The 2018 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes given by Horsebetting.com experts say Roaring Lion is a worthy favourite to land a fourth Group 1 success in the 1m contest on British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday, 20 October. French raider Recoletos revels in the mud and has taken his form to a new level this season, so is feared most. Lord Glitters, meanwhile, makes plenty of each-way appeal, given he runs the track well and also has underfoot conditions to suit. For full details on these horses’ chances, read our in-depth 2018 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes betting tips preview.Lion should be Roaring to more Group 1 glory at AscotDespite being dropped back in trip, Roaring Lion looks a worthy favourite to capture more Group 1 glory in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes run over the straight mile on British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday (15:15). This colt hails from the yard of John Gosden, who is bidding for a fourth success in the race following wins with Observatory (2000), Raven’s Pass (2008) and Persuasive (2017).
Since running very well when a staying on 2 1/2 lengths fifth of 14 to Saxon Warrior in the 2000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket back in May, the three-year-old has come into his own after being stepped up to 1m 2f. Roaring Lion is bidding to win his fourth Group 1 in succession having claimed the Coral-Eclipse, Juddmonte International and Irish Champion Stakes.
In the Coral-Eclipse, he showed tremendous battling qualities to beat Saxon Warrior by a neck. Roaring Lion then could not have been more impressive when landing the Juddmonte in runaway style. The son of Kitten’s Joy only had to be shaken up at the furlong marker by regular pilot Oisin Murphy to quicken clear and easily beat King George hero Poet’s Word by 3 1/4 lengths.
It was a devastating display, and Roaring Lion has gone on to prove himself as the best 1m 2f horse in Europe by landing the Irish Champion Stakes – despite things not going to plan. After racing keenly early doors, he was forced to make a move out wide rounding the home turn.
At the same time, Ryan Moore kicked for home on Saxon Warrior and established a healthy lead. Roaring Lion looked to have plenty to do to reel him in, but once again showed a smart turn of foot and willing attitude to get up close home and score by a neck.
That win has earned Roaring Lion an official rating of 127. It is the highest in the line-up and puts him 6lb clear of nearest rival Recoletos (121), who has to give him a 3lb weight-for-age allowance. It makes him look impossible to oppose in this despite now racing on testing conditions for the first time.
Roaring Lion has won on good-to-soft but, at the time of writing, the going at the Berkshire venue on the straight course is soft and heavy in places. That will bring his stamina into play, though, and he has a 50 per cent strike rate over a mile and is now a much stronger individual than when fifth in the aforementioned 2000 Guineas.
So, taking everything into account, Roaring Lion looks a cut-above his rivals and is taken to round off what has been a stellar campaign with another success. Thus he had to be the main selection in our 2018 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes betting tips.French raider Recoletos feared mostFrench raider Recoletos has a 67 per cent strike rate on testing ground. This Carlos Laffon-Parias trained four-year-old ran well on this card 12 months ago when fourth to Cracksman over 1m 2f in the Champion Stakes and has taken his form to a new level this season in winning three of his five starts.
In the second of those, he travelled powerfully throughout before drawing clear in the closing stages to readily beat Almodovar by 1 3/4 lengths in the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan over 1m 1f at Longchamp. Recoletos was then far from disgraced when a keeping on 3 1/4 lengths seventh of 15 to Accidental Agent in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes over this course and distance.
He lost all real chance in the race before he had even reached the parade ring after boiling over following an impromptu visit from BHA vets – so it is a run which can be upgraded given the unusual circumstances.
The son of Whipper than ran a cracker when runner-up to brilliant three-year-old filly Alpha Centauri in a very strong renewal of the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois over 1m at Deauville. Although no match for the easy 2 1/2 lengths winner, Recoletos stuck to the task well and pulled 3 1/2 lengths clear of the remainder.
That gives the form a really solid look, and he comes into the race having regained winning ways when showing a terrific turn of foot to swoop from off the pace and get up close home to beat Wind Chimes by a head in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin over 1m at Longchamp. It was his second success at the highest level and one which entitles Recoletos to be consider the best older horse over a mile in Europe.
So, given that Recoletos has his optimum conditions, a huge run looks assured. We therefore had no hesitation in making him the main danger to Roaring Lion in our Queen Elizabeth II Stakes betting tips preview.Mud-loving Lord Glitters appeals each-way Lord Glitters also goes well in the mud and has a fine record over course and distance. The David O’Meara trained five-year-old has won once and been placed twice in three starts over it. The success came 12 months ago on this card when he ran out an impressive winner of the Balmoral Handicap.
This other son of Whipper came from miles off the pace and showed a terrific turn of foot to get up close home and beat GM Hopkins by a neck. It was a performance which suggested Lord Glitters was a pattern performer in the making, and that view has been confirmed this season with a string of solid efforts in group company.
He outran odds of 20/1 on his return to action in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes over this course and distance when finishing off powerfully to be beaten just half-a-length by Accidental Agent, and had re-opposing half-brother Recoletos in-behind in sixth.
Lord Glitters then didn’t get the clearest of runs when a neck runner-up to the re-opposing Beat The Bank in a Group 2 here. That came before he ran a stormer when surging home late to finish a two-length third to Lightning Spear, another who re-opposes, in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in a race which wasn’t run to suit.
He then took advantage of a drop in grade to gain a deserved success when cosily beating Mustashry by half-a-length in the Group 3 Strensall Stakes at York. The runner-up has since landed two Group 2 contests, so that gives the form a solid look. Although not so good last time out when sixth of eight in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, the fast ground was totally against Lord Glitters.
The return to a slower surface, and a venue which brings out the best in him, is sure to see Lord Glitters in a far better light. So, at the odds on offer, he looks to have leading claims of making the frame at the very least and therefore features as the each-way punt in our 2018 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes betting tips.Your Next Bet
