Queen Anne Stakes Tips: The Each Way Play Against The Brilliant Baaeed
It's the start of Royal Ascot on Tuesday afternoon, and the traditional curtain-raiser of the five day Flat extravaganza, the Queen Anne Stakes will kick off this year's festivities, and it's all set fair to see the superstar Baaeed coast to Group 1 glory and enhance his already lofty reputation. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers previews the race and picks out his best bet against the red-hot favourite...
Trading as short as a 1/5 favourite for the race, Baaeed isn't the most attractive price and with Paddy Power giving customers a £5 Free Bet on the race (T&Cs apply) then they may look elsewhere for a bet, but you have to start with the William Haggas-trained four-year-old, who was an exquisite winner of the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on his comeback run.
Serenely kicking clear of his rivals, Baaeed will return to the scene of last year's impressive victory over last year's Queen Anne winner Palace Pier in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on British Champions Day, and the son of Sea The Stars has looked to be unbeatable over a mile, and he's likely to notch up his eighth win on the bounce.
Hugely progressive last season, Baaeed's cruising speed is what puts his rivals in trouble, and with the ability to kick away from them after maintaining a fierce gallop then he looks to be a real superstar performer of the turf, and it's hard to see him not continue his 100% record on Tuesday afternoon.
With only seven runners lining up then each-way terms will only be paid out on two places, but with the bookmakers going 8/1 the field then there's some value to be had and according to the bookies it's the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Real World that looks the biggest danger to Baaeed. A sensational winner of the Royal Hunt Cup at last year's meeting, Real World progressed into a top notch Group performer and won a few Group 2 races on his travels, but he was duly blown away in the Lockinge and was a well beaten second behind Baaeed, and while a return to Ascot is a plus it's hard to see him tasting more glory.
Aidan O'Brien has won this race four times during his illustrious career and he will unleash the eye-catching ORDER OF AUSTRALIA, who was a disappointing eighth in last year's Queen Anne, but he showed when finishing just a length-and-a-quarter by Baaeed in the Prix Du Moulin at Longchamp in September that he is a class act on his day. Currently available at 22/1, he is unlikely to be able to reverse that form and the ground could be a little on the quick side for him, but he has shown a high level of form when at his best, and he could be the best of a rather mediocre field taking on the hotpot.
Fifth in the St James's Palace last year, Chindit was a Listed winner on his comeback this year, but he could only finish third in the Lockinge, so can be ignored, while the shock 2018 winner Accidental Agent is aiming to regain the title he won in fine style four years ago, and while he ran well to finish second in the Victoria Cup at Ascot earlier in the year, this is a whole new ball game and he will find it tough, and is rightly 50/1.
Lights On was a fine winner of the bet365 Mile at Sandown Park earlier in the season, and Sir Michael Stoute's mare is the form horse taking on Baaeed and is worth a second look at 28/1, while former winner of the Silver Royal Hunt Cup Sir Busker completes the line-up and he's another excellent handicapper trying his hand at the highest level.
