Royal Ascot Queen's Vase tips (1505): Illinois to confirm class while Meydaan targets frame finish

15:05 Royal Ascot: Queen’s Vase 

• Race details: 1 mile 6 furlongs, Group 2, 3-year-olds only
• 2023 winner: Gregory (evens F) - Frankie Dettori (J), John & Thady Gosden (T)
• Recent Trends: 17/18 winners came from a single-figure stall, but none from stall 1

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There’s some high-quality stayers going to post here, with Highbury and Birdman both meriting their position among the early market leaders after notching up last-time-out wins in Ireland last month.

They hold serious claims, of course, but they will have to produce a career-best performance to get their noses in front of Illinois, who has only won one of his four career outings but looks primed to produce the goods for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore here.

That solitary success came on career debut at Curragh, a comfortable three-length win that was backed up by a solid third of seven in Group 1 in France, where he finished less than a length behind Los Angeles, who went on to finish third at the Epsom Derby.

Illinois did not appear to relish Leopardstown’s heavy going on his reappearance in April, and looked much more at home on firmer ground at Lingfield’s Derby Trial, where there was no disgrace in coming second behind Ambiente Friendly, whose subsequent runner-up spot in the Derby suggests a strong line of form.

Suggested bet: Illinois in the 15:05 at Royal Ascot

• Tip advised by Suchy’s Equine Investments on Tipstrr

Of the remaining eight starters, Mina Rashid looked like there was more to come when winning a five-runner maiden at Chester last month, and could go well again for the Andrew Balding-Oisin Murphy team.

Just pipping them to our each-way punt, however, is the Crisford-trained colt, Meydaan, who has come on stronger with each of his four outings to date.

A winner on debut on Newcastle’s all-weather track last November, he found only the highly-rated Ambiente Friendly (second in the Derby) and Illinois (favourite here) too strong for him in Lingfield’s Derby trial.

That form was further franked by Meydaan’s impressive hard-earned win in a Listed race at goodwood last time out 25 days ago, and he is expected to progress further here under William Buick. 

Suggested bet: Meydaan in the 15:05 at Royal Ascot

• Tip advised by HackUp on Tipstrr

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