Ascot preview: Ideal conditions for Sioux Nation

On good-to-firm ground Sioux Nation’s form reads 2111 and the Aidan O’Brien-trained Scat Daddy colt can enhance that record by landing the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, set to be run on his ideal conditions, on the penultimate day of Royal Ascot 2018.

Winner of the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at this meeting in 2017, he won at the top level on his next outing, in the Phoenix Stakes at The Curragh, and wrapped up his juvenile season with a defeat on ground that had just gone against him. It also wasn’t in favour when beaten on his seasonal debut, but he stepped up to win a Group 3 at Naas with a considerable amount in hand.

Those two runs should have teed him up nicely for his return to the top level and he can prove too sharp for the progressive Equilateral and Heartache, the latter of which looked top-class last year and can be forgiven her comeback run. She can outrun odds of 20-1.