Brothers In Arms

Ireland have provided four of the last six winners of Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry S. and there is another strong contingent from the Emerald Isle on Tuesday headed by the unbeaten Brother Bear (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). Mill House LLC's bay followed a debut win over an extended six furlongs at Leopardstown May 7 with a more decisive success in the Listed Marble Hill S. staged for the first time over this trip at The Curragh 20 days later and trainer Jessie Harrington seems to be on an endless roll that began before her stable achieved Cheltenham Gold Cup glory in March. “We don't have many favourites at Cheltenham, so to have one at Royal Ascot is something completely different,” she said. “He travelled over well and all seems to be good.” Derrick Smith's colours are carried by a trio, with Wesley Ward saddling the impressive Belmont scorer Arawak (Uncle Mo) alongside Aidan O'Brien's Murillo (Scat Daddy) and U S Navy Flag (War Front). Ward is after an eighth Royal winner and first in this race and is keen on the prospects of Arawak. “I think he is going to have a big chance,” he said. “At home, he has a longer stride and eventually he is going to be a miler. His Ascot work was much better than we saw at Keeneland. He took McErin (Trappe Shot) right down to the wire and I was really happy to see that. I think he's worthy to come over and he trains better on grass than dirt.”

Richard Hannon Jr has yet to add to his father's tally of three winners of this prize, but the wait could be ended by either Denaar (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) or De Bruyne Horse (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). The former is two-for-two after outings at Chelmsford May 8 and Newbury May 20 and represents Al Shaqab Racing, while De Bruyne Horse earned vital experience of the big occasion when successful in the Woodcote S. on Epsom Derby day June 2. Owned by the Middleham Park syndicate, their spokesman Tom Palin commented, “He's got the form, he's got the class, he's got the sire and he ticks a lot of the stats.”

Charlie Appleby saddles Aqabah (Exchange Rate), who was fourth and a place behind U S Navy Flag in the Marble Hill, and also the York maiden winner Zaman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}). The latter received a boost when the runner-up Royal Household (GB) (Camacho {GB}) scored at Goodwood last week and is held in high regard. “Aqabah won on his first start at Ascot, so he has course experience and then he went to the Curragh and finished fourth but I wasn't disappointed because the ground went against us,” he explained. “He has an American pedigree and the soft going did not suit him. Zaman won on his only start at York last month and, as he was purchased at the breeze-up sales, he knew his job first time out and looks to have strengthened since.”