Endless team happy with Ascot rain Connections of Endless Drama are happy with the recent rain that has fallen in Berkshire ahead of Tuesday's Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. The Ger Lyons-trained colt, runner-up to Gleneagles in last season's Irish 2,000 Guineas, ran an excellent race on his first competitive start in almost a year to take third in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. The trainer's brother Shane feels the rain-softened ground enhances his claims. He said: "The rain they have got at Ascot certainly won't do any harm. He can handle cut in the ground well and, maybe more importantly, it will inconvenience some of the opposition." Belardo came with a withering late run to claim the second Group One victory of his career in the Lockinge and trainer Roger Varian is expecting another bold show. He said: "We're very pleased with him, his work has been excellent since the Lockinge. He's a stronger horse this year, he's holding his condition much better. I couldn't be more pleased with him and I'm really looking forward to the race." Connections of Tepin are confident the rain-softened ground will not be detrimental to her chances. The brilliant American mare has been prolific in her homeland and is one of the leading contenders for the first race of the week at the summer showpiece fixture. Norman Casse, assistant trainer to his father Mark, reports last season's Breeders' Cup Mile heroine to have taken her transatlantic journey in her stride. He told At The Races: "All the indicators are the horse has acclimatised, she's eating well and seems happy so no complaints. She used to be a bit flighty and nervous, but now she's laid-back as she's got older and it's made her a more effective racehorse. "The reason she is here is because of the racehorse she has become, she's more professional and I don't think anything will rattle her. This is the biggest stage she'll ever be on, but I think she's ready and will handle it. "Everybody is worried about the weather, but if you look at her race before the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, it rained for three days before it and they nearly switched it to dirt and that may be the best race she ever ran. "Her last race was something of a gimme and it was to get her 100 per cent for here, so far it has all worked out."
