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A Preview Of Godolphin Runners - Royal Ascot Day 1

Belardo heads the Godolphin challengers on Day 1 of Royal Ascot when he lines up in the opening race, the G1 Queen Anne Stakes over the straight mile.

Belardo (Roger Varian/James Doyle) heads the Godolphin challengers on the first day of Royal Ascot 2016, Tuesday, June 14, when he lines up in the opening race, the G1 Queen Anne Stakes over the straight mile.

Everything came right for the talented four-year-old colt last time in another G1 over a straight mile, the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 14. Belardo ran on to lead over a furlong out and won well by a length from Euro Charline.

Barchan (Roger Varian/Jack Mitchell) will again set the pace, while the third Godolphin runner in the Queen Anne Stakes is Toormore (Richard Hannon/William Buick) who finished fifth at Newbury.

Roger Varian commented: "We couldn't be more pleased with Belardo following the Lockinge win.

"He has just thrived since, as he has done all year, and he obviously handles soft ground so the recent rain won't be a problem for him.

"I wouldn't swap him for anything in the race. I think he is training very well, he has some very good recent form and he will go there with every chance.

"We've always felt that Belardo has big performances in him and that was proved at Newbury and now he has to add some consistency to his game. Hopefully he will do that on Tuesday."

American mare Tepin, French mare Esoterique and French filly Ervedya head the dangers to the Godolphin runners in the Queen Anne which has attracted 14 runners.

William Buick said about Toormore:

"He won well at Sandown but it was a funny race and it is hard to know what to make of it. Belardo got beat that day, but he ended up with a lot to do and then came out and won the Lockinge."

Godolphin is represented also in the two other Group One races on Tuesday, with trainer Charlie Appleby running Jungle Cat (William Buick) in the five-furlong King's Stand Stakes which has attracted 21 runners, and Emotionless (William Buick) in the St James's Palace Stakes over the round mile.

Charlie Appleby spoke about Jungle Cat, drawn in stall 14, who takes on Mecca's Angel, Profitable and American raider Acapulco: "He is going into the race in great form and ran well behind Profitable last time when second in the G3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket. The ground did not hinder him then but we would be happier with a sounder surface.

"A stiff five furlongs at Ascot and a bit of cut in the ground means that horses will have to see out the race strongly which I am confident he will do and could play to his strengths. He travels well and stays six furlongs."

William Buick added: "He ran well in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night and he is a good, honest horse. The race conditions suit him, and the climb to the finish will help.

"He's pretty quick, uncomplicated and can hold his own in a race. I won't try to do anything flash."

Emotionless has not run since October, 2015 but his trainer is happy with the three-year-old Shamardal colt who takes on three Guineas winners - The Gurkha, Awtaad and Galileo Gold.

Charlie Appleby commented: "All systems are go for the return of Emotionless.

"I am not worried about the prospect of soft ground. It was on the easy side at Doncaster when he won the G2 Champagne Stakes in September and he handled that well.

"Emotionless lengthens well and has got gears and all we want is a nice sensible pace up on the front end to ensure a true-run race which is what everybody wants to see."

William Buick said: "Emotionless has had a long time off and it's a very, very hot race but the horse has come right, he looks good and it is at the right time of year for him.

"We still think he retains all the ability he had last year. He's in at the deep end but we are looking forward to getting him back.

"He will do himself justice but it will be a building block. It is his first run of the year and, whatever he does on Tuesday, you would think he will be better next time."

The Group Two Coventry Stakes for two-year-olds sees two unbeaten colts run for Godolphin, Thunder Snow (Saeed bin Suroor/James Doyle) and Van Der Decken (Paddy Twomey/Wayne Lordan).

The last-named won on debut at the Curragh on May 22 over six furlongs and was purchased by Godolphin afterwards.

Paddy Twomey revealed: "Van Der Decken is in good form and he is ready to go again.

"He won well on his debut at the Curragh and we think he has progressed since then so we are looking forward to him taking his chance in the Coventry Stakes.

"Soft ground will inconvenience him less than some of the others because he has run on it before,

There are three Godolphin contenders in the final race on Tuesday, the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes led by American challenger Drafted (Eoin Harty/William Buick), Top Score (Saeed bin Suroor/James Doyle) and Kananee (Saeed bin Suroor/James McDonald).

Eoin Harty commented: "Drafted is fine and in great shape.

"He is fit, healthy and happy. "We are used to fast ground in America as if it is soft then the races are taken off the turf. He has worked on the turf at Arlington Park and that would have been considered firm.

"His sire was a good turf horse who also won on dirt and synthetics. I would be guessing about how Drafted will handle the conditions on Tuesday but he is a fast American two-year-old and his biggest asset is his speed so we will be trying to utilise it."

The other race on the card is the Ascot Handicap (17.00hrs local time) over two and a half miles.

Charlie Appleby has four runners, Galizzi (William Buick), Penglai Pavilion (James Doyle), Qewy (James McDonald) and Wolfcatcher (Adam Kirby).

The trainer said: "Galizzi was an impressive winner on his first start for us at Goodwood and he goes to Royal Ascot with a real live chance.

"He has come out of that race well and has stamina on his side. He ran on good to soft going over jumps.

"I have three others in the race Qewy, who is having his first run but training well, plus Penglai Pavilion and Wolfcatcher."

BELARDO wins at Newbury
BELARDO wins at Newbury © Steven Cargill