It is 14 years since Frankie Dettori rode all seven winners on QEII Saturday’s Ascot card and whilst there will not be a repeat of the Italian’s magnificent seven this weekend, Poet’s Voice (4.15) still represents excellent value in the feature – a race slightly devalued by the absence of antepost favourite Canford Cliffs.

Sign up with Stan James through Bettingpro and get a free £25 bet on Saturday's action at Ascot.  Simply register with the firm using bonus code MAXIMUMBONUS.
 
StanJames.com 2000 Guineas winner Makfi is likely to go off a short-priced favourite and many will consider him a certainty given how easily disposed of the brilliant mare Goldikova at Deauville last time. That was a visually stunning display although there are grounds to believe that the mare failed to give her running on the very soft ground.
 
Makfi had previously finished down the field over today’s C&D when disappointing in the St James’s Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting, and whilst connections suggested the colt was suffering from a throat infection at the time it would take a brave man to back the French raider at the forecast price given that unhappy experience.
 
Rip Van Winkle is bidding to become the first horse since Rose Bowl in 75/76 to win this great race back-to-back but he didn’t look to be crying out for a drop back in trip when well held by stablemate Cape Blanco in the Irish Champion Stakes over 10f last time. Infact, he hasn’t won at a mile since the corresponding race last year and he is readily overlooked.
 
Poet’s Voice was a juvenile who looked to have a bright future last year but was a major disappointment in the first half of the season.  Godolphin seem to have found the key to the colt who has been held up in his last couple of starts and put up a cracking performance when turning the Celebration Mile into a procession at Goodwood last month. The time was excellent in the circumstances (soft ground) and he could be peaking at the right time.
 
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes: (place terms: 1/4 the first 3); prices from Stan James

4-5Makfi
9-4Rip Van Winkle
13-2Poet's Voice
14Hearts Of Fire
20Beethoven
33Red Jazz
40Bushman
125Air Chief Marshall
 
Frankel (2.30) is 6/1 favourite for the 2011 2000 Guineas and Derby with StanJames.com and cannot be opposed in the Royal Lodge Stakes. It could be that Godolphin’s Saamidd is the one to follow for next year’s 2000 Guineas but it would be foolish to put anyone off having an antepost wager on the Henry Cecil-trained Frankel for next year’s Derby, even at this stage.
 
Theyskens’ Theory takes her chance in the Fillies’ Mile and champion jockey Ryan Moore takes over in the saddle. He is likely to try and make it a true test although White Moonstone (3.05) has got to be the recommendation after her brilliant win in the May Hill at Doncaster earlier in the month.
 
Unbeaten in three starts White Moonstone is currently 8/1 with StanJames.com for both the 2011 1000 Guineas and Oaks and those prices will contract if the Godolphin filly maintains her unbeaten record on Saturday afternoon.
 
The card opens with a 21-runner handicap over the round mile and luck in-running will play a big part. Sajjhaa will have her supporters after her recent Bath success but on the revised terms Forest Crown (1.55) can return to winning ways having not had the run of the race last time.
 
The big betting race of the day is the Challenge Cup over 7f. Last weekend’s Ayr Gold Cup winner Redford is reunited with Frankie Dettori and the additional furlong will not trouble the Dandy Nicholls trained five-year-old. He looks to have a tremendous draw in stall 28 but he has never been the most consistent of animals and preference is for Mia’s Boy(3.40) who has been given a mid-season break and thoroughly deserves to win one of these valuable handicaps. His jockey Adam Beschizza is very good value for his 5lb claim and the yard had a welcome winner at Folkestone earlier in the week.
 
Antigua Sunrise (2.05) is a horse who had promised much but failed to deliver before a facile success at York last time and a 4lb rise in the weights doesn’t appear too harsh. Paul Hanagan takes over and the likelihood of soft ground at Haydock is no concern.