Royal Ascot Final Fields: Runners And Riders For Day 1

Ruling Court and Field Of Gold‘s 2,000 Guineas rematch is the main attraction on a stellar opening day of Royal Ascot after a star-studded line-up for Tuesday was confirmed.

All eyes will be drawn to the pair in the St James’s Palace Stakes (4.20) where, as it stands, Ruling Court has the advantage. He won by half a length at Newmarket but his rival has since produced a stunning display in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and is favourite to gain revenge.

Taking on the top two is French 2,000 Guineas winner Henri Matisse, who bids to give Aidan O’Brien a record-extending tenth win in the race. Opera Ballo and Shadow Of Light were among those taken out at the declaration stage.

The opening Queen Anne Stakes (2.30) will start the meeting off in style with last year’s St James’s Palace Stakes winner Rosallion heading a field of 11. 

Rematches are a theme on day one as Lead Artist, who beat Rosallion on his return in the Lockinge, looks to claim a second Group 1. Dancing Gemini, who will be reunited with Kieran Shoemark, and last season’s 2,000 Guineas hero Notable Speech are also representing the Lockinge form in the line-up, while the Australian-trained Carl Spackler and course-and-distance winner Sardinian Warrior are others to note.

A field of 23 has been declared for the King Charles III Stakes (3.40), the second of three Group 1 races on the card, including last year’s winner Asfoora. The Australian-trained runner clashes once again with Regional and Believing, who finished behind him 12 months ago.

Cairo Silvestre de Sousa
Carl Spackler James McDonald
Dancing Gemini Kieran Shoemark
Diego Velazquez tbc
Docklands Mark Zahra
Lake Forest Tom Marquand
Lead Artist Colin Keane
Notable Speech William Buick
Quddwah Callum Shepherd
Rosallion Sean Levey
Sardinian Warrior Christophe Soumillon

Queen Anne Stakes (2.30 Royal Ascot, Tuesday)
Paddy Power: 11-4 Rosallion, 9-2 Dancing Gemini, Lead Artist, 5 Notable Speech, 7 Sardinian Warrior, 14 Diego Velazquez, 16 Carl Spackler, Lake Forest, 20 Quddwah, 33 Docklands, 100 Cairo.

American Affair Paul Mulrennan
Bucanero Fuerte David Egan
Jasour Jim Crowley
Kerdos Christophe Soumillon
Manaccan Cieren Fallon
Night Raider James Doyle
Regional Callum Rodriguez
Rumstar Rob Hornby
Starlust Rossa Ryan
Twilight Calls Jamie Spencer
Washington Heights Tom Eaves
Asfoora Oisin Murphy
Balmoral Lady Tom Marquand
Believing Ryan Moore
Frost At Dawn Mickael Barzalona
Mgheera William Buick
Monteille Cristian Demuro
No Half Measures Hector Crouch
Prime Art Billy Loughnane
Aesterius James McDonald
Estepona Clement Lecoeuvre
Tropical Storm Colin Keane
West Acre Callum Shepherd

King Charles III Stakes (3.40 Royal Ascot, Tuesday)
bet365: 4 Believing, 9-2 Asfoora, 7 Night Raider, Regional, 10 Mgheera, 12 Starlust, 16 American Affair, Bucanero Fuerte, 20 West Acre, 25 Jasour, Prime Art, 33 bar.

Field Of Gold Colin Keane
First Wave tbc
Henri Matisse tbc
Officer tbc
Rashabar Sean Levey
Ruling Court William Buick
Windlord Oisin Murphy

St James’s Palace Stakes (4.20 Tuesday)
bet365: 5-6 Field Of Gold, 11-4 Ruling Court, 4 Henri Matisse, 16 Rashabar, 25 Officer, 40 Windlord, 66 First Wave.

Read these next:

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Captivating clash of the Guineas heroes edges closer at Royal Ascot in ‘race of the week’ – and Kieren Fallon can only see one winner 

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