Ascot set to roll

HOT favourite Animal Kingdom will face a maximum of 14 rivals in Tuesday’s Queen Anne Stakes, the opening event of Royal Ascot. Graham Motion’s American raider has been all the rage for the mile heat following his impressive victory in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan in March.

The five-year-old, set to stand at stud in Australia later this year, also won the 2011 Kentucky Derby and will be dropping back to 1600m for the first time since finishing second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Aidan O’Brien’s Declaration Of War is next in the betting, despite his flop in the Lockinge Stakes on his return at Newbury last month.

The master of Ballydoyle also has Reply – who runs at Leopardstown on Thursday – and Windsor Palace in the line-up, while John Gosden is another with two to choose from, with Elusive Kate and Gregorian in the mix.