Day one of Royal Ascot sees three GR1 races straight off...fantastic! The first of them being the Queen Anne Stakes at 2.30pm.

Throughout last season I kept my eye on P W Chapple-Hyam's Tariq, who won three big races at some of the premier flat race festivals, including a Royal Ascot success in the Jersey Stakes. I have no doubt that this year he will secure a GR1 victory to his name, the worry for me at the moment is that the stable are badly out of form!

If he turns up, this is likely to be Tariq's target. Earlier in the season on his 2008 debut, he ran a stormer in Newbury's Lockinge Stakes, when 3rd of 11 runners behind Creachadoir. At the furlong marker that day he only had one horse behind him and showed an admirable turn of foot to close down the leaders. That boasted courage and class, two of the main things needed to win at Ascot. Behind him that day was Cesare, and although only a head separated them at Newbury, I believe that the form can be confirmed as I have always had my reservations about Cesare in a GR1, as he always seems to be a short price in these events and always just gets touched off, and even though conditions here are more likely to suit J R Fanshawe's runner, I am inclined to once again take him on at this level. Also behind Tariq at Newbury was Haradasun, who should merit a lot of respect at Ascot. He was unlucky at Newbury and has before proved himself a GR1 horse in Australia. Now representing Ballydoyle with likely, ideal conditions forecast, he could be the dark horse in the race.

Others worth a mention are Darjina who has run two great races so far this campaign, firstly behind shock winner Jay Peg at the world Cup meeting in Nad Al Sheba, and more recently when going down to stablemate Sageburg in the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp. She could be a decent place bet here. Sageburg is another to consider because his victory at Longchamp displayed a power packed finish which could prove to be his critical weapon come the end of this race. Finsceal Beo hasn't looked the filly she was since taking the Guineas last year, whilst at a big price Spirito Del Vento could reward each-way supporters, as a win at Chantilly last week showed that this horse relishes a fast surface over this sort of trip, and improvement is to be expected.

I'm really hoping that Tariq can prove himself here, but with the stable out of form, it is a major worry. Sageburg looks a solid bet, and can take the prize back to France. horse racing betting

SELECTION - Sageburg, 2.30 Ascot (17/06/08).