2 Irish amongst Hardwicke 10

Olivier Peslier is relishing the opportunity to potentially ride a Royal Ascot winner for the Queen in the Hardwicke Stakes on Saturday.

The leading French jockey will carry the Royal colours aboard Dartmouth in a Group Two contest trainer Sir Michael Stoute won for a record ninth time with Snow Sky 12 months ago.

Dartmouth certainly has strong credentials, having landed the John Porter Stakes at Chelmsford and the Ormonde Stakes at Chester already this season.

Peslier said: "He is a nice horse. Sir Michael Stoute is very confident and says that he has a good chance.

"I hope I win for the Queen. It is her meeting. Riding for her I am very pleased and if win it will be superb.

"The race is very tough and we will have to see what the conditions are like. I hope the ground is not too sticky."

Stoute also saddles the Khalid Abdullah-owned Exosphere, who could not have been more impressive on his seasonal return in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket in April.

Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: "He had been working nicely going into the Jockey Club Stakes but, with two Classic winners in there (Simple Verse and Jack Hobbs), we were far from confident.

"He follows a pretty well-trodden Sir Michael Stoute pathway and we were very happy with the way he quickened and put the race to bed.

"This was always the plan, to come here. I don't think he would mind ease in the ground, but I am not sure he would want it very soft.

"Certainly Beat Hollows go in that ground and he is in good shape.

"I think if you said to me last time that he would have beaten two Classic winners I would have been surprised, but he worked exceptionally well beforehand and although it doesn't always translate on track, it worked out well.

Since chasing home Exosphere at Newmarket, last season's St Leger heroine Simple Verse has finished fourth in the Coronation Cup at Epsom.

Trainer Ralph Beckett said: "It was a late decision to run. I was hoping she'd shown the right signs during the week and she has."

Almodovar is an interesting contender for David Lanigan, having made a big impression on his first start of the year in a Kempton handicap last month.

"He's in good order, I'd just love the ground to dry up a little," said Lanigan.

"He won't mind it - he's won on good to soft - but I wouldn't want it heavy.

"He did what was expected of him last time out but the handicapper but him up 14lb so we are where we are - the Duke of Edinburgh had been the aim."

Wicklow Brave was narrowly beaten by Dartmouth at Chester.

Jockey William Buick rides Willie Mullins' dual-purpose performer and is looking forward to the rematch.

He said: "He ran very well in the Ormonde and went very close. I think had I not dropped my whip he would have gone close to winning. It was a good run.

"He will like the ground and I think he will have a good chance."

Astronereus caused a minor upset when winning a Group Three at Newbury a month ago for trainer Amanda Perrett and jockey Pat Dobbs.

Dobbs said: "He is very tough and he won't mind the ground. He's got a nice draw and we hope for the best.

"He has got to improve again, but he is good fresh and they have kept him fresh for this race, so hopefully it will work out. This has been the plan since Newbury.

"He has improved again from last year to this year. I think it is just age that has helped him.

"They have done a bit of work with him over the winter as he had a few niggly problems and that seems to have sorted them out."

Mount Logan is an outsider, despite winning the Listed Tapster Stakes at Goodwood last time out.

"I am very pleased with him. He has tightened up and improved from his comeback run at Goodwood," said trainer Roger Varian.

"The ground is arguably a bit too soft but I think he is in brilliant form at home."

Other contenders include John Gosden's Eagle Top, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Highland Reel and Godolphin's Middleton Stakes winner Beautiful Romance.

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor told www.godolphin.com: "Beautiful Romance is a tough filly who showed her true form when winning the Group Two Middleton Stakes on her most recent start.

"She has also shown good form at Ascot and likes soft ground. I am looking forward to seeing her run well."