Ramonti Camp Confident

Saeed bin Suroor is confident Ramonti can reverse Prix du Moulin form with Darjina in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

Godolphin's tough five-year-old went down by two lengths at Longchamp but previously showed real guts to land the Queen Anne and Sussex Stakes.

Bin Suroor acknowledges the Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained Darjina again represents the biggest danger to Ramonti but is unfazed by the prospect of a rematch.

He said: 'Ramonti worked well on Monday and has been cantering since. He is sound and happy.

'I am looking forward to running him in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

'The filly Darjina will be tough to beat. She won from Ramonti last time but I think the stiff mile at Ascot will suit our horse.'

The son of Martino Alonso will also have the added assistance of Blue Ksar, who will attempt to ensure a decent gallop for his stablemate.

Suroor told www.godolphin.com: 'Blue Ksar is in the race to act as a pacemaker and make sure of a nice pace for Ramonti, who prefers good or good to firm ground.

'We don't want the ground too soft.'

Nicolas Clement hopes Stormy River can finish his racing career with a flourish.

The grey colt is poised to head to stud after the QEII, having shown excellent form as a three-year-old.

Although things have not quite gone his way this year, Stormy River was reported to have scoped badly after his Prix Jacques le Marois fifth.

Suitably reinvigorated after those exertions, Clement anticipates a polished display on his swansong.

'It will probably be his last race and we are hoping he goes out in style with a good run,' said the Chantilly-based handler.

'He enjoyed Ascot in the St James's Palace Stakes last season (when second to Araafa) and we hope he does so again.

'He had mucus and did not run his race at Deauville. We think he will do better this time.'

Vital Equine's participation hinges on the condition of the ground at the Berkshire track.

Eoghan O'Neill's 2000 Guineas runner-up has not been seen on a racetrack since finding the going too quick in the Irish equivalent four months ago.

Despite giving off the right signals in a piece of work earlier this week, O'Neill said: 'He's got to have his ground and won't be running on firm ground.

'He worked fine on Tuesday morning but he's a horse who does not like firm ground.

'I want to run him and we will go down there in the morning and he'll do all his health checks.

'We just need to see how the ground is.'

O'Neill will be heartened by the weather forecast, however, as rain is expected on Friday and Saturday.

Ascot clerk of the course Chris Stickels told At The Races: 'I think the course is in great condition for this time of year.

'A little rain won't do any harm but hopefully we won't get too much.

'If there is five or six (millimetres) today and a couple tomorrow it might start to get in (the ground).

'But I would be confident in saying that we would be predominantly good ground, even with that rain tomorrow.'

(C) PA Sport