Royal Ascot - Queen Alexandra Stakes

5.35 Royal Ascot (Day 5, Race 6)

Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions Race) (Class 2)  (4YO plus)

Winner £34,238

Advice: No bet.

Dawn Twister: Respectable stayer who was clear cut winner of Ripon conditions stakes and then fair third in Listed event here on heavy ground; Needs more here and others make more appeal on count of not only form and stamina.

Swingkeel: Needed every single yard of this last year to win but did so in game style and well clear at the end; Not hard to think that everything’s been geared towards him winning once again; Cheekpeices left back on and this will be first race he’s had a proper chance of winning since; Has to be given a chance even with this year’s renewal being th

American Trilogy: Can be enigmatic but talented when it all falls right for him over jumps, and he does get 3 miles well over hurdles as well as going on all sorts of ground; Not hard to see him being involved at all.

Bernie The Bolt: Yet to quite build on the promise that he showed when romping away with 2 mile handicap here a good while back; Travelled well into the race on reappearance at Newmarket; Likely to stay as 2m2f winner at 3 but this demands a lot of him.

Bruslini: Sound start to life for Brian Ellision when third in well contested York handicap over 2 miels and front running 3m Chase wins for Evan Williams confirm that this trip should suit; Still got a lot of ground to make up on best of them.

Dalhaan: Hard to fancy; Modest over hurdles and on the flat, and beaten off mark of 67, which leaves him 20lbs in deficit.

Kangaroo Court: Once very highly rated chaser (especially as a novice), who ran respectably when stepped up in trip to 2m4f and 3 miles; Two from 3 on the flat but they were weak contests as shown by mark of just 80 and passed over.

Moose Moran: Looked to have a future over hurdles when fifth in 2012 Queens Vase’ and drawing right away at end of Doncaster maiden hurdle; Since lost his way and off for too long to consider.

Overturn: Without a doubt the most popular dual purpose performer in training, posting career best when third in Champion Hurdle and then following that up with Heroic Chester Cup second when he tried to run the finish out of his field and succeeded in beating all but stablemate (carried  a dull stone less; that made the difference); Level weights give him tremendous chance and will stay; Hard to beat.

Petara Bay: Gutsy win in 1m6f Goodwood handicap shows that he is a useful horse (was coming backed on some earlier form which had included a fourth in the Northumberland Plate’ Sure that he’d get more than two miles but this is a different kettle of fish and not keen on him being off since July; Percentage call to oppose him today.

Riptide: Hurdles, fences and flat winner but looks outclassed in this company.

Scotsbrook Cloud: Close second off mark in 110’s over fences last time; Won’t lack for stamina at all, but well beaten on one flat start and simply not good enough.

Seaside Sizzle: Stayed on into fourth behind Veiled at Newmarket 5 runs ago and then good second to Hollins at Goodwood; Those hinted at potential but needs to find much more here and while he stays, hard to see him threatening seriously.

Shawardi: Second in Chantilly amateur riders’ race last time out at 1m4f in ground described as very soft, but that form not good enough here by a long stretch; Not a confirmed stayer too so passed over early.

Simenon: Making up into useful hurdler when ground and class were allowing for it and translated that form to flat and more when romping right way with the Ascot Stakes off topweight on Tuesday; Stamina came to the fore there and that gives him a massive chance here, so hard to beat.

Zuider Zee: Top handicapper who didn’t run a bad race last season before winning the November Handicap (romped away with that event) and then again progressed with Listed second and third, probably finding trip too short on both occasions; Latest fourth in Henry II Stakes the best form in the field with winner, second and third all group class over staying trips and promised to stay further than that on same occasion; This a whole half a mile longer, but if staying (drying ground will help in him that regard) has to be given one of the main chances.

Romeo Montague: Unproven at more than 14f and often described as unresolute horse according to form, so can’t see him winning.

Cloudy Spirit: Well suited by step up in trip when landing pair of 2m2f handicaps at Pontefract and York the last twice, both well contested; No problem on stamina count and seems progressive based on that but hard to recommend with the step up in class being a stark one.

Elyaddi: Good record in staying contests at this meeting; Second in 2010 Ascot Stakes and runner up in this last year; Disappointing in that race on Tuesday and also held by Swingkeel on previous running, so others preffered.  

Golden Sunbird: Wouldn’t begin to imagine that she’s be capable of winning a race like on the flat after her second of three on flat debut last month but good over hurdles (placed at Cheltenham Festival); Will stay and stay but others preferred on class edge.

VERDICT: Plenty of deadwood but a few who can be given an outside chance (Swingkeel highest ranked amongst those) and three outstanding chances in Overturn, Simenon and ZUIDER ZEE, all of whom have a class edge on all known form. It’s nearly impossible to pick between the three, but John Gosden’s horse has Group form and looked as if he’d stay further than 2 miles when coming fourth in a strong renewal of the Henry II Stakes last time out, and gets the token choice.