Paddington and Tahiyra headline mouthwatering Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

Two outstanding Classic-winning three-year-olds from Ireland dominate the betting for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO), but this is a race in which France has a great recent record and Christopher Head hopes that Big Rock can follow in the footsteps of his father Freddy’s winners Charm Spirit (2014) and Solow (2015).

A winning run of seven races, including the Irish 2000 Guineas, the St James’s Palace Stakes, the Eclipse and the Sussex Stakes, came to an end for Paddington at York last time, but he is favourite ahead of the Irish 1000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes winner Tahiyra, who meets males for the first time after adding yet another Group 1 success in Leopardstown’s Matron Stakes last time.

The QIPCO 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean and five-time Group 1 winner Inspiral also have strong claims in a race in which 13 have been confirmed, in addition to which Angel Bleu has been supplemented. However, we should not underestimate the powerful French front-runner Big Rock, who was beaten only by the brilliant Ace Impact in the Prix du Jockey Club and who Head so memorably said once “has a heart like a nuclear reactor”.

He can be competitive here, I have no doubt about that

Head, who has won three Group 1s in France this season with Blue Rose Cen, is from racing royalty in France but is itching to make his mark in Great Britain. He is confident Big Rock has what it takes to be involved and said: “We’ve had a very nice season with Blue Rose Cen, Ramatuelle and Big Rock, and I can’t wait to see Big Rock shine in a Group 1. The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a very prestigious race, and every time I have the opportunity to take a horse to England for a race like that I’ll jump on it as I really love it.” 

He added: “Big Rock has done well all season and has only been beaten by very good horses like Inspiral and Ace Impact. He can be competitive here, I have no doubt about that, and soft ground will be a plus for him of course.

“He always shows a lot of cardio and he can exhaust a lot of horses during the race with his pace, but the thing with going in front like he does is that there’s always a horse behind you who might beat you with a kick in the end. That’s what’s happened in his three Group 1s, and so we’ll talk with the owner and you might see something different.”

Big Rock has had an unusually busy season for a top miler and this will be his ninth race of the year. He also raced last November and December, and July was the only month since then when he hasn’t had a run. However, Head is confident he is fresh enough and confirmed: “With the season he’s had we’ve been working him accordingly since his last run.”

Paddington looks to sign off season in style

Aidan O’Brien is upbeat about Paddington, who could be joined by the stable’s Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up Cairo and still has theChampion Stakes option. He said: “We are very happy with Paddington. He’s had a break and he’s working lovely. Adrian (Maguire) rides him every day and is very happy with him. Seamus (Heffernan) rode him work on Friday and he was very happy too.”

There are no negatives from the Tahiyra camp either, and the filly’s sole defeat – her half-length second to Mawj in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas – received a timely boost when the winner made an impressive return at Keeneland at the weekend. 

Trainer Dermot Weld was short and to the point when confirming her readiness for taking on the colts. He said: “Tahiyra is very well. I am satisfied with her for Ascot on Saturday.”

Andrew Balding is also very positive about  Chaldean’s chance and said: “I couldn’t be happier with him. He had a gallop at Kempton last week and he was impressive, as I hoped he would be. He’s working with great zest and goes there in good shape.”

John and Thady Gosden have left Nashwa and Epictetus in the race alongside recent Sun Chariot winner Inspiral. Outlining plans at the end of last week, Gosden senior said: “Inspiral and Nashwa are both intended runners at this stage but obviously Nashwa is also in the QIPCO Champion Stakes. We are going to be very much in a ground watch situation. It’s going to be a big factor. 

“Inspiral is in great order. She’d only really had two and a half races before the Sun Chariot, and she took the race very well, but if she runs here then I don’t think she’ll be going to the Breeders’ Cup as well as that would be three runs in 28 days.

“A decision probably won’t be made about Nashwa until later in the week, probably Wednesday as I don’t like leaving it until Thursday morning.”

Kevin Ryan has confirmed both shock Queen Anne Stakes winner Triple Time and QIPCO 2000 Guineas second Hi Royal at the five-day confirmations stage.