Ramonti worth the stakes at QEII

The Queen Elizabeth II stakes at Ascot is on. It seems that everything that could go wrong has gone wrong for the Berkshire track ahead of Saturday's mile feature. Firstly, the course is currently within the 10km surveillance zone for the Foot and Mouth outbreak at Englefield Green. If that wasn't enough, the race's big attraction and ante-post favourite, George Washington, has all but been pulled from the race by his trainer, Aidan O'Brien. Last year's winner was a short as 7/4 with Betfred before the Irishman said he would pull the plug on Wednesday, and the friendly Warrington-based bookie has decided it is time to be generous and has offered to refund all bets on the Danehill colt struck before his withdrawal. It's not as if he was a certainty anyway. Ramonti, the game Sussex Stakes and Queen Anne winner, looks sure of putting in a gutsy performance. The Godolphin representative won both of those races by the smallest of margins and if it's a street-fighter you want, Frankie Dettori's mount will scrap all the way to the line and is worth a punt. Like most sports, it is difficult to win on the road, and Ramonti's latest performance was a two-length defeat to the French filly Darjina at Longchamp in the Prix du Moulin. Alain du Royer-Dupre's filly has to concede home advantage though, and it will be interesting to see the pair slug it out. O'Brien is always mob-handed in events such as these, and although George Washington misses out, he relies on St James's Palace Stakes 1/2, Excellent Art and Duke of Marmalade. The duo are sure to put in a big run, but one that stands out at the prices is Sir Michael Stoute's Jeremy. Sure, there is a danger of us backing a big-priced loser, but there was precious little between him and Ramonti at Royal Ascot. Jeremy hung right badly in that race, and back at a course which he has run well at before, he looks a decent each-way investment in a trappy-looking race. Verdict: 1pt Ramonti @ 3/1 (Paddy Power) (Editor's Note: Can Ramonti upset the odds? Go to PaddyPower now to place your bets and also check out the online slots sensation Cluedo!)