The cream of older European milers will charge up the straight for the traditional launch of Royal Ascot in Tuesday’s Group One Queen Anne Stakes (1,600m).

The field is headed by French stars Facteur Cheval and Big Rock and Newmarket-trained pair Audience and Charyn.

The Group One Lockinge Stakes (1,600m) has traditionally been the main stepping stone to the Queen Anne and, at Newbury last month, a super front-running ride from Robert Havlin aboard Audience resulted in a victory over Charyn and eight others that few had predicted.

But there is little doubt Audience – racing on far side – was on the quickest part of the track that day as opposed to the grey Charyn, whose late surge came from the nearside.

And with Ascot being a notably stiffer track than Newbury, there must be significant chances of a turnaround this time.

“[Charyn] was very impressive in the Lockinge even though he didn’t win. It was a strange race but he came right away from those he was racing with. This will be very different affair and I don’t think I’d swap him for any of the others,” said trainer Roger Varian.

Charyn’s task has been simplified by the decision to switch brilliant mare Inspiral to Wednesday’s Group One Prince of Wales’s Stakes (1,993m) but Facteur Cheval remains a serious obstacle.

The Jerome Reynier-trained gelding had outpointed world-class talent to win his first Group One in the Dubai Turf (1,800m) at Meydan in March.

He narrowly grabbed the big money from Namur that day and that mare’s narrow defeat by Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior in Tokyo’s Group One Yasuda Kinen (1,600m) this month adds fresh polish to the victory.

Reflecting on Facteur Cheval’s Dubai experience, Reynier says: “He was ignored over there, just an outsider. But he showed the world that he was one of the best on turf.

“When you go racing with him there is never any doubt about him giving his best. Now he’s more mature he’s ready to run even better. We think he will get the strong pace he wants on Tuesday and Maxime [Guyon] is very confident.”

Three races after the Queen Anne Stakes, the Group One St James’s Palace Stakes (1,600m) for three-year-old colts presents a different challenge as it involves a right-hand bend.

Strong Guineas form has historically stood up in the St James’s Palace Stakes and that profile is clearly represented this year by the Charlie Appleby-trained Notable Speech and Richard Hannon’s Rosallion.

The pair finished first and second in the Group One 2,000 Guineas (1,600m) at Newmarket, with Rosallion going onto hype the form further with victory in the Group One Irish 2,000 Guineas (1,600m) at the Curragh.

“I can’t hide my enthusiasm for this horse. He’s the best I’ve ever trained. It is a big challenge to try and reverse Newmarket form with Notable Speech but I’m sure there is still more to come from our colt,” said Hannon.

One of seven races to be offered for betting by the Jockey Club on day one of the festival, the Queen Anne Stakes kicks off at 9.30pm Hong Kong time.