered away from his rivals.
It was a notable afternoon for Mullins, who started the day arriving in one of the royal carriages and ended it with a one-two in the last, with the Frankie Dettori-ridden Absurde a well-held seven-and-a-half-length runner-up.
“It was a great performance from the horse, he’s improving all the time,” said Mullins.
“What was especially good was how brave Ryan Moore was, that was plan B or C what he did there. He jumped out, saw there was no pace and thought he’d better be more forward than we’d planned to be.
“He took the bull by the horns going around the first bend and then just rolled along the whole race. He stacked them all up behind him and started letting out a bit of speed – seven, six, five furlongs out he just kept winding it up and held some in reserve to win by seven and a half lengths, which is amazing.”
On future plans, the Closutton handler said: “We will have a look at all those races, York could be on the agenda and the Melbourne Cup is where we said we’d like to go and that’s what we’re going to try to do.
“We’ve had a wonderful day and to have a winner on top of that (being in the procession), you cannot ask for any more.”
The first day of Royal Ascot 2023 was supposed to be dominated by Frankie Dettori. But not for the first time he was overshadowed by Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore, as the softly-spoken Ballydoyle handler became the most successful trainer of all time at the showpiece meeting.
In overtaking Sir Michael Stoute – who held the record with 82 winners – O’Brien ensured his own little piece of history. And it is an odds-on chance he will add further lustre to it before the end of the week.
He began the afternoon one behind Stoute and drew level when River Tiber maintained his unbeaten record with a gritty display to win the Coventry Stakes.
Just over an hour later it was Paddington, the Irish Guineas winner, who got the better of the winner of the Newmarket Guineas hero Chaldean and Dettori in the St James’s Palace Stakes that will go down in the history books.
It was also a notable success for the man on top, with Moore riding his 75th winner at the meeting. When the Willie Mullins-trained Vauban strolled to a ridiculously easy win in the concluding Copper Horse Handicap, he moved to just one behind Dettori. Even if Moore does not surpass him this week, it will inevitably come next year when the Italian is enjoying his retirement.
In truth, it was a day of what might have been for Dettori, with Inspiral second in the opening Queen Anne Stakes, Manaccan his intended and well-fancied mount in the King’s Stand a non-runner and Chaldean being beaten.
O’Brien will never be anything other than quick to deflect praise on to others – but for once he could not avoid the headlines being about him.
“I’m delighted for everyone, everyone puts a lot in. Obviously Sir Michael is a very special man, we always looked up to him, always,” said O’Brien.
“We’re in a very privileged position to have these horses and it’s an honour for us to train them.
“For it to happen is amazing, you never think it will happen but now it has I’m delighted for everyone because they put so much in every day. They have to enjoy it because we have to keep the whole thing going and competition is very tough.
“You can never expect one thing, if it works then great but there are so many variables, so many things can fall the wrong way.”
Success does not sit easily on O’Brien’s shoulders, and yet you would think with the amount he has had it would come easily to him. One thing he can never be accused of is taking it for granted.
“Myself and Anne Marie (wife) and all the lads, it’s what we do, it’s enjoyment for us. We love horses and dealing with people, but we appreciate the position we’re in,” he said.
“We’re always looking forward. When we go to bed tonight, today is over and that’s it, that’s the way it is because we’ve horses running every day and we’re responsible for a lot of people. We have to treat the good days and the bad days the same.
“The record is special, especially because it belonged to a special man and a lot of hard work has gone into this to make it happen.
“There’s so many people, I’m always naming them and there’s one I always forget, Pat Keating, who travels them along with TJ (Comerford). Pat travels them day in day out and I never mention him.
“I mention the lads in the yard as much as I can, but there’s still a lot I don’t mention and I’m sorry about that. But I appreciate it every day.”
Royal Champion proved aptly named in giving jockey Jack Mitchell his first Royal Ascot winner, as he stayed on nicely to take the Listed Wolferton Stakes.
From an awkward draw in stall 12, Roger Varian’s charge had to come three wide throughout in the 10-furlong contest, but he was always travelling well.
Mitchell got to the front a little sooner than he may have wanted, yet he had plenty to spare aboard Sheikh Mohammed Obaid’s five-year-old, who was giving the owner a notable 577-1 double on the day, following Triple Time’s 33-1 success in the opening Queen Anne Stakes.
Though Bolshoi Ballet showed plenty of determination, Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien were denied a treble, setting for the runner-up spot, while 3-1 favourite Buckaroo stayed on well to finish third.
Though Frankie Dettori loomed large on the inside on Saga approaching the three-furlong pole, there was to be no royal winner, as he failed to find a gap on the rail when they quickened up and the partnership finished fifth behind the 16-1 winner.
Varian said: “It’s nice to get one on the board the first day and great to have one for Sheikh Obaid, who is a big supporter.
“He’s a bit in and out this horse, but I always knew he had a big one in him. Good to soft ground is his ideal conditions, any quicker or much softer and he doesn’t seem to want to know. I’m delighted for Jack, he’s a huge part of our team.”
Mitchell said: “That’s my first Royal Ascot winner and I seem to have been coming here a long time!
“It’s unbelievable. I can’t thank Sheikh Mohammed Obaid and Roger Varian enough for keeping me on this horse. He’s delivered and given me a great day.”
Royal Champion proved aptly named in giving jockey Jack Mitchell his first Royal Ascot winner, as he stayed on nicely to take the Listed Wolferton Stakes.
From an awkward draw in stall 12, Roger Varian’s charge had to come three wide throughout in the 10-furlong contest, but he was always travelling well.
Mitchell got to the front a little sooner than he may have wanted, yet he had plenty to spare aboard Sheikh Mohammed Obaid’s five-year-old, who was giving the owner a notable 577-1 double on the day, following Triple Time’s 33-1 success in the opening Queen Anne Stakes.
Though Bolshoi Ballet showed plenty of determination, Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien were denied a treble, setting for the runner-up spot, while 3-1 favourite Buckaroo stayed on well to finish third.
Though Frankie Dettori loomed large on the inside on Saga approaching the three-furlong pole, there was to be no royal winner, as he failed to find a gap on the rail when they quickened up and the partnership finished fifth behind the 16-1 winner.
Varian said: “It’s nice to get one on the board the first day and great to have one for Sheikh Obaid, who is a big supporter.
“He’s a bit in and out this horse, but I always knew he had a big one in him. Good to soft ground is his ideal conditions, any quicker or much softer and he doesn’t seem to want to know. I’m delighted for Jack, he’s a huge part of our team.”
Mitchell said: “That’s my first Royal Ascot winner and I seem to have been coming here a long time!
“It’s unbelievable. I can’t thank Sheikh Mohammed Obaid and Roger Varian enough for keeping me on this horse. He’s delivered and given me a great day.”
Katie Boulter’s winning run ended with defeat by China’s Zhu Lin in the first round of the Rothesay Classic in Birmingham.
Boulter celebrated the best achievement of her career in Nottingham on Sunday when she won her first WTA Tour title to reach a new highest ranking of 77.
It cemented her position as British number one in the absence of the injured Emma Raducanu, but Boulter was unable to back it up at Egbaston Priory, where she made the quarter-finals last year.
Boulter certainly had her chances against Zhu, ranked 39, but she was unable to convert enough of them in a 7-5 7-5 defeat.
Boulter began well, opening up a 3-1 lead, but Zhu responded strongly and took her second set point in the 12th game.
The second set was a rollercoaster featuring seven breaks of serve and 17 break points.
Boulter was only able to take three of her 10 opportunities, though, and – after saving two match points at 4-5 – she sent a backhand long on the third, two games later.
Play did not get under way until 1.30pm because of rain, with second seed Jelena Ostapenko battling to a three-set win over Czech teenager Linda Noskova in the opening match.
Carlos Alcaraz insisted he can challenge on the grass this summer despite needing a third-set tie-break to beat French journeyman Arthur Rinderknech at the cinch Championships.
The 20-year-old top seed and world number two was playing only his seventh match on the surface – and his first outside of Wimbledon – at Queen’s Club.
Lucky loser Rinderknech only found out he was playing the Spaniard shortly before midday after fellow Frenchman Arthur Fils, Alcaraz’s scheduled opponent, withdrew from the tournament.
But the 27-year-old almost knocked the headline act out, taking the first set and giving Alcaraz an uncomfortable afternoon before going down 4-6 7-5 7-6 (3) in just over two-and-a-half hours.
Alcaraz, the US Open champion who was playing his first match since losing to Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals at Roland Garros, said: “It has been a really tough match, he has played four or five matches on the grass and this was my first one.
“It was really difficult to adapt my game to the grass. For me it’s tough to play here, but Queen’s is a tournament I really wanted to play.
“I’ve never played a tournament except Wimbledon on grass and I wanted to play here. I watched this tournament on TV and I always thought it’s a really beautiful place to be. The crowd was amazing and the court is unbelievable.
“I couldn’t play tennis on grass at home but I practised the movement on grass. I practised here a little bit before the tournament and I felt really good, even though it was the first match.
“I would say I’m going to be better in the next round.”
Britain’s Liam Broady was denied a notable win after world number 46 Adrian Mannarino came from a set down to win in three.
Broady, ranked 97 places behind the Frenchman at 143, raced away with the first set but was pegged back in a 1-6 6-4 6-3 defeat.
Fellow Brit Ryan Peniston – who beat Ugo Humbert on Monday – will face second seed Holger Rune in round two after the Danish youngster won 7-6 (4) 7-6 (3) against Maxime Cressy for his first career victory on grass.
“It’s going to be fun,” said Rune, who lost to Peniston at Eastbourne last year.
“It’s always a challenge to play a home player. Hopefully the support will be good for both players.”
Nicky Henderson and William Buick teamed up to win the Ascot Stakes with talented dual-purpose mare Ahorsewithnoname.
Runner-up at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, the eight-year-old successfully reverted to the Flat to win at Newbury and York last season before finishing fifth as favourite for the Cesarewitch.
She disappointed in her next couple of races over hurdles, but bounced back to winning ways at Cheltenham in April and was a 7-1 shot switching back to the level at Royal Ascot.
Always travelling well in midfield, Ahorsewithnoname got a dream run up the far rail in the latter stages of the two-and-a-half-mile contest and picked up under strong driving from the champion jockey to score by a length and three-quarters from Calling The Wind.
Bring On The Night, all the rage to go one better than when second in last year’s renewal at 13-8 for Willie Mullins and Ryan Moore, suffered interference and was ultimately well beaten.
Henderson, better known as one of the sport’s leading National Hunt trainers, was winning his second Ascot Stakes having previously struck gold with Veiled in 2011.
“It’s lovely, that’s her last run. I don’t know when her time runs out, she’s in foal to Cracksman and that was always the plan. We had 90 days to run her and it seems to have done her a bit of good!” said the master of Seven Barrows.
“I couldn’t run her on the ground last year, but that rain helped. The first year she was going to go on to hurdling and I didn’t want to risk her whereas now this was going to be her last race anyway. We had nothing to lose.
“This is her last race unless the Galway Hurdle comes into her 90 days, which it doesn’t.”
He added: “There was less pressure today, and I don’t just say that because it’s a Flat race – after all it’s Royal Ascot for goodness sake and a big day in anyone’s life. But it’s not the Champion Hurdle with the pressure you get in that.
“Any race at Cheltenham is very special and any race at Royal Ascot is the same. We love having a go here.
“William gave her a beautiful ride, she had a dream run and the rain last night helped her.”
Mawj has been ruled out of Friday’s Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot due to a setback.
The 1000 Guineas winner was set for a thrilling rematch with Tahiyra, who finished half a length behind her at Newmarket and subsequently went on to win the Irish Guineas at the Curragh.
Just a half-length separated the pair and they were due to cross swords again in the mile Group One, but trainer Saeed bin Suroor has announced the daughter of Exceed And Excel will miss her intended engagement.
He told www.godolphin.com: “Mawj appeared quiet after exercising this morning and produced a dirty scope. She is coughing at moment, so won’t be able to run in the Coronation Stakes.
“It’s disappointing to miss Royal Ascot, but we will give her time to recover and we can hopefully look forward to the rest of the season.”
Aidan O’Brien became the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot history after Paddington ran out a brilliant winner of the St James’s Palace Stakes.
The Ballydoyle handler joined Sir Michael Stoute when River Tiber provided him with an 82nd success courtesy of the Coventry Stakes earlier in the afternoon.
The St James’s Palace was one of the most anticipated races of the week, with 2000 Guineas hero Chaldean and Irish 2,000 Guineas victor Paddington locking horns – and it was the latter who comprehensively came out on top in the hands of Ryan Moore, to put O’Brien out on his own.
Andrew Balding’s Chaldean – the narrow favourite at 13-8 – attempted to make every yard of the running under Frankie Dettori but he was unable to resist the surge of 11-5 chance Paddington in the home straight, with the Siyouni colt pulling three-and-three-quarter lengths clear at the line.
Chaldean clung on to the runner-up spot from the staying-on Charyn, with French Guineas runner-up Isaac Shelby best of the rest in fourth.
Hollie Doyle gave Bradsell a brilliant ride to land a dramatic running of the King’s Stand Stakes, as the Archie Watson-trained colt earned a second Royal Ascot win in as many years.
Bradsell landed the six-furlong Coventry Stakes last term, yet had shown plenty of speed in his recent work and his trainer was able to persuade connections to supplement him for the five-furlong dash.
Doyle, gaining her fourth Royal Ascot success, was positive from the stalls aboard the three-year-old and had Highfield Princess for company throughout, in a race few ever really got into.
But it was not all plain sailing for Doyle and Watson, who had to survive a stewards’ inquiry as Bradsell – sent off a 14-1 chance – drifted left in the final furlong and intimidated 7-4 favourite Highfield Princess and jockey Jason Hart.
After an agonising deliberation by the stewards, it was a sweet success for Watson, who had to endure Dragon Symbol losing the 2021 Commonwealth Cup after an inquiry.
Doyle’s mount had three-quarters of a length to spare at the line, with 50-1 shot Annaf running a huge race to be third for Mick Appleby.
River Tiber gave Aidan O’Brien a record-extending 10th victory in a thrilling Coventry Stakes.
Ryan Moore, odds-on to become top jockey at the Royal meeting, got on the board early and there was no hanging about in the six-furlong dash.
Despite having won his first two starts over shorter trips, punters placed their faith in the Coolmore team, sending the son of Wootton Bassett off the 11-8 favourite for the juvenile Group Two.
He travelled well throughout the race, tracking Frankie Dettori aboard Givemethebeatboys, yet Moore had to get serious two furlongs from home to roust his mount to go past.
With that battle won, the strapping winner had to fend off Army Ethos (20-1), who flew under Hollie Doyle in the final 100 yards, with Bucanero Fuerte and Kevin Stott following him through to be a close-up third. Givemethebeatboys, sold for £1.1 million at the Goffs London Sale on Monday evening, faded into fourth.
O’Brien was registering his 82nd winner at the Royal meeting, equalling Sir Michael Stoute as the most successful trainer at the fixture.
Triple Time narrowly denied Frankie Dettori a dream start to his final appearance at Royal Ascot in the curtain-raising Queen Anne Stakes.
Dettori, who announced in December that he will bring his glittering riding career to an end later this year, has a strong book rides at a meeting he has dominated and looked to have an excellent chance of getting the week off to a winning start aboard top-class filly Inspiral.
After riding a patient race, Dettori delivered the 11-4 chance with what looked a perfectly-timed challenge, but she was came off second best after a tussle with the widely-unconsidered Triple Time.
The Kevin Ryan-trained winner had been off the track since finishing down the field in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein at ParisLongchamp in October and was a 33-1 shot in the hands of Neil Callan.
The son of Frankel raced keenly for much of the one-mile contest and having pulled his way to the front end he looked sure to be claimed by Inspiral, but found plenty once challenged to prevail by a neck.
Light Infantry, who raced prominently, held on beat 7-4 favourite Modern Games to third.
Willie Mullins featured in the carriage procession as the King and Queen both attended day one of Royal Ascot.
It is the first Royal meeting to take place since the death of the late Queen in September.
The King and Queen, whose coronation took place last month, are set to be represented across the week and they wrote a message on the opening page of Tuesday’s official racecard.
It said: “We are delighted to welcome you to Royal Ascot in this, the year of our coronation. Five days of highly competitive racing will again be watched and enjoyed by millions, both here and abroad.
“We are happy in the knowledge that this historic race meeting continues to be a key influence on the global racing and breeding industries.”
The late Queen was famed for her love of racing and barely missed a day of the meeting, enjoying numerous winners at the fixture over the many years of her reign.
A photographic exhibition in the Ascot grandstand celebrates her relationship with the track and Saturday’s sprint feature has been renamed in her honour.
The message, signed by Charles R and Camilla R, added: “The Royal meeting always played a central role in Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s calendar and the naming of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes will be a most appropriate way to mark this lifelong interest.”
Star Sports had favoured white or cream for the Queen’s hat on the first day, while Boylesports had made pink the evens favourite.
The first-named proved correct as the Queen favoured an ivory shade, with the procession receiving its habitual warm reception at the paddock.
Mullins, who was joined by his wife Jackie, was one of a number of racing figures in the procession, with the pair sharing a carriage with Classic-winning trainer Ralph Beckett and his wife Izzi.
The Closutton handler took the Irish champion trainer crown for a 17th time last term, a season which also saw him send out his 4,000th winner and claim the Cheltenham Gold Cup for a third time with Galopin Des Champs.
Lady Bamford, fresh from her Oaks success with homebred Soul Sister earlier in the month, was in the third carriage along with her husband Lord Bamford and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Anti-corruption police in France have raided the headquarters of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games organising committee as part of an investigation into the embezzlement of public funds.
A spokesperson for France’s financial public prosecutor, the PNF, has confirmed to the PA news agency that searches are under way at several sites, including the headquarters of the Games organisers (COJOP) and of SOLIDEO, the public body responsible for building projects linked to the event.
The spokesperson said these searches were part of two preliminary investigations opened by the PNF.
The first was opened in 2017 and was entrusted to the Central Office for the Fight Against Corruption, Financial and Tax Offences with charges of “illegal taking of interests, embezzlement of public funds, favouritism and concealment of favouritism”, targeting several contracts awarded in particular by COJOP.
The second was opened last year and was entrusted to the BRDE, the financial brigade of the Parisian police, with charges of “illegal taking of interests, favouritism and concealment of favouritism relating to several contracts awarded by COJOP and SOLIDEO”.
Paris 2024 organisers had earlier said: “A police search is currently under way at the headquarters of the Organising Committee.
“Paris 2024 is co-operating fully with the investigators to facilitate their investigations.”
The organising committee’s offices are in the Saint-Denis area of the French capital. The Games take place from July 26-August 11 next year.
An International Olympic Committee spokesperson said: “We are aware that there has been a search by police of the Paris 2024 headquarters today.
“We have been informed by Paris 2024 that they are co-operating fully with the authorities in this matter and we would refer you to them for further information.”
Tom Marquand heads into Wednesday’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes with a sense of frustration.
He rides My Prospero in the 10-furlong Group One contest which, in terms of quality, looks to be the cherry on the icing of the Royal Ascot cake.
Trained by William Haggas, My Prospero was beaten a neck in the St James’s Palace Stakes at the meeting last year.
He was also beaten half a length Bay Bridge, who reopposes, in the Champion Stakes over the same Ascot mile and a quarter he faces on Wednesday, a race remembered for being the brilliant Baaeed’s last run and sole defeat in his career.
This is a game of fine margins and after a sharpener over a mile on his return when fourth in the Lockinge at Newbury, Marquand hopes the Iffraj colt can finally get his just rewards.
“He had that run to open him up and, as we expected, the mile was a bit sharp, so going back up to 10 furlongs plays to his strengths,” said the jockey.
“It’s a hot renewal – probably the race of the week and fantastic for racing, but frustrating for us.
“Looking back at the run in the Champion Stakes, the change in tempo at the bend caught us out a bit. Being beaten so narrowly after that you hope you’ve got a good chance of beating them next time.
“It certainly feels like we haven’t had a true chance to show what is exactly there yet, which makes it pretty exciting.”
My Prospero was a nose behind runner-up Adayar in the Champion Stakes and the 2021 Derby winner, who won the Gordon Richards over this distance at Newmarket on his return with some ease, comes into the race with plenty of confidence behind him.
“We have been delighted with how Adayar has come forward since the Gordon Richards Stakes,” trainer Charlie Appleby told www.godolphin.com.
“It’s a very strong renewal but Adayar is in great shape and we are very much looking forward to it. The target this season has been to win a Group One over a mile and a quarter and this will hopefully be his opportunity.”
The Champion Stakes, part of the Qipco British Champions Series, saw Sir Michael Stoute’s Bay Bridge triumphant.
However, he has been narrowly beaten twice subsequently, in the Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp on his return in April and by Luxembourg in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
Consequently, Bay Bridge is joint-third best in the betting with My Prospero, although with plenty of rain falling ahead of the start of the meeting and heavy showers in the forecast, connections return to Ascot with plenty of optimism.
James Savage, Stoute’s assistant trainer, said: “It is what we expected, a very strong renewal. The mile-and-a-quarter division is as strong as I have seen.
“He took a step forward for every run last year. He took a massive step forward from France to the Curragh, running a big race behind Luxembourg, and we expect him to improve again at Ascot. He has trained very well.
“We are still very respectful of the opposition and if Ascot gets the forecast rain that would be positive, but he showed he is effective on good ground at the Curragh.”
Last season’s Irish Champion Stakes hero, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Luxembourg, tops the market.
The lightly-raced four-year-old, the winner of six of his nine starts, made all in the Tattersalls Gold Cup under Ryan Moore.
O’Brien said: “I’m happy with him and he progressed nicely at the Curragh from the first day to the second. I was delighted he made the running which leaves him versatile as to tactics in the race.”
Kenny McPeek sends US Grade One winner Classic Causeway over for his British debut, although he will be the big outsider of the sextet, while Mostahdaf completes the line-up.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the five-year-old was last seen finishing seven lengths adrift of Equinox in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March.
He has fallen short in his three attempts in top-class company but Angus Gold, racing manager to Sheikha Hissa’s Shadwell operation, hopes Jim Crowley’s mount will run with credit now that he drops back in trip.
“It’s a really hot race. He’s done us proud in the winter and won a lot of money in his two runs abroad,” said Gold.
“He’s a horse for Sheikha Hissa and her family to enjoy, he’s very consistent and if he’s good enough to win a Prince of Wales’s, Wednesday will tell us.
“He’s never been short of speed and there had been a train of thought, even before Dubai, that a mile and a quarter would be his best.
“He didn’t finish off his race in Dubai, to the degree people said he doesn’t stay, but equally he was the one horse off the bend who went to have a crack at Equinox and he paid the price for that later on.
“I’m not saying he doesn’t get a mile and a half, but he definitely has the pace to be competitive over a mile and a quarter.
“He’s given us all some great days and it will be fun to see where he fits in. He loves fast ground, though.”
Fred Wright is hoping his first professional win comes in the shape of a British title this week as he takes on Wednesday’s time trial and Sunday’s road race at the national championships.
The 24-year-old has made his name in the past couple of years with a series of plucky breakaway attempts, most notably at the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana, which brought podium finishes. But missing from the palmares is a victory.
If Wright can fix that this week it will be a significant marker, but also a hugely emotional moment for him personally just days after his Bahrain-Victorious team-mate Gino Mader died as a result of injuries suffered in a crash at the Tour de Suisse last week.
When asked about Mader, who was 26, Wright struggled for words.
“I don’t know what to say about it, it’s so difficult,” he said. “It’s been an awful few days, I’ll just leave it at that. It puts so much into perspective. Just even being asked the question gets me emotional.”
And when asked what a victory in Wednesday’s time trial at the Croft Circuit near Darlington would mean to him, Wright again wrestled with his feeling
“I don’t really know at this point,” he said. “I’d be really happy, but I think with everything that’s happened it doesn’t mean f*** all to be honest. Not that it doesn’t mean f*** all, but I just really want to race my bike and enjoy racing my bike. You find a new appreciation for it, I think.”
Wright finished a close second to Ben Swift when Lincoln hosted the nationals in 2021, a race which finished with the steep cobbled climb of Michaelgate.
Sunday’s race around Saltburn-by-the-Sea is an even more challenging one, defined by the 10 ascents of Saltburn Bank and its 22 per cent gradients, but with plenty of climbing in between too.
Geraint Thomas is on a star-studded start list and backed by several Ineos Grenadiers team-mates, while Lewis Askey, Jake Stewart, Simon Carr and Owain Doull will also line up.
Wright will be racing without any team-mates and must use his breakaway expertise if he is to make a mark, but he believes in his form.
“I think with how I’m feeling on the bike at the moment I would say it suits me,” he said. “I’m not really worried. In the Dauphine (earlier this month) on the shorter climbs I felt really comfortable so I should be all right, we shall see.
“I think I just go into it knowing I’ve got a target on my back. Jake, who is a good mate of mine, has already said he’s just going to follow me. He’s got three team-mates in the race and they’re going to sit down and say, ‘Just make sure you’re with Fred’.
“But when the course is as hard as it is, on a flat road you can get followed and waste a lot of energy, but if you go for it uphill the person behind also has to work hard. I think the course being harder hopefully makes it easier to manage the fact I’m more watched.”
Wright’s decision to race the time trial was a late one. Encouraged by the fourth place he took in the time trial at the Dauphine, Wright spied an opportunity after two-time reigning champion Ethan Hayter, his former housemate, was forced to withdraw with a broken collarbone.
“I think I’ve got a good shot at winning it,” he said. “What happened to Ethan, as much as I love him, did influence my decision to ride.
“I wasn’t sure if I was going to do and then when I saw he wasn’t going to do it I thought it’s good to have a hit out.”
Karl Burke’s juveniles are in rip-roaring form and Beautiful Diamond heads a sparking trio of chances for the Middleham trainer in the Queen Mary Stakes.
Having saddled Dramatised to a runaway victory in the Group Two contest last season, he would again appear to have a strong hand as he bids to back up that success in the Group Two feature on day two of Royal Ascot.
Beautiful Diamond made a winning debut, scoring by three and a half lengths at Nottingham a fortnight ago for owner Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum.
Sheikh Rashid’s racing manager Bruce Raymond feels the turnaround from her debut will not be problematic.
He said: “The timing of the race is tight from her run at Nottingham, but really that’s an after-the-race excuse.
“I think there are more worries about going from Ascot to the July Meeting at Newmarket.
“After Ascot, they tend to need a break. Of course there are exceptions, but they can run flat after Ascot.
“She cost a lot of money at the breeze-up sale. She won at Nottingham and obviously Karl expected her to go very close that day.
“She is obviously very useful, but it is a tough race. I’m hoping she will be there in a ding-dong. There are a lot of runners, but I expect her to go very well.”
Burke will also saddle Got To Love A Grey, who has won both her starts for Middleham Park Racing, taking a valuable York Listed race last month, and Lady Pink Rose, who was runner-up on her Catterick debut for Sheikh Juma.
Raymond added: “Had she (Lady Pink Rose) won at Catterick, she would have gone here without any questions. They will be delighted if she is in the first five or six.
“She was in at Ripon and I said she could be a good thing, but Sheikh Juma said he was getting a bit fed up with Ripon – let’s have a look at the Queen Mary. We can easily bring her back to Ripon afterwards. She is in with a squeak.”
Wesley Ward is no stranger to success at Royal Ascot, having saddled 12 winners in the last 14 years, and the US handler saddles Bundchen.
Bundchen was runner-up in an extended four-and-a-half-furlong fillies’ race at Keeneland on the dirt on her sole start in April.
Ward added: “I’m excited for this filly. Unfortunately she was in a race at Keeneland and the race was rained off the grass and on to the dirt that day, so she had to run on a surface she wouldn’t have preferred.
“Now that she’s back on the grass, she has had some phenomenal breezes on the Keeneland grass course and I think she will have a big run.”
Frankie Dettori appeared to hold a great chance with Laurel in the Duke of Cambridge, only for the filly to be scratched.
However, it enables him to resume his partnership with the Ralph Beckett-trained Prosperous Voyage.
Winner of the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom on her last start, the Andrew Rosen- and Marc Chan-owned four-year-old is among the leading contenders for the Group Two mile contest.
Chan’s racing manager Jamie McCalmont said: “It’s a bit different competition to Epsom here, but she didn’t have a hard race there and that should set her up for a good performance. Ralph and the team have been very happy with her since.”
“We’re sorry for the connections of Laurel, but it’s great to have Frankie back on board.”
Rogue Millennium drops back in trip to a mile for the first time in her nine-race career, having gone down by half a length to Free Wind in the Middleton at York over an extended 10 furlongs when last seen.
He trainer Tom Clover feels she will relish the stiff uphill finish and said: “She travelled so well at York. She has got better and her home work has been classy.
“A stiff mile at Ascot, I think its obviously worth a go. She seems in great form and we’re looking forward to running her.
“We don’t go there lightly. If everything falls right and we have a bit of luck, we think she’d have a good chance.”
The other Group Two contest is the Queen’s Vase, where the Dettori-ridden Gregory heads the market, bidding to remain unbeaten after two starts.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt won Goodwood’s Listed Cocked Hat by three lengths, but steps up an additional three furlongs.
“He is a classy performer and we were delighted with his run at Goodwood. He looks a staying type and we feel he will improve over a mile and three-quarters,” said Thady Gosden.
“It is obviously a very competitive race, but he has worked well and we hope he brings his A-game.”
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