It is a shame that Canford Cliffs is an absentee from Saturdays Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. It would have been a mouth watering clash between him, Makfi and Rip Van Winkle. This race worth £250,000.00 and run over one mile is usually won by a champion miler. Rip Van Winkle (pictured) won the race last year and if in the same form as then will take all the beating. He does need the going to be good to produce his best whereas Makfi can produce his running on any ground. Makfi’s long term target is the Breeders Cup Mile in America so connections will not want him to have too punishing race on Saturday. With a pacemaker in the race for Rip Van Winkle they are likely to go a searching gallop so the winner will need to stay beyond a mile as Rip Van Winkle has already proved. It should be an interesting and tactical race.