Rain scuppers Arod and Roc Royal Ascot plan

Arod and Ready To Roc have been withdrawn from their intended engagements at Royal Ascot today.

Heavy showers fell again this morning, and after Qatar Racing manager David Redvers walked the course it was decided to take Arod out of the St James's Palace Stakes, and Ready To Roc from the final event, the Windsor Forest Stakes.

Endless Drama (Colin Keane) and Lightning Spear (Oisin Murphy) take their chance in the Gr.1 Queen Anne Stakes (14.30) over Ascot's straight mile, but the depth of talent ranged against them is nothing if not potent. France's Ervedya, who won the Gr.1 Coronation Stakes at the meeting last year, America's Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Mile winner Tepin, and recent Gr.1 Lockinge Stakes winner Belardo are but three among the field who will be hard to head.

Endless Drama was a close third to Belardo at Newbury (Endless Drama in pink colours below), making his first start for a year, while Lightning Spear will be making his season's debut following the abandonment of a meeting at Windsor last month he became a Group One performer last season when trained by Olly Stevens. Tomorrow he runs for David Simcock's stable for the first time.

Ascot's going should be no hindrance to Pearl Secret, who bids to improve on his close fourth in last year's Gr.1 King's Stand Stakes (15.40), although it will also suit the likely favourite, Mecca's Angel, who enjoys the mares' allowance. Following a prep run when fourth in last month's Gr.2 Temple Stakes, trainer David Barron said of Pearl Secret: ‚"He ran a sound race, came out of it well, ate up and lost very little weight.‚"

Photograph: Laurence Squire