Tudhope has Dettori accolade in sights at the Royal meeting

DANNY TUDHOPE hopes to complete a famous Royal Ascot double aboard Space Traveller in today’s Queen Anne Stakes, one of the most prestigious races of the whole week.

The North Yorkshire jockey won last year’s Jersey Stakes on the Richard Fahey-trained fouryear-old.

It was one of four winners at the flagship fixture for Tudhope who confirmed his status as one of the country’s top big race riders.

His haul included the Queen Anne, a one-mile championship race for older horses, on the David O’Meara-trained Lord Glitters – the jockey’s biggest win to date.

Victory today would see Tudhope become the first rider to win successive renewals of the Ascot showpiece since a certain Frankie Dettori prevailed on Dubai Destination and Refuse To Ben in 2003 and 2004 respectively.

Space Traveller also hails from a yard that knows what it takes to win this race – Malton-based Fahey won the 2017 contest with Ribchester who was ridden to glory by William Buick.

A competitive contest, Aidan O’Brien’s Circus Maximus is a worthy favourite while Terrebullum represents the inform duo of Dettori and trainer John Gosden.

Yet the atmsophere, with no crowds present, will be very different to previous renewals of the Royal meeting.

“We’ve had Black Ascot (following the death of King Edward VII in 1910), the year of Foot and Mouth – and all the challenges that presented – as well as moving the Royal meeting to York, but it’s fair to say we’ve never seen anything quite like this,” said Ascot’s director of racing Nick Smith.

“It’s certainly a bit strange, but we’re now embracing the

DANNY TUDHOPE: Winning on Space Traveller at Royal Ascot last year.

situation we’re in and getting excited about the week ahead.”

The Queen will miss Royal Ascot for the first time in her 68-year-reign due to the Covid-19 outbreak, meaning there will be no Royal procession on the course, while the traditional outfit of top hat and tails will be replaced by personal protective equipment.

However, Smith is confident both those in attendance and those watching on TV screens around the world will still enjoy the experience.

“We’re not pretending things are going to be the same as usual – but even with the social distancing in place, I do think the atmosphere will build throughout each day,” he added.

“There’ll be more people in the parade ring than has been the case up to this point (so far this summer).

“ITV will be broadcasting from the parade ring this week, which I think will help create a focus.

“We’ve managed to create a secluded pen for the ITV team!

“There’ll be no top hats and finery on course this year. It’s a bit ironic that we’re asking people off-course to dress up for the #StyledWithThanks Campaign, while the people on course will be dressing practically and with safety in mind.”