A winner at 1 1/4 miles as a 2-year-old, Dillian has had a career geared toward stamina.

The foundation in longer races can result in a first career win in Australia in a handicap at 1 3/16 miles at Canterbury Park on Tuesday evening.

Dillian was winless in four starts in stakes at distances ranging from 1 1/4 miles to 1 15/16 miles in Britain and France in 2021 and 2022.

In his Australian debut, the 4-year-old Dillian closed from last of 11 to finish sixth in a one-mile handicap at Warwick Farm Racecourse on May 17 in his first start since late November.

My first selection comes in the opening race, which could set the tone for the week. Charlie Appleby hasn't been operating at his usual high strike rate but things are looking up this month, so I think MODERN GAMES can win the Queen Anne Stakes for Godolphin's main trainer. He's a dual Breeders’ Cup winner who has been as good as ever this season, as his latest win at Newbury showed. He managed to win the Lockinge despite the runner-up trying to bite him, and I think he'll have the teeth to see off his rivals here.

I will start with the week’s banker in HIGHFIELD PRINCESS in the King’s Stand Stakes, whose recent runner-up effort in the same Duke Of York Stakes that she won last year, before notching up a Group 1 hat-trick, suggesting she is back to her peak. Her mares’ allowance comfortably puts her ahead on the numbers and makes her the one they all have to beat.

As the Ashes series gets underway, it’s not just Ben Stokes who will be playing a few sporting shots. Royal Ascot gives punters the chance to follow really good horses, often at very decent prices, and I like to try and spank one into the stands on occasions myself. This list, the main four horses of note for me this week, are a mixture of conventional and more 'out there' suggestions, but I'm hoping to get a great run out of each of them.

The collection of Grade 1 and Group 1 wins comprises two Breeders’ Cup races, a Grade 1 race in Canada, and Group 1 races in Britain and France.

The 4-year-old colt Modern Games can seemingly win anywhere.

On Tuesday, Modern Games will be a short price to win one of Britain’s greatest prizes for turf milers – the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes on the opening day of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting west of London.

Blue Rose Cen gained a rare place in French racing with a commanding four-length win in Sunday’s Group 1 French Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at Chantilly Racecourse north of Paris.

Blue Rose Cen joins Allez France (1973), Divine Proportions (2005) and Zarkava (2008) as the only fillies in the last 50 years to sweep France’s three leading Group 1 races for 2- and 3-year-olds – including the Prix Marcel Boussac for 2-year-olds last October, and the French 1000 Guineas last month. Those races are run at a mile.

The word was out before the 3-year-old filly Divine Vicky had a successful debut at Kembla Grange Racecourse in Australia on May 6.

Sent off favored, Divine Vicky was third early in a six-furlong maiden race and won by a head.

How that form translates against winners will be better known when Divine Vicky has her second start in a six-furlong handicap at Nowra Racecourse on Monday evening.

Divine Vicky starts from post 5 and will be ridden by Jean Van Overmeire, who was aboard for the maiden-race win.

Ollie’s Secret ended his 2022 campaign with a win in a maiden race at a mile at Tamworth Racecourse in Australia on Christmas Eve, his sixth career start.

Ollie’s Secret did not start again until June 10, finishing fifth in a six-furlong handicap at Newcastle. He closed with interest to lose by 3 1/2 lengths in a manner that suggested a longer distance would be a better fit.

Paul Lally:
R1 7-1-8-9

R2 2-4-5-12

R3 4-1-10-12

R4 6-7-4-9

R5 6-2-7-3

R6 5-14-4-11

R7 2-4-3-6

R8 7-5-9-4

R9 9-2-5-3

R10 2-10-11-8

R11 2-8-1-4

Best Bet R3 n4 Sunlight Power