Frankie Dettori rides Without Parole in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

Horse Talk with Simon Jackson:

Top horse racing tips and the latest news.

Royal Ascot takes centre stage this week where many of the best thoroughbreds in the world contest some of horse racing’s biggest prizes.

The Royal meeting combines five days of high-quality racing and glamour at the glorious racecourse in Berksire from next Tuesday June 19 to Saturday June 23.

The six-race card on the opening day is highlighted by the St James’s Palace Stakes which has attracted an intriguing field that includes QIPCO 2000 Guineas runner-up Tip Two Win and Without Parole, who extended his unbeaten record to three starts when scoring at Sandown last month under Frankie Dettori.

The John Gosden trained Without Parole was prominent in the betting for the 2000 Guineas after wide-margin wins at Newcastle and Yarmouth but was forced to miss the first Classic race of the season due to a bruised hoof.

Dettori is set to maintain the partnership on Without Parole who is taken to emulate his sire Frankel who won the St James’s Palace Stakes in 2011.

“Without Parole worked last Saturday and we are happy with him. The plan now is to run in the St James’s Palace Stakes,” Gosden said earlier this week.

“The ground was against him at Sandown and we did the minimum of work to go there. He had that bruised foot and he stood in his box for 12 days.

“It was a nasty bruised foot, but he appears in good form and his work was good on Saturday,” the trainer told Racing UK.

“I’ve got lots of respect for the Tip Two Win. He sets the standard on form, as the 2000 Guineas is the best piece of form of the year.”

Elsewhere, the 2016 Gold Cup winner Order Of St George on Thursday is fancied to reclaim the honour after he was narrowly beaten in this race last year.

Aidan O’Brien’s charge has won both of his starts this term for the stable’s No.1 jockey Ryan Moore. Riding arrangements have yet to be confirmed, but the trainer’s son and in-form jockey Donnacha O’Brien reckons Order Of St George is the one to beat.

“He’s the best stayer around and it’s the biggest race of the week, so who wouldn’t love to ride him? Donnacha O’Brien said. “He’s come back as good as ever this year and seems in great form at home. He’s the one they all have to beat in that race.”

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