The Middleham maestro has the ante-post favourites for the Queen Mary and Albany respectively as he bids for another successful Royal Ascot raid in 2025. By Tony Elves Older Horses ALMOSH’HER Winner of three of his 4 starts and currently rated 98. Having his first outing for the stable when scoring by a head from Stressfree in the Yorvik Handicap at York (1m 4f) in May off a mark of 93. “He won well at York, and he is a very good horse who will go for the Duke Of Edinburgh. I think he is very well handicapped. BOILING POINT Winner of two of his 8 starts and currently rated 107. Finished fourth, beaten three lengths, to Lead Artist in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood (1m) last August when trained by Roger Varian. “He is a very interesting horse, and he came to us and has had surgery on his joints, so he has taken a long time to come right. We are just getting him fit now and he is entered in the Royal Hunt Cup. I wouldn’t say he’s a definite starter but if he trains well in the next ten days he could go. He also has an entry in the Buckingham Palace over seven furlongs. The ground would be a real key as well as he wouldn’t want really firm ground.” Watch every race of Royal Ascot 2025 live on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 519) from Tuesday 17th June to Saturday 21st June. BRIGHT THUNDER Winner of two of her 7 starts and currently rated 103. Finished runner-up, beaten four and a half lengths, to Spiritual in the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom (1m 1/2f) on Saturday. “She could go for the Kensington Palace. She ran a solid race at Epsom on Saturday and we will see how she comes out of that race.” ELITE STATUS Winner of five of his 11 starts and currently rated 111. Finished fourth, beaten four and a quarter lengths, to Inisherin on his reappearance in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes at York (6f) in May. “He definitely goes for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes over six furlongs on the Saturday. I was a little bit disappointed with him at York, but I thought he needed that run badly. It is going to be a tough race, but he is a good horse, and he deserves his chance in a Group 1.” FALLEN ANGEL Winner of four of her 9 starts and currently rated 114. Finished sixth, beaten five and three quarter lengths, to Lead Artist on her reappearance in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury (1m) in May. “She definitely goes for the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes on the Wednesday. She ran well in the Lockinge and she always improves for her first run. If she improves two or three lengths for the Lockinge run, it will put her right in the picture for the Duke Of Cambridge.” KORKER Winner of six of his 39 starts and currently rated 103. Finished third, beaten a length and a half, to Rousing Encore in a handicap at York (6f) in May off his current mark and, again, third, beaten two and three quarter lengths, to Fahrenheit Seven in a similar event at Hamilton (6f) last week. “The plan is to go for the Wokingham - wouldn’t want it too to firm and likes a little bit of cut. He ran a solid race at Hamilton on Thursday and the owners are keen to give him a chance at Ascot. Jack Nicholls will ride him.” LIBERTY LANE Winner of five of his 17 starts and currently rated 113. Returned to winning form with a neck success from Meydaan in a Listed event at Goodwood (1m 2f) in May. “We were delighted to see him get his head in front again at Goodwood and, along with Thunder Run and Bolster, he would be another possibility for the Wolferton.” NATIVE WARRIOR Winner of one of his 9 starts and currently rated 92. Finished runner-up, beaten two lengths, to Socialite in a handicap at Windsor (1m) in May off his current mark. “We are hoping he gets in the Hunt Cup, but he will have an entry in the Buckingham Palace as well. If he gets in the Hunt Cup on the Wednesday, he’ll run.” NIGHT RAIDER Winner of four of his 8 starts and currently rated 111. Finished third, beaten four lengths, to Inisherin on his reappearance in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes at York (6f) in May. “He definitely goes for the King Charles III on the first day. He is a high-class horse, and we are very happy with him. He got tired at York and was running into a headwind. The fractions at York were a bit too much over six furlongs and five furlongs should suit him well.” ROYAL CHAMPION Winner of six of his 19 starts and currently rated 115. Made a winning reappearance when beating Military Academy a length and three quarter in the Group 3 Winter Derby at Southwell (1m 3f) in February. Subsequently fourth, beaten a length and a half, to Al Aaasy in the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown (1m 2f) in April. “Royal Champion wants fast ground and, again, I need to discuss it with Sheikh Obaid, but we might put him in the Hardwicke Stakes over a mile and a half later in the week.” ROYAL RHYME Winner of five of his 16 starts and currently rated 117. Finished fifth, beaten four and a half lengths, to Los Angeles in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh (1m 2 1/2f) in May. “He has an entry in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes on the Wednesday and to be at his best in a Group 1 he wants some cut in the ground. If it’s on the fast side, then it will be up to the owner to decide if he wants him to take his chance.” SERVING WITH STYLE Winner of two of her 5 starts and currently rated 100. Finished sixth, beaten six and three quarter lengths, to Kon Tiki in a Listed event at York (1m) in May on her reappearance. “She goes for the Sandringham Handicap on the Friday. She is in good form but would want a bit of juice in the ground.” THUNDER RUN Winner of four of his 8 starts and currently rated 104. Returned to winning form with a head defeat of Tony Montana in the valuable handicap at York (1m 2 1/2f) in May off a mark of 100. “I have Thunder Run and Liberty Lane in the Wolferton and he would be a definite runner. He showed a lot of class and courage when defying topweight in a highly competitive handicap at York in May.” Three-Year-Olds ARABIE Winner of three of his 8 starts and currently rated 104. Finished fourth, beaten four and a quarter lengths, to Rayevka in a listed event at Chantilly (6f) this month. “He will go for the Commonwealth Cup all being well. It has been the plan, but he is going through a Sale at the moment.” CONVERGENT Winner of two of his 3 starts and currently rated 102. Heavily odds-on when beting Asmen Warrior four and three quarters of a length in a novice at Redcar (1m 2f) on his reappearance in April and solid effort in the Group 3 Chester Vase at Chester (1m 4f) in May when third, beaten three and a half lengths, to Lambourn. “Convergent might go for the Hampton Court but is more likely to go for the King George V Handicap over a mile and half.” LAST GALILEO Winner of one of his 5 starts and currently rated 82. Finished runner-up, beaten a length and three quarters, to Kurakka in a handicap at Haydock (1m 4f) in May off a mark of 80. “He would be entered in the King George V Handicap over a mile and a half but I’m not sure he would get in off his handicap mark.” LEOVANNI Winner of two of her 5 starts and currently rated 103. Finished fourth, beaten a length and a half to Balmoral Lady on her reappearance in a listed contest at Haydock (5f) at the end of May. “She runs in the Commonwealth Cup, and she put up a great performance on her prep at Haydock. She was a bit unlucky in running and just got caught in amongst horses. She has come on well for her run and well run there.” MISS LAMAI Winner of two of her 8 starts and currently rated 97. Finished third, beaten half a length, to Tropical Storm in the Listed Westow Stakes at York (5f) in May. “She definitely goes for the Palace of Holyrood House on the Friday. She ran a great race when a close third at York in May and deserves to take her chance.” TIGER MASK Winner of one of his 6 starts and currently rated 100. Off the mark when scoring by a length and a half from Parole d’Oro at Ascot (7f) in July and solid efforts in Group company after, including when fourth, beaten three lengths, to Field Of Gold in the Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown (7f) in August. “He was a winner at Ascot as a two-year-old and the plan is to go for the Buckingham Palace Stakes with him.” Two-Year-Olds JAN STEEN Scored on debut by four and a half lengths from Bring It On at Thirsk (5f) in April and subsequent third, beaten a length and three quarters, to First Legion in a novice at York (6f) in May.  “He will definitely go for the Windsor Castle. He won impressively at Thirsk and ran a solid race under a penalty at York.” LOVE OLIVIA Winner of one of her 2 starts. Scored by seven and a half lengths from Very Mindful in a maiden fillies at Wolverhampton (5f) in April and subsequently third, beaten a length and a quarter, to Secret Hideaway in the listed Marygate Stakes at York (5f) in May. “She goes for the Queen Mary on the Wednesday. She ran very well in the Marygate at York, and she ended up doing too much into a headwind but she is very tough and honest. Hopefully, she will turn up there and put in a good performance.” MEELAF Winner of one of her 3 starts. Off the mark with a length and a half success from Losigara in a maiden at Musselburgh (5f) in May and subsequently runner-up, beaten a neck, to Argentine Tango in the Hilary Needler at Beverley (5f) later that month. “She is more likely to go to France for the Prix du Bois on the Sunday over six furlongs at Chantilly, but she could have an entry in the Queen Mary.” NAVAL LIGHT Runner-up, beaten a length and half, to Old Is Gold in a conditions event at Beverley (5f) in May. “Naval Light will go for either the Coventry or the Norfolk. He is a high-class colt, and he will definitely stay six furlongs but Wathnan have multiple entries in both so he might be sacrificed to go for the Norfolk so we will wait to hear on that one.” RECIPROCATED Impressed on his debut at Nottingham (6f) last week when scoring by a length and a half from Silent Applause. “I’m not sure if he will go anywhere but if he did go it would be in the Coventry. We won't’ be in a rush with him.” SUPER SOLDIER Winner of one of his 3 starts. Scored by a neck from Alkuwarrior in a maiden at Leicester (5f) in April. Conceding 3lb when runner-up, beaten half a length, to Wise Approach in a conditions event at Ascot (5f) in April and again runner-up, beaten half a length, to Graft in a listed contest at Chantilly (5f) this month. “He could also go to Chantilly for the Prix Du Bois on June 15 and if he doesn’t go there, he could have an entry in the Coventry or the Norfolk. It depends what the owners want to do.” VENETIAN SUN Made a winning debut at Carlisle (5f) in May when scoring by a length and a half from Argentine Tango. “She definitely goes for the Albany and is a beautiful filly. She came out of her Carlisle race really well and she worked very well last week. I am very pleased with her.” ZELAINA Made an impressive winning debut at Nottingham (5f) last week when making all for a two and three quarter lengths from Secret Oath. “She is a very fast filly, and she will definitely go for the Queen Mary. She can only improve for her Nottingham debut, and we just have to get her there in one piece. She had a little bang and missed a bit of work before Nottingham, but we were very happy with her."  Watch every race of Royal Ascot 2025 live on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 519) from Tuesday 17th June to Saturday 21st June.