Meet the trainers in form as Royal Ascot approaches

Royal Ascot is just days away as the racing fraternity in Britain and Ireland prepare for one of the biggest meetings of the entire year.

It will be all top hats and style come Tuesday afternoon on the Ascot lawns and we're pinpointing five trainers heading to Royal Ascot in good form.

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James Owen

Newmarket-based James Owen heads for the biggest week of the Flat season with his string in superb fettle. For the month of June he has started out with a 23 per cent strike-rate (9-38 at the time of writing with nine more placed runners) and hopes will be high for some big runs at Royal Ascot.

East India Dock is set to target the Ascot Stakes Handicap, Ambiente Friendly has an entry in the Wolferton and Lavender Hill Mob could tackle the Copper Horse.

Owen's hands-on approach and attention to detail have been instrumental in the yard's success and a first Royal Ascot winner is surely on his to-do list.

Andrew Balding

Andrew Balding will have a strong team bound for Ascot from his Kingsclere base, where he's been based for more than two decades since succeeding his father, Ian. Windlord is in line for the St James's Palace Stakes on day one of the meeting, while Tropical Storm and Flora Of Bermuda could be bound for the King Charles III Stakes.

His veteran Coltrane may line up in another Gold Cup on Thursday, while Jonquil is amongst the Commonwealth Cup hopefuls.

In the fortnight leading up to Royal Ascot, Balding's strike-rate traded at just over 21 per cent.

Charlie Appleby

That figure looks decidedly low alongside Charlie Appleby's name, with the Godolphin handler operating at a scarcely believable 36 per cent in recent weeks.

The Newmarket handler will be unleashing some stellar names at Royal Ascot, with Ruling Court Notable Speech and Military Code all holding big entries on day one.

Meanwhile, in the handicaps, the likes of Arabian Light (Hunt Cup), Endless Victory (Copper Horse) and Symbol Of Honour (Wokingham Stakes) are all possible contenders for a trainer in red-hot form.

Aidan O'Brien

Ballydoyle supremo Aidan O'Brien has typically found his stride in time for this meeting, fresh from an Epsom Oaks/Derby double this month.

The Irishman was operating at just under 27 per cent in the first two weeks of the month and will be travelling to Ascot with a string of major chances to add to his record-breaking Royal Ascot tally of 91 winners. Henri Matisse in the St James's Palace Stakes, Los Angeles in the Prince Of Wales' Stakes, Illinois in the Gold Cup and Storm Boy in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes are just some of the major hopes in Group 1 contests that O'Brien will have high hopes for.

Roger Varian

Roger Varian's strike-rate is a little lower than some on this list, coming in at 18 per cent in the most recent fortnight, but a level stakes profit of +45.41 means punters would be in clover if following his string.

Enfjaar is the owner of an excellent Ascot record and he's likely to prove hugely popular in the Wolferton Stakes, while Fantastic Fox and My Cloud are possible Hunt Cup contenders and the lightly raced but promising Rahiebb is seemingly bound for the Queen's Vase.