Queen Anne Stakes: Runner-by-runner guide

Queen Anne Stakes
14:30 Royal Ascot, Tuesday

1. Angel Bleu (Ralph Beckett/ Hector Crouch)

Dual Group 1 winner as a juvenile. First success since when edging ahead late on in seven-furlong Haydock listed race last month but more will be required if he's to play a prominent role here.

2. Berkshire Shadow (Andrew Balding/ Oisin Murphy)

Coventry winner at 2021 Royal Ascot. Found life tough in his three-year-old campaign but has been back to form with a bang this year, winning twice on the all-weather before finishing a very good two-and-a-half lengths third to Modern Games (Chindit was second) in the Lockinge at Newbury last month.

3. Cash (David Simcock/ Tom Marquand)

Lightly-raced four-year-old who chased home Chindit in a listed race over this course and distance on his reappearance and backed that up with a creditable five-and-three-quarter-length fourth to Hukum in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Sandown three weeks later, fading late on as though this drop back to a mile should suit. Could outrun big odds.

4. Chindit (Richard Hannon/ Pat Dobbs)

Landed the Group 2 Summer Mile on the round course here last year and added a C&D listed race to his tally on his reappearance before finishing a good length-and-a-half second to Modern Games in the Lockinge at Newbury. Was fourth in this last year and should be in the shake-up again.

5. Light Infantry (David Simcock/ Jamie Spencer)

Was twice runner-up at Group 1 level in France last summer, including behind Inspiral in the Prix Jacques le Marois. Has finished behind a couple of these rivals in Britain on his first two starts this year but responded well to a change of tactics (went from the front) when a head second in a nine-furlong Group 1 at Longchamp last month.

6. Lusail (Richard Hannon/ Ryan Moore)

Dual Group 2 winner over six furlongs as a juvenile. Has drawn a blank since but he did go very close in the St James's Palace Stakes at last year's Royal meeting. Finished behind a few of these rivals when a creditable sixth in the Lockinge last time and it's likely he'll find a few too strong again.

7. Modern Games (Charlie Appleby/ William Buick)

Gained a first domestic Group 1, and fifth overall, when winning the Lockinge Stakes by a length and a half from Chindit with four more rivals in behind. Another bold bid looks assured from this most consistent of top-level performers.

8. Mutasaabeq (Charles Hills/ Jim Crowley)

Produced very smart performances with blinkers added when making all in a couple of Group 2 events at Newmarket, including on his reappearance in April when Native Trail was three lengths behind in second. Found it harder trying to dominate a bigger field when only a respectable fifth to Modern Games in the Lockinge at Newbury last time, though.

9. Native Trail (Charlie Appleby/ James Doyle)

Won the Irish Guineas last year but he ended his three-year-old campaign with a disappointing effort in the International at York and made no more than a satisfactory return to action (on his first start after undergoing wind surgery) when a three-length second to Mutasaabeq in a Group 2 over a mile at Newmarket last month. Needs to recapture his very best.

10. Pogo (Charles Hills/ Kieran Shoemark)

Smart horse who landed a trio of Group races over seven furlongs in Britain in 2022. However, he was well below his best in Saudi Arabia and Dubai earlier this year and even a sharp mile seemed to stretch him at last year's Breeders' Cup. Others are preferred.

11. Triple Time (Kevin Ryan/ Neil Callan)

Advanced his form again when winning a Group 3 over a mile at Haydock last September on his belated reappearance. Had excuses at Longchamp on his only subsequent three-year-old start and remains unexposed, but this is a tough ask.

12. Inspiral (John & Thady Gosden/ Frankie Dettori)

Brilliant winner of the Coronation Stakes at this meeting on her 2022 reappearance and underlined what a top-class miler she is on her day with victory in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville last August. Blew the start when only fifth in the QEII over this course and distance on her final outing but the one to beat if back to her best.

Timeform's Analyst Verdict:

INSPIRAL showed her capability when fresh with a scintillating display in the Coronation Stakes on her 2022 reappearance and will take some stopping if returning in similar form. Modern Games had a few of these rivals behind him in the Lockinge and is the obvious big threat. The talented Cash should be suited by the return to 1m and is one who could go well at a big price.

1. Inspiral
2. Modern Games
3. Cash