Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes Tips: Old Stager Can Win Again

One of the feature races on the final day at Royal Ascot 2024 is the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, and a big field of sprinters will do battle on the iconic piece of turf for bragging rights and the Group 1 prize. Billy Grimshaw has surveyed the field and come down on one he thinks will give a bold show...

The place to start here is probably with the market leader Mill Stream for a trainer I massively rate Jane Chappel-Hyam. He has looked a much better four year old than he did at three and the win in the Duke Of York last time out exemplified a lot of the qualities you need in a Royal Ascot winner. He battled on well and looks to be relishing his racing at the moment, so he is 100% not one to totally rule out. I'm not sure he should be favourite, though.

At the top of the market there is a battle on between four for supremacy and Mitbaahy has the services of last year's winning jockey Jamie Spencer to boost his chances. He certainly has a better shot on paper beforehand than the horse Spencer somehow won on last year, 80/1 outsider Khaadem, and with his form for his new yard looking solid given his placed effort at the Curragh last time out, he should be in the mix. The draw in 1 could prove tricky though, and next to him in 2 Shartash could also struggle unless his rider is bold and attempts to grab a prime position from the word go.

That is three of the top four assessed then, now onto the one I am most sweet on the old legend KINROSS. He signed off last season winning here and indeed retaining his Champion Sprint Stakes crown, so while we do have to ignore the fact he flopped when fresh in this race last season he has clearly got tonnes in his favour here and hopefully Rossa Ryan can keep him prominent and gets battling a long way out - which we know the horse relishes - to keep him interested on seasonal debut.

There's pace on all over the track here, with Quinault sure to blast off and Art Power not likely to be far behind him. This pace should suit Ralph Beckett's charge who is adept at a stiff six like he'll face here or seven furlongs. Another horse who will surely be in the thick of it at the front is Swingalong, who I could put no one off for Karl Burke given quotes of 20/1 are flying about. She has pace to burn and if another winter behind her has meant she now uses it more wisely, could outrun her odds.

Beaten by the aforementioned Mill Stream last time out was Shouldvebeenaring up at York, and I'm fairly sure that form will be upheld. The winner was well on top after a good battle and if anything this track should suit Mill Stream more.

Khaadem is back to defend his title but has Oisin Murphy booked instead of Spencer from last year. He is a mystery wrapped in an enigma and only the horse knows when he'll give his all, but I could once again not put anyone off backing him to go back-to-back if he drifts to a crazy price as he often does in the moments before the off.