Royal Ascot: Charlie Appleby's runners

Newmarket trainer Charlie Appleby has established himself as Britain's leading handler and the centrepiece in the Godolphin resurgence of recent seasons.

Appleby catapulted himself into the limelight when Masar ended Godolphin's wait for Epsom Derby glory in 2018.

Here we take a look at some of his possible Royal Ascot contenders in 2023, with a reminder that every race across the five days from Tuesday 20th June to Saturday 24th June can be watched via the bet365 Sports Live streaming platform.

What	Royal Ascot 2023
Where	Royal Ascot, Ascot Racecourse
When	Tuesday 20th June - Saturday 24th June
How to watch	bet365 Sports Live Streaming, ITV, Sky Sports Racing

Queen Anne Stakes

Modern Games @ 9/4

The opening contest of the meeting is the one-mile Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes and it's a race Appleby has not managed to win. He does, though, have a leading contender in 2023 in Lockinge winner Modern Games.

The jet-setter has won five times in elite company on both sides of the Atlantic, three US wins going alongside last May's Longchamp success and that most recent score at Newbury.

He won the Lockinge in spite of William Buick being bitten by Chindit in the run to the line and will look to stake his claim as Europe's top older miler by adding this prize.

Prince Of Wales's Stakes

Adayar @ 4/1

Winner of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes in July 2021, Adayar could get his first taste of Royal Ascot this summer.

He has been lightly-raced over the last two seasons. but ended last term with a fine second behind Bay Bridge in the Qipco Champion Stakes at this venue.

This season commenced with a commanding win in the bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes at Newmarket in early May over the mile-and-a-quarter distance.

On the back of that, he's just behind the likes of Luxembourg (3/1) and old foe Bay Bridge (7/2) in the betting for the Prince Of Wales's Stakes on 21st June.

Ribblesdale Stakes

Sapphire Seas

Frankel filly Sapphire Seas has taken a pair of quick steps forward after finishing fourth on her racecourse bow at Kempton over a mile in January.

She had to work hard to land a Wolverhampton novice that same month as stablemate Mountain Song pushed her in a race that has produced plenty of subsequent winners.

It was back at Kempton in April that she made her statement however, readily brushing aside the William Haggas-trained Crack Of Light in another novice heat.

That rival has since gone well in a Listed contest at Newbury and Sapphire Seas holds a Ribblesdale entry as connections ponder stepping into Group race company.

Commonwealth Cup

Noble Style @ 12/1

Unbeaten in three last summer and winner of York's Gimcrack, Noble Style essentially ran a solid race upped to a mile in the Guineas at Newmarket on his return as he finished sixth behind Chaldean.

Next stop for him was Newbury at the Listed Carnarvon Stakes back at six-furlongs. He was odds-on for that, but ran no sort of race as Shaquille dominated in front and Noble Style plugged on to finish third.

He can surely prove himself better than that this summer and perhaps the shock of going back sprinting took some effect.

He holds Commonwealth Cup and St James's Palace Stakes (mile) entries at Royal Ascot and it's too soon to be casting him aside given how impressive he was last season.

Ascot Gold Cup

Yibir @ 16/1

With reigning champ Kyprios sidelined and some of the leading contenders fluffing their lines this spring, the Ascot Gold Cup looks a truly open race in 2023.

It's another of the Royal Ascot jewels that Appleby seeks a maiden victory in and it looks as though Yibir might be the one he's considering playing with.

The 5YO has yet to run beyond a mile-and-a-half, but he was very impressive in his Group 2 Newmarket win over the trip last July and is entitled to be sharper having had his only run since at Newbury in May over the same trip.

He could be a wildcard for the Gold Cup, a race Godolphin last won with Colour Vision under Frankie Dettori in 2012.