Fine Form
Notable Speech RA – 4.25
can follow up his 2000 Guineas win in the St James’s Palace Stakes on the opening day of Royal Ascot.
The unbeaten son of Dubawi was unraced as a juvenile and announced himself on the scene when winning his maiden going away on the all-weather at Kempton at the beginning of the year.
He returned to the Surrey track in February to make it two from two when going from last to first to win comfortably at odds-on.
And he completed a hat-trick of Kempton victories in April to set himself up for a switch to turf and the Rowley Mile when again held up before launching a late charge to come home by two lengths from Valvano.
While at Newmarket the Charlie Appleby-trained colt was something of a surprise winner as he pulled clear in the final furlong to comfortably win by a length and a half at odds of 16-1, there was no fluke about it as the form looks rock-solid.
Rosallion got closest at Headquarters and has since won the Irish Guineas, but although he absolutely remains the apple of Richard Hannon’s eye, there is no real reason why Notable Speech should not come out on top again.
Appleby and William Buick are favoured to enjoy more success in the Coventry Stakes with
Al Qudra RA – 3.05
He warmed up for the big meeting with victory on the all-weather at Lingfield a fortnight ago and can complete a quickfire double.
Charyn did not do a lot wrong in the Lockinge and can exact revenge on his Newbury conqueror Audience in the Queen Anne Stakes.
Robert Havlin sent supposed pacemaker Audience to the front on his first outing at a mile and he built up a sizeable advantage on the rest before Charyn led the chase, but the John and Thady Gosden-trained five-year-old had stolen it by then and came home a length and a quarter to the good.
Audience is unlikely to have it all his own way on this occasion and Charyn can add a deserved Group One to his ultra-consistent resume.
Big Evs RA – 3.45
can make it four from four in the King Charles III Stakes.
Mick Appleby’s stable star made the perfect start to his three-year-old campaign with victory in the Listed Westow Stakes at York, with his only other visit to the Knavesmire for the Nunthorpe being the one disappointment of a brilliant juvenile season that culminated in Breeders’ Cup glory.
Ticking another box is the fact he has Royal Ascot form after winning the Windsor Castle last year.
Ouzo RA – 5.40
can make a successful return to Britain in the Wolferton Stakes.
He dead-heated with Daysofourlives at Ascot in the hands of Saffie Osborne for her father, Jamie, in September, before heading to Meydan over the winter.
He won a pair of valuable handicaps there in January and February and at a price he is worth a go in this company.
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