Given his excellent record over the straight mile at Ascot, Lord Glitters looks decent value at 7/1 with Paddy Power in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes there on British Champions Day this Saturday (15:20).
This David O’Meara trained six-year-old has won twice and been placed on two occasions from five starts over course and distance.
In the last of those successes at the Royal meeting in June, the son of Whipper came with his customary last run from off the pace to get the better of Beat The Bank by a neck in the Queen Anne Stakes.
One Master and Romanised, who finished in third and fourth respectively, have both since gone on to capture Group 1 glory – so that gives the form a very strong look.
Lord Glitters was then far from disgraced when a keeping on three-length fifth to Too Darn Hot in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood where he was unsuited by the undulating track.
He then found the step up to 1m 2f beyond him last time out in the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York, but still ran respectably to finish a four-length sixth of nine to Japan.
The drop back down to a mile – over which he has a fine 33 per cent strike rate – is sure to see Lord Glitters in a far better light. Another plus, meanwhile, is that he handles soft ground.
Danny Tudhope also gets a great tune out of him and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes should be run at a strong gallop which will suit Lord Glitters, so he looks to have the perfect profile for this contest.
French raider The Revenant feared most
French raider The Revenant is an ultra-progressive sort who revels in the mud, so is feared most in a competitive renewal of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
This four-year-old hails from the yard of Francis Graffard who has already a Group 1 Ascot winner this year, courtesy of Watch Me in the Coronation Stakes at the Royal meeting.
He also went close to landing a big prize on this card two years ago when his Bateel finished second to Hydrangea when favourite for the Fillies & Mares Stakes.
In The Revenant, Graffard has a son of Dubawi who has won eight of his 10 starts and comes into the race on the back of six straight successes.
The last of those came in the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein on heavy ground at Longchamp, where he was ultra-impressive when coming from off the pace and quickening clear to scored by 4 1/2 lengths.
Olmedo, the runner-up, is a useful sort who had previously been beaten just 1 1/4 lengths when fourth to Circus Maximus in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin, so to dispose of him in such facile fashion was very taking.
It was a career-best performance from The Revenant and one which suggested he was well worth a crack at this level.
He also once again has the services Arc winning jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, who is four from five under him, so everything looks in place for a big run.
However, having been a general 10/1 shot when the ante post betting opened up, The Revenant is now >William Hill’s 5/2 favourite.
That looks plenty sort enough and makes him worth taking on – for all that his claims are glaringly obvious.
Century Dream appeals each-way in Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
Off those at double figure odds, Century Dream looks cracking each-way value at the 20/1 on offer with BetVictor who pay four places.
This Simon Crisford trained five-year-old has won five of his 10 starts over the 1m trip and has a terrific 66 per cent strike rate on soft ground having scored during four of his six outings on it.
The son of Cape Cross ran very well over course and distance when a three-quarters of a length fourth of 15 to Accidental Agent in last year’s Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes.
He went on to round of the campaign with a cracking third of 13 to multiple Group 1 winner Roaring Lion in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes 12 months ago.
Century Dream led two out and only weakened deep inside the final furlong, losing second close home to be beaten just three-quarters of a length again.
He had Lord Glitters two lengths behind in sixth, so that makes him look overpriced in relation to that re-opposing rival.
Century Dream has had just three runs this season, all at Meydan back in February and March, and ran well to finish second in a Group 2 and fourth in a Group 1.
He looks to have been saved for this and the soft ground that he relishes, and is also now reunited with William Buick who has won three times and been placed twice on him in seven starts.
Century Dream has also gone well fresh in the past, so taking everything into account has more going for him than his Queen Elizabeth II Stakes odds suggest.
