Ascot 2020: The Ultimate Guide to Queen Anne Stakes

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien

Jockey: Ryan Moore

Circus Maximus the new market leader for this race after ante post favourite King of Change was ruled out.

As a three-year-old, he ran in the Derby at Epsom but finished sixth and appeared not to stay the trip.

He was supplemented for the St James Palace at last year's Royal Meeting, in which he won at odds of 10/1, seeing off Too Darn Hot who reversed the form with him at Glorious Goodwood.

Again he was up in trip for the Juddmonte International at York, where he appeared to act as pacemaker and finished seventh before notching a second Grade One success in France, back down to a mile and wasn’t beaten far when fourth in the Breeders Cup mile.

He has the best form in the field and goes for formidable connections and could be hard to beat.

Trainer: Andrew Balding

Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa

This son of Kingman has only run four times and won two occasions, so is easily one of the most exposed runners in the field, dropping down to a mile four the first time since his debut win at Newbury in April 2019.

He was extremely unlucky when finding trouble in running at Chester’s May festival last year and it was the same situation at Royal Ascot last year, when second in the Hampton Court.

He returned to winning ways with a listed success over a mile and a quarter at Newbury in July but hasn’t been since. The drop back in trip is interesting and he is sure to run a big race.

Trainer: John Gosden

Jockey: Frankie Dettori

This is an interesting filly for a trainer and jockey that have started the season in red hot form.

Unlike the others at the top of the market, Terebellum has also had the benefit of a run, winning the Group Two Daahlia Stakes at Newmarket on 2000 Guineas Day.

She is still unexposed, with only the five career starts so far, winning three of them.

Interestingly, all her five runs have come at 10 furlongs so this is the first time she steps back to a mile but she raced keenly enough at Newmarket so this could help her.

She is owned by Godolphin and there could still be a lot more to come from her. She also has a 2lb allowance for being a filly so could run a big race.

Trainer: Paul & Oliver Cole

Jockey: P J McDonald

This son of Lope De Vega did nothing but improve last season and signed off the year with three successive wins, ending in the Group Two Celebration mile at Goodwood in August.

He was a runner at last year's meeting when fifth in the Jersey over seven furlongs but was extremely successful after he went back to racing over a mile.

He finished fifth in last year’s French 2000 Guineas behind some good horses such as Persian king and Shaman and was only beaten three or so lengths.

If he was to pick up from where he left off, he could run a big race and could be one at an each way price.

Trainer: Roger Varian

Jockey: Andrea Atzeni

Another son of Kingman, who is another unexposed sort, having only made the five starts.

He was the easy winner of a listed race when last seen in November at Newmarket on bottomless ground and his only other victory came in his median at Nottingham, again on soft ground, so may need come cut to be involved.

He was a runner at last year's meeting when fifth in the Hampton Court but raced keenly and out wide but did stay on. Indeed, he looks to have a task here but some soft in the description could see him going closer.

Trainer: Marcus Tregonig

Jockey: Jim Crowley

This horse was a Group three winner at two but had a disturbing three-year-old career and remains open to improvement.

We only saw him twice as a three-year-old but has some decent form to his name. He won the Greenham at Newbury at the beginning of last season and was a live contender for the 2000 Guineas but got a setback.

We didn’t see him again until October when he was thrown in the deep end, running in the mile race at Ascot on Champions Day, finishing a respectable fifth, beaten about four lengths.

If fit, he could enjoy a successful four-year-old campaign and sure can run well here.

Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute

Jockey: Dane O’Neill

A surprise winner of last year's Group One Lockinge Stakes, he was one of the more fancied runners for the 2019 Queen Anne but didn’t fire and finished seventh.

He was stepped up in trip when fifth in the Eclipse before a break and down to seven furlongs in October, when he won the Group Two challenge stakes at Newmarket.

He is now seven so is certainly getting on but on his day is very smart. He’s a double figure price but shouldn’t be ruled out.

Trainer: William Haggas

Jockey: James Doyle

This son of Shamardal didn’t really kick on last season after winning the Craven.

He finished third in the Guineas at Newmarket which was a fine effort as he raced on the far side and finished the best of that group. He was fourth in the Irish Guineas and then the same in the St James’ Palace.

He was dropped in grade for his last start and went off 2/1 favourite for the Celebration Mile at Goodwood but again finished fourth and hasn’t been since. He has a task here to get involved.

Trainer: Roger Varian

Jockey: David Egan

He’s only had the four career starts so far and has won three of them, so this four-year-old by War Front remains very unexposed.

His first three career starts were all in novice company and he won all three before ending last season at Goodwood when he was second in the Thoroughbred Stakes.

There’s a lot more to come from this lad and whilst he does have a stiff task here, his maximum potential still hasn’t been seen.

Trainer: Richard Hannon

Jockey: Sean Levy

Perhaps the overpriced one of them all is this mare, who won the 1000 Guineas in 2017 at huge odds of 66/1.

Since then, she’s been a joy for connections and added another Group One to her name at the end of last year when winning the Sun Chariot.

She’s also had the benefit of a run this season, when second in the Snowdrop at Kempton and should come on for that and could be a player.

Trainer: Richard Fahey

Jockey: Danny Tudhope

This lad is already a Royal Ascot winner, landing the Jersey Stakes last year at odds of 25/1.

He has kept group company since and won the Group two Boomerang Stakes in September on Irish Champions Weekend.

He finished 8th in Grade One company in the Breeders Cup Mile in November so will obviously have to improve.

Trainer: Mark Johnston

Jockey: Joe Fanning

Another who does come here with a run, impressing when making all to win the listed Paradise Stakes at Newmarket on Guineas weekend.

He might not get the same easy lead he did that time however and whilst he does have some good pieces of form to his name, this looks difficult.

Trainer: F-H Graffard

Jockey: Oisin Murphy

He is formally of Andre Fabre and ran some good races in top company whilst with the French mastero.

He’s having only his second run for Graffard here and has the services of Oisin Murphy who can do no wrong at the moment but will have to step up hugely on his second in a Group 3 at Chantilly in May,

Trainer: David O’Meara

Jockey: Adam Kirby

He was a disappointing last of 10 in the Paradise Stakes at Newmarket and it’s no surprise to see the huge odds on offer for him.

He did win the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot on Champions Day in October and may have needed that first run but it’s difficult to see him being involved here.

Trainer: Eve Johnson Houghton

Jockey: Charles Bishop

He was a shock winner of this race in 2018 but seems to have lost his way since then, not winning again.

He refused to come out of the stalls in last year's running and was last seen finishing third in a listed contest at Kempton in November. It’s difficult to see him being anywhere near and the odds reflect that.

Trainer: David Simcock

Jockey: Callum Shepherd

The biggest price in the field and is yet to win outside of handicap company.