Queen Anne Stakes: Tepin to face very different test at Royal Ascot

With the outstanding older miler Solow – who won this race, along with the Dubai Turf at Meydan, the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp, Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, in 2015 – side-lined through injury at least for the early part of this season, this year’s Queen Anne has a more open feel to it than some recent renewals, including when Frankel was sent off at 10/1-on in 2012 and when Toronado justified odds-on favouritism two year later.

Considering last year’s Guineas winner Gleneagles has been retired, the British/Irish challenge for this year's Queen Anne is perhaps not as strong as usual, and it is the North American mare Tepin who currently tops the weight-adjusted Timeform ratings. It is hard to quibble with Tepin’s place at the top of the market on form terms and she has won her last six starts, which include Grade 1 wins in the First Lady Stakes, the Breeders’ Cup Mile and the Jenny Wiley Stakes, all at Keenland.

In a practical sense, however, the straight mile of Ascot’s galloping course will be a much different test compared to Keeneland’s sharp round course, and Tepin will still have something to prove when she lines up at Royal Ascot, where she'll bid to do what another US star, Animal Kingdom (sent off 5/4), couldn’t do in 2013. In my opinion, it is worth taking her on at current odds of around 3/1.

Last year’s impressive Tercentenary winner Time Test would be a lively contender for the Queen Anne given he proved himself fully effective over a mile when beating Custom Cut in the Joel Stakes at Newmarket last season, but he appears more likely for the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot given he was due to return in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last weekend (missed the race due to soft ground) and is set to reappear in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on Thursday 26th May. He's also entered in the Eclipse Stakes. 

Belardo won Newbury’s Lockinge Stakes last time, his first win at Group 1 level since he took the 2014 Dewhurst Stakes, but the overall impression that day was that he was seen to maxmimum advantage, benefiting from the strong pace and the fact that one or two others were perhaps not quite at their best. Belardo is a bit below the level usually required win the Queen Anne and will likely find one or two too strong. That could also be the case for the same owner's Toormore, who was fourth in the Queen Anne last year and could only manage fifth in the Lockinge this season (second behind Night of Thunder in 2015). He is the type to bounce back quickly - and did beat Belardo under a penalty at Sandown on his reappearance - but perhaps remains shy of the level required to win this race.

The two horses to take out of the Lockinge could be the third and fourth, Endless Drama and Limato. Endless Drama had not been seen since finishing second to Gleneagles in last year’s Irish 2000 Guineas and ran a mighty race to finish third at Newbury. A powerful sort, he's the type to do even better as a four-year-old and will be an intriguing runner if showing up at Royal Ascot. The main concern with him is whether he's come out of the Lockinge in top shape and whether he has enough time to recover, bearing in mind he'd had more than a year off the track.

Limato was speedy enough to finish second behind the top-class Muhaarar in the six-furlong Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot 2015, but he produced his best form when winning the seven-furlong Park Stakes at Doncaster last September. His effort in the Lockinge on his first start this season was not quite up to his best, but a lack of fitness, rather than lack of stamina (bred to stay a mile), was the most likely reason. Assuming that is the case, Limato has the ability to reverse that Lockinge form with Belardo if the pair met again at Ascot, and a general price of 12/1 underestimates Henry Candy’s star.

To wrap up, Tepin has the best form but this will be a very different test for her and she's probably worth taking on. The two most attractive bets at this stage are Limato, who should benefit from his return fourth in the Lockinge, and Endless Drama, who may have more to offer if staying sound this season.

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