Top commentator Simon Holt previews day one of Royal Ascot and he fancies Barney Roy to turn the tables on Churchill in the St James's Palace Stakes.
Recommended Bets: Simon Holt
2pts win Barney Roy in 4.20 Ascot at best-morning price
1pt win Signs Of Blessing in 3.40 Ascot at best-morning price
1pt win Brother Bear in 3.05 Ascot at best-morning price
1pt win Beyond Conceit in 5.00 Ascot at best-morning price
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Favourite backers should enjoy a good start to Royal Ascot on Tuesday as RIBCHESTER looks clearly the horse to beat in the opening Group One Queen Anne Stakes.
Likely to start odds-on, the Richard Fahey-trained, Godolphin-owned four-year-old ran out an impressive winner of the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last month when slamming old rival Lightning Spear (who has never beaten him) by nearly four lengths with the rest of the field well strung out behind.
In that race, Ribchester showed he was tactically versatile being forced to make the running when his pacemaker Toscanini (again in the line-up) missed the break. His form last season, including victories here in the Jersey Stakes and in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville followed by a fine second to Minding (Lightning Spear third) over the course and distance in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, makes him the standout contender.
Those wary of taking short prices will look elsewhere and, in the Group One St James's Palace Stakes, it might be worth taking a chance on BARNEY ROY giving the Godolphin team a memorable day by reversing the 2000 Guineas placings with likely hot favourite Churchill.
While Aidan O'Brien's colt, who subsequently followed up in the Irish version (from Thunder Snow), had the run of the race that day courtesy of some cleverly-ridden stable-companions before bagging the stands rail, Barney Roy stumbled badly when galloping into the 'Dip' and then rallied gamely to beaten a length out in the centre of the course. But for that bad step it could have been very close.
Of course, Churchill will be a formidable opponent considering his unblemished record since winning the Chesham Stakes here last year, and he always seems to find just enough to win, but the Richard Hannon-trained selection showed a touch of brilliance when taking the Greenham at Newbury in April and could prove the value in an intriguing rematch.
Earlier, SIGNS OF BLESSING is fancied to provide Sunday's Prix De Diane winning jockey Stephane Pasquier with another Group One success in the King's Stand Stakes.
The French-trained six-year-old has improved no end (since being gelded) during the last year or so winning the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville over six-and-half furlongs last August before being swallowed up late on when fourth to The Tin Man in the Champions Sprint at Ascot (6f) on Champions Day when the winning time suggested fast ground conditions. He was also a narrowly beaten third behind Twilight Son in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes here 12 months ago.
It's possible that five furlongs here could be sharp enough for Signs Of Blessing but connections are convinced he is getting quicker, and that certainly looked the case when he gave 11lb and a two length beating to last year's Kings Stand winner Profitable at Deauville (soft) in May. That may have been an outstanding performance.
Marsha, winner of last season's Prix de l'Abbaye, also defied a big penalty when beating Washington DC and Goldream in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket in May and now enjoys a 7lb pull at the weights with both those rivals along with fifth-placed Priceless, subsequent winner of the Temple Stakes at Haydock. Sir Mark Prescott's filly is a major player.
The potential flyer has to be Wesley Ward's Lady Aurelia, a devastating winner of the Queen Mary Stakes (soft) here last year but subsequently less impressive when narrowly winning the six-furlong Prix Morny and when beaten at odds-on (raced far too freely) in the Cheveley Park Stakes.
Frankie Dettori's mount seemed more settled than before when making an encouraging reappearance at Keeneland in April but, taking on older sprinters is always tough for three-year-olds, and a career-best performance will be required.
In the Coventry Stakes, Ward's Belmont Park (on dirt) winner Arawak tries to improve on his trainer's remarkable record of six two-year-old successes at the meeting, but faces a tough opponent in BROTHER BEAR whose wins at Leopardstown and The Curragh (US Navy Flag third, Aqabah fourth) is strong form.
Jessica Harrington's son of Kodiac has won on fast and soft ground and, on ratings, is the one to beat even though there are lots of potential improvers in the line-up.
In the Ascot Stakes, BEYOND CONCEIT could be well handicapped if his progressive hurdles form during the winter can be repeated back on the Flat.
Nicky Henderson's gelding, the winner of a novice hurdle here in February, ran a cracker stepped up to three miles and fitted with a hood (on again here) for the first time when second at the Grand National meeting in April and, in a previous life, was a useful stayer in this sphere finishing fourth off his current mark in the Goodwood Stakes.
Beyond Conceit's jumps rating is no less than 53lb higher than his Flat mark (40-45lb is the normal difference between the two codes) and, over the years, Henderson has regularly targeted staying handicaps on the Flat winning this in 2011 with Veiled.
Preview posted at 1032 BST on 19/06/2017
