Butterfly McQueen can defy penalty in Deloitte Handicap

Cape Peron went to the Royal meeting with a tall reputation after showing a devastating turn of foot at Doncaster on his previous start. Trainer Henry Candy was hesitant about running the colt on the fast ground that day and has decided that insufficient rain has fallen on the Ascot area this week.

In the absence of the original favourite, the race looks wide open. Godolphin’s Tarikhi finished ahead of Cape Peron in the Britannia Stakes. He was stepped up to a mile and a quarter at Newmarket next time but could do no better than third.

Intrigo and Makafeh finished first and second in a decent looking handicap at Doncaster recently. The runner-up has a 2lbs pull for a length defeat and it should be close between the pair.

Sir Michael Stoute’s Defendant and Ralph Beckett’s Secret Art are tough and consistent whilst Henry The Aviator represents the in-form Mark Johnston stable. All three looked handicapped to their best form and there may be one or two with more improvement to come.

Roger Varian’s Yarroom has only had one start this season when finishing third behind Haafaguinea at Sandown. Jeremy Noseda’s Yeager could also be on the upgrade after winning at the third time of asking and Butterfly McQueen bounded clear to win by six lengths here last time out.

The handicapper has taken a dim view of that latest success and has lumped a whopping 12lbs on to his rating here. Thomas Brown takes off 3lbs and it is hard to ignore him after the way he routed the opposition.

Ryan Moore partners Tamayuz Star for Richard Hannon, although he is presumably the second string with Hughes preferring Intrigo. Zalty is yet another worthy of consideration in a top quality handicap.

Selection: Butterfly McQueen
Danger: Yeager