NOTABLE SPEECH (4.25, nb) is fancied to deliver for punters in the St James’s Palace Stakes as day one of Royal Ascot gets underway.
Flat racing’s showpiece event attracts around 300,000 racegoers from across the globe – and there is a multinational feel to its feature top flight contest.
For the first time since 2016, winners of the English, Irish and French 2,000 Guineas go head-to-head in Berkshire.
And Notable Speech can confirm his superiority over Richard Hannon’s miler Rosallion, after their one-two at Newmarket.
Having his first start of turf, my Charlie Appleby-trained selection dished out defeat to the subsequent Curragh champ by unleashing a potent turn of foot.
It was a memorable performance in what looked a strong renewal, with multiple form boosts for Will Buick’s big race mount.
Metropolitan was Notable Speech’s opposite number at Longchamp, but a rating of 114 leaves him with plenty to find – and also-ran Henry Longfollow could be a threat granted a clearer run.
BIG EVS (3.45) is the one to beat as 17 horses go to post for the newly-named King Charles III Stakes over five furlongs.
Mick Appleby’s colt proved he was no fleeting star by starting his three-year-old campaign in style at York under Tom Marquand.
Last year’s Windsor Castle Stakes hero at this meeting was not hard pressed for a clear victory carrying a 5lb penalty.
Drawn in six, the low numbers should dominate with back-to-form filly Believing and race regular Twilight Calls others to note.
Owners Wathnan Racing splashed the cash to assemble a strong team for five days of fast-paced sporting action.
Their go-to jockey James Doyle has chosen to ride £300,000 buy CATALYSE (3.05, Nap) in the Coventry Stakes.
Richard Fahey’s chestnut newcomer was quickly in charge at Hamilton, justifying market confidence at a two-length margin.
Open to any amount of improvement, it is interesting his trainer prepped 2021 Norfolk Stakes hero Perfect Power at the same track.
If running to several pounds of his mark, impressive QIPCO British Champions Day winner Big Rock will lead home this Queen Anne Stakes field.
But Christophe Soumillon’s new recruit was beaten a long way in the Lockinge after a stable switch – and is untried on going with firm in its description.
Dubai Turf winner Facteur Cheval and grey Charyn also have ground queries, so value bet DOLAYLI (2.30) could pick up the pieces.
The third string for France up there on ratings and showed pace at 1m 1f to lead the Prix d’Ispahan with 300m to go.
Only beaten a length, the five-year-old comes into this on an upward curve and his trainer’s outsider Watch Me struck here at the highest level.
Irish raiders dominate the Ascot Stakes market, with Joseph O’Brien’s NUSRET (5.05) a longer shot with Bet365 at 25-1.
But the five-year-old exhibited his battling qualities as a juvenile hurdler and the hustle and bustle of this 2m 3f event should be right up his street.
Rather difficult to place over obstacles with a rating in the 130s, he is just 2lb higher than his last Flat victory in an Ebor trial.
Buick spies a double with BOTANICAL (5.40) in the Wolferton Stakes, while Willie Mullins saddles well-weighted Copper Horse Handicap entrant BELLOCCIO (6.15).
