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Meet the international raiders hoping to plunder Royal Ascot riches

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Meet the international raiders hoping to plunder Royal Ascot riches

There are runners from France, Australia and the US at this year’s five day royal meeting, as well as the usual powerful contingent from Ireland

French champion BIg Rock: tackles the Queen Anne Stakes(Icon Sport via Getty Images)

There are a host of international runners as usual at Royal Ascot but the real stars come from France this year who are aiming to end a five year run without a win. We have highlighted some of the stars here.

TUESDAY




BIG ROCK (France), trained by Maurizio Guarnieri – Queen Anne Stakes

Routed the field in last year’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes but a bitter disappointment in the Lockinge Stakes on debut for his new trainer. Christhophe Soumillon takes over the ride.

“The ground was not soft but the other problem was the stalls because the jockey tried to get away first and the horse put his nose on the stall and then put his knees on the ground,” explains Guarnieri. “For a frontrunner that is a real problem.

“He finished two lengths to Inspiral who finished fourth. It wasn’t a real bad performance. Big Rock is a real champion and I think he has improved from Newbury.”

FACTEUR CHEVAL (France), trained by Jerome Reynier – Queen Anne Stakes

Finished six lengths second on Big Rock at Ascot last October, then gave his Marseille-based trainer his richest win when beating a top field to win the Dubai Turf in March.

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