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The Queen’s Vase was reduced in trip from 2m to 1m 6f in 2017 and the winner that year was a certain Stradivarius. Last year’s winner was Eldar Eldarov who went on to win the St Leger and the winner will no doubt shorten in the market for this year’s St Leger. The race tends to go to one of the leading contenders in betting as after Sword Fighter won in 2016 at 33/1, the next biggest price in the last 10 years is 15/2.
The other thing to note is Aidan O’Brien’s superb record in the race and he has won it 5 times in the last 10 years. Here are my thoughts with my three selections for my Ascot betting tips for this race down below.
Batemans Bay
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Jockey: James McDonald
Shaped like a thorough stayer in the making when strong at the finish when winning a Haydock novice over a mile in August and then when finishing 4th in the G3 Zetland Stakes at Newmarket in October over 1m2f. Not been seen since, but you would think he would improve for the step-up in trip and is one of the higher-rated horses in the race.
Chesspiece
Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford
Jockey: James Doyle
This horse has switched to Godolphin since he was last seen winning a York handicap off 96 over 1m4f. He took a while to hit top stride that day but was nicely on top at the line and he looks tailormade for the step-up to 1m6f. That was just his 3rd run and he had started off the season by finishing 3rd to Lingfield Derby Trial winner Military Order at Newbury in a race which wasn’t run to suit at all. He has been entered in the Arc and he looks a strong contender for this.
Circle Of Fire
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
Jockey: Richard Kingscote
Won a Salisbury Novice last September over a mile in ready fashion. This season he has finished 2nd in the Newmarket Stakes over 1m2f where he didn’t settle, but saw the race out well. He then went up to 1m4f for the Lingfield Derby Trial and after being slowly away he plugged on to finish a fairly well-beaten 3rd. Not a surprise that he has been stepped up in trip after that rather than staying at 1m4f.
Etna Rosso
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle
Won a maiden at Limerick in April before stepping up to 1m5f for the Listed Yeats Stakes at Navan last month. He was just 0.5L behind Peking Opera that day, but from what I saw I don’t think he will reverse the form.
Gregory
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Looked good when winning on their debut at Haydock at the end of April as he beat 3 previous winners with plenty in hand despite running a bit green. He followed that up a month later when winning the Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood in a really impressive style and again he didn’t look anything like the finished article when still ungainly early on in the straight, but he won easily in the end. His jockey that day said that he needs 1m6f so it is no surprise he has ended up in this contest and he looks very promising.
Hadrianus
Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
Has been found wanting in 3 Listed Races so far this season including when 3rd behind Gregory at Goodwood racecourse last time. He wants to step up in trip based on his breeding, but he had the run of the race at Goodwood and Gregory went past him pretty easily so hard to see how the form can be reversed.
Ndaawi
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: David Probert
Looked in need of the run when finishing 6th in the Lingfield Derby Trial, but the form of his Epsom win last September is nothing special and hard to see him playing a part in this.
Nurburgring
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Jockey: M P Sheehy
Won a 3 runner race in the mud at Navan racecourse back in April and looked decent in doing so. Was only 5th though behind Peking Opera over the same course and distance last month and hard to see that form being reversed.
Peking Opera
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Wasn’t overly impressive when winning a Leopardstown maiden on his 2nd start last October, but he beat Betinelli in that contest and he has done well since so the form is good. Plenty more to like about the way he finished his race off at Navan last month though and he looked like 1m6f would be no trouble at all. Given his trainer’s record in the race and the fact he is his only runner, he carries massive respect.
Saint George
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
On the figures he has a bit to find as he is only rated 93, but that could underestimate his ability as on paper the form of his Doncaster win at the start of the month looks strong. He finished off in impressive fashion from the rear of the field and showed a good attitude under pressure. The time was decent and given the race was over 1m6f we know that he stays.
Steven Seagull
Trainer: John Ryan
Jockey: Darragh Keenan
Rated just 46 and shouldn’t even be running in the race.
St Vincents Garden
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Jockey: William Buick
Was last behind Peking Opera at Navan although not beaten far and managed to win a maiden at Fairyhouse a couple of weeks ago. Should carry on progressing, but not sure he can beat Peking Opera.
Think First
Trainer: James Tate
Jockey: Neil Callan
Well beaten by Saint George at Doncaster last time and likely to struggle here based on that.
Sumo Sam
Trainer: Paul & Oliver Cole
Jockey: Kevin Stott
Big disappointment when beaten at 2.5 at Newmarket last month, but showed more when 3rd behind the very impressive Al Asifah at Goodwood a couple of weeks ago. It looks like this trip will suit, but even so, looks unlikely to be good enough.
Queen’s Vase Tips
At a massive price, I can see Batemans Bay running a decent race, but I think the winner The Queen’s Vase will come from Chesspiece, Gregory, Peking Opera and Saint George. Gregory could be hard to beat, but there isn’t much juice in the price so I will put up Chesspiece and Saint George both e/w.
I know both only won handicaps last time, but both horses were impressive with the way they went about things and I think both pieces of form are strong. Clearly, there is more to come from Gregory as well and it would be no surprise if he gave Frankie another Royal meeting success.
1st Chesspiece e/w @ 7/1 with Bet365
2nd Saint George e/w @ 10/1 with Bet365
3rd Gregory @ 7/4 with Bet365
All odds are accurate at the time of writing.
