G1 St James's Palace S.

There were three Guineas heroes lined up for Tuesday's G1 St James's Palace S. and ultimately it was the winner of the Irish Classic in Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}--Rosaline {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}) who came away from Royal Ascot with the bragging rights. If his Curragh victory was a case of consolation following his second to Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) at Newmarket, this was all about affirmation as the well-supported 5-2 second favourite readily reversed the 2,000 Guineas form and put the...

One of the UK's biggest weeks is upon us and with perfect good-to-firm ground, Royal Ascot is set to welcome true summer Flat racing. That of the purest variety, favouring the faster of the breed, offering the opportunity for records to be threatened and broken. Two or three big names fell by the wayside on Monday, but most of the ones that matter in Europe will be here over the next five days as well as a select few from further afield. This meeting should be about the ability to...

Sunday saw the confirmations for 2024 Royal Ascot's opening day fixture, where the G1 St James's Palace S. is the rightful stage for the coming together of the 2,000 Guineas, Irish 2,000 Guineas and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroes Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}). The latter has been supplemented for the mile contest and is joined by fellow French raider Darlinghurst (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), while Ballydoyle rely on last year's G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. hero Henry Longfellow (Ire)...

Next week's G1 St James's Palace S. features an intriguing clash between the English, Irish and French 2000 Guineas winners, with Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) leading the trio on ratings, Timeform announced on Saturday. The Godolphin runner earned a mark of 125p for his defeat of Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), who would go on to win the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas and be ranked 121. Next on the leaderboard is Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a winner of the G1 National S. at two, at 120. Listed...

Following Wednesday's confirmation stage, G1 2,000 Guineas winner Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of 11 possible runners in the G1 St James's Palace S. on the opening day of Royal Ascot on Tuesday, June 18. Unbeaten in four starts for Charlie Appleby, Notable Speech will be tasked with trying to confirm his Newmarket superiority over runner-up Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), who also has Ascot firmly in his sights having resumed winning ways with a determined victory in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh last time....

The G1 St James's Palace S. is shaping up to be one of the hottest races at Royal Ascot this year and both Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) received positive reports from their respective trainers on Tuesday as they prepare to try and topple Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the day one highlight. Trained by Charlie Appleby, Notable Speech heads the ante-post betting for the St James's Palace following his striking success in the G1 2,000 Guineas, but Richard Hannon has not given...

In the battle of the 2000 Guineas winners in Tuesday's G1 St James's Palace S., it was the Irish Classic victor Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}--Modern Eagle {Ger}, by Montjeu {Ire}) who proved much the best as he overwhelmed the Newmarket hero Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to make Aidan O'Brien Royal Ascot's winningmost trainer on 83. Settled behind the leaders from his wide draw by Ryan Moore as Frankie took the Juddmonte representative to the front, the 11-5 second favourite moved to his chief rival with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and...

Juddmonte's Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) has emerged from his win in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas in good order, and a start in the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot is his next target, according to the organisation's racing manager Barry Mahon. "He's taken it well, he's good," said Mahon. "Andrew [Balding, trainer] was happy with him when I spoke to him yesterday. He said he was quite tired on Sunday, but he said yesterday morning he was in good form again. "The ground was very soft, yet...

It was tight at the death, but Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) had his head in front in a blanket finish to the G1 St James's Palace S. to add to his 2000 Guineas triumph and extend Godolphin's incredible run of success in the season's mile monuments. There were many moments when it looked as if the 10-11 favourite would fail to deliver as he first ran free in William Buick's hands off the moderate pace and was then trapped on the fence in early straight, but class acts find a...

Sheila Lavery is eyeing a tilt at Royal Ascot for New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), who out-ran his odds of 40-1 to chase home Native Trail  (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Saturday.  New Energy, a £65,000 purchase by Lavery and bloodstock agent Ted Durcan from Ballylinch Stud at the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-up Sale last year, is on course to run in the St James's Palace S. at the royal meeting.  "He's come out of the race really well and our next target will...

Dual group winner Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) is pointing to Royal Ascot, trainer Richard Hannon revealed on Tuesday. A start in the one-mile G1 St James's Palace S. or the six-furlong G1 Commonwealth Cup S. are both being considered for the Al Shaqab Racing colourbearer, as is the G3 Jersey S. Successful in both the G2 July S. and G2 Gimcrack S. last term, Lusail resumed with a second in the G3 Greenham S. in mid-April and was a close sixth in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on...

At his best when the ground is on the quick side, Jim Bolger's G1 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace S. hero Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) has to deal with a testing surface as he faces up to his first test against the fillies and older horses in Wednesday's G1 Qatar Sussex S. Only sixth on very soft in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp May 16 and a short-head second to Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) on soft-to-heavy in the G1 Irish 2000...