Royal Ascot 2016: Drama to take centre stage in Queen Anne Stakes
Published:
David Metcalf | June 13, 2016
Endless Drama can rule in Queen Anne Stakes
Endless Drama ran a blinder on seasonal reappearance and looks decent value to land the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes which gets proceedings underway on the opening day of Royal Ascot (14.30).
Trained in Ireland by Ger Lyons, the colt looked an exciting prospect when winning on debut as a juvenile and confirmed that view in three runs last season when finishing runner-up on each occasion.
In the last of those Endless Drama was beaten just 3/4 of a length by Gleneagles in the Irish 2000 Guineas over 1m at the Curragh, rallying strongly to be gaining at the finish having been slightly outpaced a furlong from home.
Endless Drama was then off the track for 357 days before finishing third of 12 to Belardo in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last month.
After being held-up towards the rear, the four-year-old made good headway an cruised into second place two from home travelling strongly.
Cracking effort after lengthy lay-off
Endless Drama was then ridden to throw down a strong challenge inside the last before weakening close home to be beaten just 1 1/4 lengths as lack of race fitness took its toll.
It was a cracking effort following such a lengthy spell on the sidelines, especially as the son of Lope De Vega is a strapping beast of a horse that wouldn’t be easy to get ready to roll first time up.
That run should have put Endless Drama spot on, and with underfoot conditions holding no fears he looks well worth a wager to turn the tables on Belardo and land the traditional 1m curtain raiser at the Royal meeting.
Tepin a fascinating contender
American raider Tepin is bidding for a seventh win on the bounce and adds some real spice to the contest.
The Mark Casse trained mare is a real class act, as she showed when beating Mondialiste by 2 3/4 lengths in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Tepin has looked as good as ever this season, landing her last two starts in facile fashion against inferior rivals.
The five-year-old has also won on soft ground in the States, but races on Lasix and in a nasal strip at home to counteract bleeding and breathing issues.
Both are banned under UK rules, and running without them is a big negative for Tepin which makes her opposable in my book.
Ervedya a major player for France
Ervedya has some top class for to her name and with underfoot conditions to suit looks sure to go well.
Trained in France by Jean-Claude Rouget, the four-year-old has won seven of her 11 starts and beat Found by a neck in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at this meeting 12 months ago.
Ervedya showed a smart turn of foot to get the better of the Aidan O’Brien trained filly, and has only been beaten once in six starts when “soft” has been in the going description.
The daughter of Siyouni also ran well when runner-up on return to action in a Group 2 at Saint-cloud when keeping on from well off the pace under tender handling to be beaten 3 1/2 length by Vadamos, and that should have blown away the cobwebs and put Ervedya spot on for this.
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Coral’s top tip: Endless Drama looks decent value to win a wide-open renewal of the Queen Anne Stakes. French raider Ervedya has underfoot conditions to suit and rates a big danger.
