Sometimes the complexities of Racing make it is easy to miss the obvious and that could be the case in a brilliant Queen Anne Stakes that opens the Royal meeting on Tuesday.
The obvious is that Charlie Appleby has only trained 1 winner at this meeting in the last 3 years. Two of the defeats have been down to Notable Speech well beaten in last year’s Queen Anne and the 2024 St James Palace Stakes.
This year he is 7/4 favourite and Appleby also fields the second favorite Opera Bello. Both who will get the strong pace they need with the 66/1 stable mate First Conquest in the field .
Of the others both Zeus Olympios and Damysus look short of pace on fast ground over a mile in genuine Group 1 company, a case proven in the Lockinge.
Last years victor Docklands is next best at 7/1 but he got the run of a slowly ran race and was 14/1 in a weaker contest.
Of those at the head of the market that leaves the ultra tough More Thunder who on this straight course in last years Wokingham ran the final 2f faster than the Group 1 Jubliee stakes winner Lazzat. The strong pace will be ideal for the 5yo.
Available at an each way price of around 9/2 (3 places ) it is possible the field will be reduced to 7 or 8 at the final declaration stage.
The Somerville Lodge colt who proved a mile is well within his compass in the Lockinge and will improve for the run is by some way the ‘safe bet’ in a race where proven course form is nearly always a key factor.
Recommended Bet 1pt EW More Thunder Ante Post 1,2,3 Places 1.30 Ascot Tuesday.
Chrysalis Consortium 
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