LOVE FOR THE KING AND QUEEN

15:35 Ascot

Providing we don't see too much rain between now and the off, Aidan O'Brien's Love looks to hold an excellent chance of extending her tally of Group 1 victories to six this afternoon. The top class filly was unbeaten in three last season, winning the 1000 Guineas, the Oaks (by nine lengths) over todays' trip and the Yorkshire Oaks (by five lengths) again over twelve furlongs, and returned this season with a hard-fought success over a shorter trip in the Prince Of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot. She usually finds improvement for each run and will appreciate the return to twelve furlongs so looks difficult to oppose.

Adayar has proved to be highly progressive this season, finishing a couple of lengths ahead of the re-opposing Lone Eagle when second to Alenquer in a Group 3 on return, before another decent second in a Listed contest at Lingfield in May. Last seen clearing away impressively to win the Derby by over four lengths (with subsequent Irish Derby and Grand Prix De Paris winner Hurricane Lane back in third), the Charlie Appleby runner gets weight from the favourite and looks to be the main danger.

Lone Eagle was only a neck behind Hurricane Lane in the Irish Derby but all of his prior wins have come over shorter trips and the fact that he was headed close home would be a concern up against the likes of Love who we know will gallop right through the line, while Mishriff is a consistent performer but was no match for another Aidan O'Brien runner St Marks Basilica last time out and may prefer a slower surface than he is likely to encounter here.

LOVE (WIN)

written by Dean Kilbryde