Five horses to look out for at Royal Ascot

King Of Change – Queen Anne Stakes

King Of Change proved to be the surprise package in last year’s 2000 Guineas, improving by the best part of two stone to finish runner-up at Newmarket having won a Nottingham minor event on his previous outing. He showed that performance was no fluke when winning a Sandown listed race on his return from a five-month break, displaying a good turn of foot, and then he took another step forward to win the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day, scoring with a degree of authority and producing one of the best efforts in the division all season

The mile division is not a strong one and King of Change, who remains fairly unexposed after only six starts, will take all the beating.

Runner-up in the 2000 Guineas back in May, KING OF CHANGE strikes under @LeveySean to land the (Group 1) Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at @Ascot for @rhannonracing!

📽️ @itvracing pic.twitter.com/VdGpqS9lKP

— Timeform Live (@TimeformLive) October 19, 2019

Battaash – King’s Stand Stakes

Battaash is a sprinter out of the very top drawer and he was as good as ever last season, producing a scintillating display of speed to land the Nunthorpe at York, lowering Dayjur's long-standing course record in the process.

He was also successful in the Temple Stakes at Haydock and the King George at Goodwood, while he found only old nemesis Blue Point too strong in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

That was the second year in a row Battaash finished runner-up to Blue Point and, with that rival now retired, this looks a good opportunity for him to register a first success at the Royal meeting.

Wow! 🏇💨@Timeform's highest-rated horse in Europe BATTAASH absolutely blows them away in the @coolmorestud Nunthorpe Stakes at @yorkracecourse under @JimCrowley1978, setting a new course record in the process!

📽️ @itvracing pic.twitter.com/rXuuCVtUg9

— Timeform Live (@TimeformLive) August 23, 2019

Japan – Prince Of Wales’s Stakes

Japan was a close-up third in the Derby, but he confirmed himself to be the best middle-distance three-year-old in Britain and Ireland last season, winning the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp and Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

His victory at York was a tremendous spectacle, with Japan getting the better of Crystal Ocean in a tooth-and-nail battle, drawing upsides in the final furlong before forcing his head in front close home.

He could only manage fourth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on his final appearance in October, but was arguably a shade better than the bare result after being taken wide to ensure a clear run, and there is an air of unfinished business about him as a four-year-old.

The suspicion is he will come back stronger than ever this season.

Thriller at York!

The Aidan O'Brien-trained JAPAN (5/1) just gets the better of Crystal Ocean to claim Group 1 glory in the Juddmonte International at @yorkracecourse!🏇🇯🇵

(🎥@itvracing)pic.twitter.com/6q6il3zSNM

— Timeform Live (@TimeformLive) August 21, 2019

Stradivaruis – Gold Cup

Stradivarius bagged his second £1 million bonus last year for winning the Yorkshire Cup, Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Cup, but he met with his first defeat for two years at the hands of Kew Gardens in the Long Distance Cup at this venue in October.

Stradivarius and Kew Gardens, who could meet again in the Gold Cup, served up a thrilling battle and there was only a nose in it at the line, both horses giving their all.

Kew Gardens is clearly a serious danger, but he will be going into unchartered waters over the two-and-a-half-mile Gold Cup trip, whereas Stradivarius has won the race for the past two years and will contest the Coronation Cup beforehand to get a run under his belt.

What a horse!

STRADIVARIUS wins back-to-back Ascot Gold Cups! 🏆

📽️ @AtTheRaces pic.twitter.com/4VrQxuY5Tr

— Timeform Live (@TimeformLive) June 20, 2019

Pierre Lapin – Commonwealth Cup

Pierre Lapin looked a good prospect when making a winning start to his career at Haydock last May, quickening to lead inside the final furlong before forging clear, deserving extra credit given not everything went his way in the early stages.

Pierre Lapin didn’t return to the course until the Mill Reef in September and he had clearly developed nicely in the interim, always catching the eye with strongly he was travelling before being produced to lead inside the final furlong and finishing well on top.

He achieved a lot as a juvenile for a horse with plenty of growing still to do and he looks sure to improve significantly as a three-year-old, which makes him an exciting prospect.

A half-brother to Harry Angel, 120 days off the track and on just his second start, PIERRE LAPIN powers away from the field impressively to land the (Group 2) Mill Reef Stakes at @NewburyRacing for @varianstable and @Atzenijockey!

📽️ @itvracing pic.twitter.com/Wx1WV02Mqr

— Timeform Live (@TimeformLive) September 21, 2019