The opening contest on day one sees twelve of the finest older milers do battle, with Lockinge winner Modern Games taking on John and Thady Gosden’s reappearing Inspiral in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes.
It's probably fair to say Modern Games is the more solid option of those towards the head of the market. The Charlie Appleby-trained four-year-old is known as something of a travelling star following major top-level successes across France, the USA and Canada. However, the son of Dubawi arrives fresh off the back of a well-deserved first Group 1 victory on home shores when taking out the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in comfortable fashion last month. An official mark of 121 sees him top the ratings and it's easy to see why he's so popular given he's finished outside the frame just twice in fifteen career outings. The quicker the ground the better for Charlie Appleby's globetrotter and with the yard now beginning to hit top stride, his strong credentials are easy to see.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained Inspiral hasn't been seen since her shock defeat in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over course and distance last October. That said, it's hard to imagine that will worry her supporters given she returned from an almost identical absence when producing a clear career-best to win the Group 1 Coronation Stakes by four-and-three-quarter lengths over the same track and trip at the Royal meeting last year. When you factor in her 3lb fillies' allowance, she comes out best at the weights and the Clarehaven team are no stranger to Queen Anne success having taken this race with Palace Pier just two years ago.
Godolphin and Charlie Appleby are doubly represented courtesy of Native Trail. The three-time Group 1 winner and last season's Irish 2000 Guineas scorer returned from a 261-day absence when runner-up to the reopposing Mutasaabeq in the bet365 Mile at Newmarket in May. The four-year-old is yet to grace the turf at the Berkshire venue but certainly has the form and class to play a major role if taking a step forward for that reappearance effort.
The Richard Hannon-trained pair Chindit and Lusail both require a degree of consideration. The former landed the Listed Paradise Stakes (a Queen Anne Stakes Trial) when beating Cash over course and distance before finishing a valiant runner-up to Modern Games in the Lockinge Stakes last month. The latter finished sixth in the aforementioned Newbury Group 1 but should appreciate the forecast rattling conditions and has the services of Ryan Moore once more.
Andrew Balding will be hoping to get his week off to a flyer with Berkshire Shadow and he looks like an interesting each-way alternative. He's looked like a much more straightforward model since being gelded last August and holds some solid course and distance form having placed sixth in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes at this meeting last year. The son of Dark Angel finished third behind Modern Games and Chindit at Newbury last-time-out and could be one to play a role at an each-way price.
Only two horses rated lower than 115 have been successful in the last decade, whilst favourites have a rock-solid record with market leaders going on to land the day-one opener six times in the last ten years.
WIN: INSPIRAL (General 15/8)
DARK HORSE: BERKSHIRE SHADOW (General 40/1)
