2 minutes The Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is contested over one mile by horses aged three years or over and boasts a purse of £1,100,000.
The Qipco British Champions Day meeting offers six top-class races but the star-studded field confirmed for this year’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes renewal makes this arguably the most hotly-anticipated race of the afternoon. Once again, betting.bet will preview the race, offering the very best race odds and free bet offers from our betting partners at BoyleSports Sportsbook.
The Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is contested over one mile by horses aged three years or over and boasts a purse of £1,100,000.
Aidan O’Brien’s Paddington is a worthy favourite despite finishing third when stepping up to 1m2f in the Juddmonte last time out. The three-year-old has enjoyed a superb season already, landing four Group 1 races including the St James’s Palace Stakes here at Ascot as well as the Irish 2000 Guineas, Coral-Eclipse and Sussex Stakes.
You know Paddington is a special horse when you take a look at some of the horses below him in the betting. Tahiyra has already landed a hat-trick of Group 1 wins having triumphed in the Irish 1000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes and the Coolmore America "Justify" Matron Stakes. Unlucky not to win the Qipco Irish 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and will undoubtedly be there or thereabouts on Saturday.
The other stand-out filly in the race is the John and Thady Gosden-trained four-year-old, Nashwa. Nashwa was a dual-Group 1 winner as a two-year-old and also landed the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes over this distance in July. Nashwa was far from disgraced when third behind Auguste Rodin and Luxembourg in the Irish Champion Stakes last time out and finished one place ahead of Paddington in the Juddmonte at the end of August.
Most of the pre-race talk will be about the leading trio of Paddington, Tahiyra and Nashwa but there is plenty of talent right throughout the field. Big Rock has finished second in three successive Group 1 races but having started all three as race favourite, he’s obviously got enough potential to land this.
Chaldean was a beaten favourite when Paddington landed the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot but you should not write off this year’s 2000 Guineas winner at your peril.
If you’re looking for place value, 50/1 shot, Rogue Millennium is the only C&D winner in the race. The four-year-old was last of eleven in the Prix de l'Opera Longines last time out but she did win the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot. She probably hasn’t quite got what it takes to win this but if any of the leading contenders are below-par, she has real place claims.
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Odds
- 13/8: Paddington
- 4/1: Nashwa, Tahiyra
- 13/2: Big Rock
- 10/1: Chaldean
- 14/1: Facteur Cheval
- 20/1: Angel Bleu
- 50/1: Rogue Millennium
- 66/1: Checkandchallenge, Hi Royal
- 80/1: Epictetus