Royal Ascot - Queen's Vase

Royal Ascot (Day 4, Race 5)

Queen´s Vase (Group 3) (Class 1) (3yo) Winner £34,062

Pick: Regent Street (win)

Borug: Has improved on his 2yo form this season in UAE and also here, coming third in useful Listed race at Meydan but has looked plain slow when third behind Slumber in conditions event and then fourth in Lingfield Derby trial; Not sure stayer.

Cravan Rolls Up: Nacked up his AW success on handicap debut at Leicester last month & respectable effort when trying for hat – trick but this entirely different over an extra half- mile and this too hard.

End Or Beginning: Already looked in need of staying test when second and third in Newbury maidens, although form of neither is particularly strong and others still holds better claims.

Eternal Heart: Showed real battling qualities when winning the Edinburgh Cup at Musselburgh on his last start to complete a hat – trick and guaranteed stamina a huge asset here; Yard have excellent record in this and should make a bold bid.

Halifax: Left one and only 2yo run behind this year when beating two subsequent winners in Lingfield maiden and even more impressive when storming clear in handicap last time out; Can go well although stable has better chances.

Ittirad: Immediately found improvement for step up to 12 furlongs when dispatching subsequent winner with ease and better effort when running into progressive Communicator latest; Will improve for step up in trip and could play possible part.

L’Hermitage: Penny has finally dropped with him but at very low level, winning a seller by 6 legnths before following up in handicap (given mark of 70, now rated 75) & this flying much too high.

Namiban: Has held himself highly in good races this season, although he hasn’t quite fulfilled the promise that he showed when he was blocked off late on in sales race; That said, has a huge weight pull with Enteral Heart and needs respect.

Regent Street: Fifth in strong maiden (well behind Recital) here on debut & broke maiden at prohibitive odds next time; Far better this year when placed in both Derby trials at Leopardstown, shaping as if he’d stay further, and promises to go well here.

Solar Sky: Major eyecatchers in strong Newbury maiden (winner and stablemate fourth in Dante since and plenty of winner come out of that maiden) & broke his maiden at second time of asking, albeit with a lot of work; Step up in trip sure to help however and should come forward for the run.

Hawaafez: Has particularly solid handicap form, bumping into subsequent winner Art History and then unable to hold of progressive horse in Glencadam Gold latest ; That said, exposed here.

Quschi: Not seen after breaking maiden in workmanlike fashion, having shown customary promise on debut; No shame in efforts this year, unable to live with thoroughly progressive Brown Panther latest, but this step up into Group company unkown.

VERDICT: The huge weight turnaround Namiban gets with Eternal Heart makes him the pick of Mark Johnston’s trio but REGENT STREET has strong claims on his efforts in Derby trials this season and promises to go close if repeating that form over this trip. Solar Sky is full of potential and could be the biggest threat.