Royal Ascot - Queen Anne Stakes Betting Preview

The outcome of the Queen Anne Stakes on the first day of the Royal Ascot meeting on June 20 depends largely on whether Proclamation will be ready to do himself justice on what will be his first outing for 290 days. Not only does the King's Best colt have a lengthy absence to overcome, but the form of the Godolphin team remains a major concern. Although both Satchem and Librettist overcame much longer layoffs to land their respective starts for the boys in blue earlier this month, Saeed bin Suroor's charges have generally been failing to fire so far this term. On the plus side, Godolphin have won six of the last ten renewals of this contest, which was elevated to Group 1 status in 2003, and that's a compelling stat by any standards. However, despite being much the best horse in the race, I cannot consider backing Proclamation at a top-priced 7/4 given the negatives factors in the equation. While Godolphin's overall record in this race is unrivalled, Sir Michael Stoute has enjoyed the best recent run in this prestigious event for the cream of the older milers, via success with Kalanisi in 2000, Medicean in 2001 and No Excuse Needed in 2002. In this year's renewal, he relies on the consistent mare Peeress, winner of the Lockinge Stakes last time, and Home Affairs. No member of the fairer sex has landed this race in recent times so Peeress has a colossal stat to overcome if she is to prevail. Just one horse since 1998 - Medicean who, like Peeress, ran in the colours of the Cheveley Park Stud - has won the Lockinge and Queen Anne in the same season, another stat that doesn't augur well for the Stoute filly. However, Stoute can still taste victory with Home Affairs, who could prove the answer to what is shaping up to be an intriguing contest and at 3/1 with Bet365. The lightly-raced son of Dansili was a shade below par on a couple of occasions last season, but judged on his two outings so far this term he is very much on an upward curve. The four-year-old had little trouble in dispatching with his rivals when making all to land a Listed race at Windsor on his reappearance before heading to Epsom for the Diomed Stakes. In that Group 3 event, the Khalid Abdulla-owned colt was one of the unluckiest losers of the season thus far. Cantering in the leaders' slipstream Richard Hughes was boxed in aboard Home Affairs from the two furlong marker until one hundred yards out, at which point he switched his mount, who came home strongly and fared extremely well to be beaten under one length into third behind Nayyir under the circumstances. With a clear run, he would have one with his head in his chest. Another factor which will play to the strengths of Home Affairs is the prospect of fast ground, something which he relishes. Don't forget, he was only three lengths behind Proclamation when the latter landed the Jersey Stakes at this meeting at York last season, an excellent effort considering that seven furlongs on that track is way to sharp for the selection. Proclamation unfazed by underfoot conditions - it was fast ground when he won the Jersey yet soft when he enjoyed his finest moment when coming from off the pace to land the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last season when in the care of Jeremy Noseda. He ran no sort on his final start of the campaign when dropped to six furlongs for the Haydock Sprint Cup, and the fact that he is reappearing on the back of the disappointing effort makes backing him all the more risky. Verdict - 1pt Home Affairs @ 3/1 (Bet365)