After a win and two seconds in the last three Coventry Stakes, our ambassador hopes Shaatir can get Royal Ascot off to a flyer on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports Racing.

SHAATIR CAN KEEP COVENTRY RUN GOING

The Coventry Stakes (3.05) at Royal Ascot is a race my boss Archie Watson and I have done well in and I’m expecting that good record to continue with the exciting SHAATIR  in the big two-year-old race on the opening day on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports Racing.

Ascot | Race 1: G2 Queen Mary Stakes

TRUE LOVE has finished second on both of her starts so far. 

She’s by No Nay Never and is a big, strong filly, who I think will be suited by a strong pace over five furlongs.

Zelaina looks set to go off a very short-price favourite.

She’s only won a Nottingham maiden but is expected to improve a lot, so she must be respected.

Ralph Beckett’s Society Kiss won well at Ascot, while I know Michael Bell thinks a fair bit of his filly, Spicy Marg. They could be the other ones to keep an eye on.

Last year’s race
Winner: Pilgrim
Jockey: Joe Fanning
Trainer: David & Nicola Barron
Owner: Mr H D Atkinson
Age: 3
Weight: 9st 1lbs
Starting Price: 18/1
Season Form Figures: 031
Previous Best: 1st - Class 4 Handicap, Musselburgh (June 2024)

By Paul Jones

Last year’s race
Winner: Porta Fortuna
Jockey: Tom Marquand
Trainer: Donnacha O'Brien
Owner: Medallion/S Weston/B Fowler/Reeves T'Bs
Age: 3
Weight: 9st 2lbs
Starting Price: 7/2
Season Form Figures: 2
Previous Best: 2nd - 1000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1), Newmarket (May 2024)

By Paul Jones

Last year’s race
Winner: Calandagan
Jockey: Stephane Pasquier
Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard
Owner: H H Aga Khan
Age: 3
Weight: 9st 2lbs
Starting Price: 11/2
Season Form Figures: 211
Previous Best: 1st - Prix Hocquart (Group 3), ParisLongchamp (May 2024)

By Paul Jones

Last year’s race
Winner: Soprano
Jockey: Billy Loughnane
Trainer: George Boughey
Owner: Highclere Thoroughbred Racing - Da Vinci
Age: 3
Weight: 9st 5lbs
Starting Price: 14/1
Season Form Figures: 53
Previous Best: 2nd - Albany Stakes (Group 3), Royal Ascot (June 2023)

By Paul Jones

Last year’s race
Winner: Crystal Black
Jockey: Colin Keane
Trainer: Gerard Keane
Owner: Wear A Pink Ribbon Syndicate
Age: 6
Weight: 9st 10lbs
Starting Price: 11/1
Season Form Figures: 11
Previous Best: 1st - 4yo+ Handicap, Curragh (May 2024)

Last year’s race
Winner: Inisherin
Jockey: Tom Eaves
Trainer: Kevin Ryan
Owner: Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum
Age: 3
Weight: 9st 2lbs
Starting Price: 9/4
Season Form Figures: 161
Previous Best: 1st - Sandy Lane Stakes (Group 2), Haydock (May 2024)

By Paul Jones

Gezora carried the green silks of Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm to victory Sunday in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly.

It was a first French Oaks for Brant, who won the 2019 Prix du Jockey Club, the French Derby, with Sottsass, who went on to capture the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe the next year. Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard not only won his second Prix de Diane, he sent out the third- and fourth-place finishers, as well, with the Aidan O’Brien-trained Bedtime Story breaking up a clean Graffard sweep.

Last year’s race
Winner: Fairy Godmother
Jockey: Ryan L Moore
Trainer: Aidan P O'Brien
Owner: Mr M Tabor, D Smith & Mrs John Magnier
Age: 2
Weight: 9st 2lbs
Starting Price: 15/8
Season Form Figures: 21
Previous Best: 1st - Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes (Group 3), Naas (May 2024)

By Paul Jones