Jumping clinic with international show jumper Laura Kennedy
Saturday 16 November 2024
The Queen Anne Stakes is the traditional curtain raiser for Royal Ascot, and this year’s renewal could be one of the best races of the week at the five-day meeting in Berkshire. It has attracted a strong field, with runners from France, Ireland, and Japan.
Royal Ascot 2024 will mark the return of Facteur Cheval, who will be making his first appearance of the turf season in Europe. He has not featured since winning on Dubai World Cup Night in the UAE.
Facteur Cheval just denies Namur in the Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World.
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) March 30, 2024
A French winner for Jerome Reynier and Maxime Guyon. pic.twitter.com/dC3Nw7VZSt
Facteur Cheval is the 6/1 favourite in the Royal Ascot 2024 betting for the Queen Anne Stakes, and that’s largely based on how consistent the French runner has been over the last 12 months. He has finished in the placings in each of his last four appearances.
The five-year-old is set for a rematch with Big Rock in the Royal Ascot contest, with the latter 8/1 in the bet on horse racing odds for the 1m race. The French horses clashed in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on British Champions Day at Ascot last October. It was Big Rock who won that battle, finishing six lengths ahead of the runner-up Facteur Cheval.
Jerome Reynier's stable star defeated many of his rivals from the 1m division in the Dubai Turf earlier this year. He produced a career-best to land that prestigious prize. It was his first victory outside of France.
Audience makes all in the @AlShaqabRacing Lockinge Stakes! ??
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 18, 2024
Joy for Rob Havlin and the Gosdens in the @NewburyRacing feature! Incredible scenes! pic.twitter.com/jf9a91VvvL
Newbury winner Audience was triumphant in this season’s renewal of the 2024 Lockinge Stakes. He made all the running in the 1m contest, to defeat the likes of Charyn, Inspiral, and Big Rock in the Group One race.
John and Thady Gosden’s runner won the Group Three Criterion Stakes in 2023, but this was a big step up in form to prevail at Group One level. It is expected that Charyn and Inspiral will improve for their run in the Lockinge and both go into Royal Ascot as big players in the Queen Anne Stakes.
The Gosden team landed the Royal Ascot opener in 2021 with Palace Pier. They could saddle four runners this year, with former French Oaks winner Nashwa and Epictetus also both entered.
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor holds the record for the most victories in the Queen Anne Stakes with seven successes. He will be hoping to extend that record this year when Real World features in the latest renewal.
The experienced seven-year-old won the Al Methaq Mile in Bahrain back in March. That Listed victory was the seventh triumph of his career. The former Zabeel Mile winner finished second in the Queen Anne Stakes in 2022 behind the impressive Baeeed. He has not featured in the UK since that run at the royal meeting two years ago.
The 2024 Queen Anne Stakes takes on Tuesday, 18th of June at 14:30, with the final declarations set to be revealed 48 hours before the race.
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