Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot

Ascot today stages its best day´s racing of the year - even better than the fixtures at the Royal meeting. This used to be known as the Festival of British Racing and has gone down in the history books because of Frankie Dettori´s incredible feat in 1996, when he won all 7 races on the card - an achievement which is never likely to be equalled at such a high profile meeting.

He certainly won´t win 7 races this afternoon, but has in our view a solid each-way chance in the main event, the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over a mile at 1.15 CET. His mount, Godolphin´s Poet´ s Voice was supplemented into this race after winning the Celebration Mile at Goodwood last time, but this race is much tougher and features two of the best milers in the world - French-trained Makfi (Mikel Delzangles/ Christophe Soumillon) and last years winner Rip van Winkle (Johnny Murtagh), one of 3 Aidan O´Brien entries. Makfi was suffering from an infection when beaten at the Royal meeting here but otherwise has done nothing wrong. He was an easy winner of the 2,000 Guineas and even more impressive when beating Goldikova and Paco Boy at Deauville.

Unfortunately the Newmarket runner-up Canford Cliffs now misses the race, but it is still a high class event. Rip van Winkle had no chance in the Irish Champion, but previously won the Juddmonte International and is arguably better at this distance - although last year´s renewal is not worth much as he faced only 3 inferior rivals. He will be tough to beat, but Makfi possibly has more class while Poet´s Voice seems to be underestimated and could well spring a surprise. Beethoven (O´Brien/ Ryan Moore) is best of the others.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Sajjhaa - Long Lashes - I`M A Dreamer
2. Race: Frankel - Treasure Beach - Happy Today
3. Race: White Moonstone - Theyskens` Theory - Together
4. Race: Redford - Axiom - Kakatosi
5. Race: Makfi - Rip Van Winkle - Poet`S Voice
6. Race: Rainfall - Mosqueras Romance - First City
7. Race: Keenes Day - Aaim To Prosper - Woolfall Treasure