Notable Speech, Ruling Court lead Godolphin charge at Royal Ascot

Notable Speech and Ruling Court, the two most recent winners of the G1 2,000 Guineas, headline an imposing Godolphin team for the opening day of Royal Ascot on Tuesday.

Dubawi colt Notable Speech decisively beat Rosallion in the 2024 edition of the Newmarket Classic but could only finish sixth behind the same horse in the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting last year.

The Charlie Appleby-trained four-year-old rebounded on his next start with a scintillating display in the G1 Sussex Stakes, before ending his campaign with a valiant third in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Notable Speech and Rosallion face each other again in a deep renewal of the G1 Queen Anne Stakes, having come home third and fourth behind Lead Artist and Dancing Gemini, who also reoppose, in last month’s G1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

Trainer Charlie Appleby said: “Notable Speech comes into this in great order and we are looking forward to seeing him on the straight track at Ascot. The Lockinge was his first start of the year, and he has definitely come forward for the run. Conditions are there to suit him and it looks a fantastic race to kick off the meeting.”

Stablemate Ruling Court also faces a rematch with a Guineas runner-up as he takes on Field Of Gold again in the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes. Half a length separated the duo at Newmarket, with Field Of Gold going on to frank the form in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas. Ruling Court was an intended runner in the G1 Derby earlier in the month but missed the race due to the good to soft ground.

Appleby said: “We took Ruling Court out of the Derby due to the ground, and we can have no excuses with conditions at Ascot. It’s a very good renewal of the race and the track and trip will suit. We are looking at stepping up in trip at some point, but he has done very little wrong over a mile so far.”

Unbeaten colt Military Code makes a first Pattern-race appearance in the week’s leading contest for two-year-olds, the G2 Coventry Stakes. Following a winning introduction at Newmarket’s Craven meeting, the Appleby-trained son of Wootton Bassett gamely defied a penalty at Ascot last month.

Appleby said: “Military Code’s form is rock solid and we are looking forward to stepping him up to six furlongs. He has put up two strong performances to date, including one under a penalty, and should hopefully be very competitive at this level.”

Both of Godolphin’s contenders for the Listed Wolferton Stakes have scored at a higher level, with Military Order annexing the 2024 G3 Winter Derby for Appleby. Passion And Glory, successful in the G3 Glorious Stakes in 2021, is hoping to continue his perfect record at Ascot for Saeed Bin Suroor, having won on both his previous course appearances.

Appleby said: “Military Order is in great shape and I’m keen to see how he goes on a quicker surface. If he can translate the best of his all-weather form to Ascot, I think he will be an interesting runner.”

Bin Suroor said: “Passion And Glory likes the course at Ascot and did a nice piece of work on Friday. I think coming back to a mile and a quarter is going to suit and I am looking for a good run.”

Endless Victory, a full-brother to Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter, steps up to a mile and six furlongs for the closing Copper Horse Handicap. Both of the four-year-old’s victories for Appleby have come over 10 furlongs, and a first appearance over a mile and a half at Meydan on his latest outing proved inconclusive. Appleby said: “This trip is a question mark for Endless Victory, although we are hoping that it brings some improvement.

“You can put a line through his latest start at Meydan, when things just didn’t happen for him. He has had a nice break since and goes here fit and well. All the handicaps at Royal Ascot require a lot of luck in running but, if he gets the splits and improves for the trip, he should be very competitive.”