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Monterosso turned in an impressive display to land the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot for Mark Johnston and Frankie Dettori.

The 7-2 chance came into the race having won four of his last five starts and was sent to the front halfway up the straight, sweeping aside Derby runner-up At First Sight.

The result was never in doubt thereafter as the three-year-old excelled on this step up to a mile and half to pass the post two and a quarter lengths ahead of Arctic Cosmos, with Buzzword third.

Johnston said: “That day at Ripon when he won a handicap was the day we really saw the class. He was in an impossible position, but he won and we saw a good horse. It told us to start stepping up in class.

“You could see what a green horse we had then. He really didn’t know what his job was. He’s a completely different animal now.

“Frankie was full of confidence. He said to me he loved the horse and he had said after Newmarket he really didn’t think trip was an issue, that this horse had the speed for a mile but the aptitude for a mile and a half.

“We haven’t discussed plans. The owners need to be consulted and we’ll talk to them. I did hear Frankie mention the Irish Derby to Sheikh Mohammed, so that’s maybe something to think about.”

Dettori added: “I really like him. We stepped him up in distance, he keeps on improving and I thought it was a tremendous performance. Perhaps a pop at the Irish Derby could be on the cards. He’s still learning and that’s a good sign.”

The runner-up’s trainer John Gosden said: “It was a huge run and I’m really delighted. We’ll put him away now and bring him back for the St Leger. He could run in one of the trials or I could even look at a Listed race for him.”

Freddie Head has fired an ominous warning shot at Goldikova’s Queen Anne Stakes rivals by declaring his star mare to be in the form of her life.

Tuesday’s Royal Ascot curtain-raiser promises to be the race of the meeting with Goldikova being joined by brilliant Lockinge winner Paco Boy and dual Group One winner Rip Van Winkle, and Head’s five-year-old already has eight Group One successes to her credit.

The handler said: “She is in very good form and has arrived at Ascot. She travelled very well and we are looking forward to a very good race. I think she has improved since her first run of the year at Longchamp and she always does improve for her first run.”

He added: “The ground is going to be fast I hope and she loves a straight course, so I hope and think we can win. She is very well and I think she is better than ever.”

Rip Van Winkle has his first start since finishing down the field in the Breeders’ Cup Classic but he had previously won the Sussex Stakes and the QEII as well as finishing just a length behind wonder-horse Sea The Stars in the Coral-Eclipse.

His trainer Aidan O’Brien told At The Races: “He’s in good form but this is his first run of the season and we are a little bit worried as a lot of our horses have improved from their first run to their second run and their second run to their third.

“He’s as well as we could have him, but obviously it is a big championship race and ideally you would like to be going into it having got a run into him. We are very happy with him and he’s done very well since last year.

“He’s a stronger horse this year and you’re never sure until they run, but he’s been showing us all the right signs.

“Paco Boy and Goldikova are two exceptional horses and it’s a great race for everybody to look forward to.”

Freddie Head believes Goldikova to be in the best shape of her career ahead of a cracking renewal of the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday.

The dual Breeders’ Cup Mile heroine may be favourite at 13-8 with Stan James to land her ninth Group One, but she faces extremely tough competition headed by last year’s winner Paco Boy and Rip Van Winkle.

“I think she is very well and I have her in very good condition. Everything has been going to plan since her last run and I expect her to run a great race on Tuesday. It is hard to say if she is better than ever as she has been so good, but I would think she is in the best shape I have ever had her,” Head told At The Races.

“She won the Prix d’Ispahan over nine furlongs last time, but a mile is her distance. She is a real miler. I am happy with being drawn in stall one. Olivier (Peslier) will do his best. She is an easy to ride, you can do whatever you want with her. What we want is a clear run and I hope she runs her best.

“You can put her where you like and she has a very good turn of foot too. I know she will have to be at her best. It’s not a walkover – we know it’s a top-class race.

“I’ve got no problem with her at the start. She has been going into the stalls since her last race. Everything has been OK and she has run in England before and I think she will behave well. I am very hopeful she is in the best form and I think she will run a cracking race.

“I would love to win at Royal Ascot. I haven’t been lucky there but I think she will turn things around.”

While Head is not worried about her behaviour at the start, Peslier admits he is slightly concerned.

He said: “Obviously she has won eight Group Ones and Paco Boy is very strong, but mine broke the record last time. It depends how she starts how I will ride her. It also depends on the pace if I ride her near the front or back. She’s not easy to get in the gate. That’s the only point that is tricky with her.”

Richard Hannon’s Paco Boy confirmed his well-being when put through his paces on Sunday morning and told his website, www.richardhannonracing.tv: “Paco Boy worked well with Lucky General and is in great shape for his clash with Goldikova and Rip Van Winkle, which should be a humdinger of an opener to the meeting.”

Paco Boy, Goldikova and Rip Van Winkle all feature among 12 entries for a mouthwatering renewal of the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday.

Rip Van Winkle, trained by Aidan O’Brien, boasts top-level form having won the Sussex Stakes and the QEII last year, but he has been off the track since finishing down the field in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Richard Hannon’s Paco Boy is set to bid for a second successive win in the Queen Anne and could hardly be in better form having annihilated his rivals in last month’s Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

Freddie Head’s wonder mare Goldikova looked as good as ever on her recent reappearance, recording a remarkable eighth Group One victory in the Prix D’Ispahan at Longchamp.

The Godolphin camp could be represented by Saeed bin Suroor’s Alexandros and the Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained Calming Influence. Other interesting contenders include Zacinto, Dalghar, Pipedreamer and Ouqba.

Paco Boy’s team are in confident mood ahead of Royal Ascot’s ‘race of the week’ – the Queen Anne Stakes.

Dual Breeders’ Cup Mile heroine Goldikova and Sussex Stakes winner Rip Van Winkle are preparing to take on the apple of Richard Hannon’s eye in what should be a thrilling contest.

His son and assistant Richard jnr told At The Races: “The Queen Anne looks like being the race of the week and hopefully they will all turn up and it will be a very good race. Goldikova is very good and she’ll be very hard to beat.”

He added: “I think Paco Boy is better this year, he seems to have improved but Goldikova is a champion and Paco Boy is not at that status yet.

“He does seem better this year than ever and if he’s ever going to beat her, it will be this year.

“There is still a very small chance we might have a look at the Golden Jubilee, but I would say that it is more than likely he’ll run in the Queen Anne. He’s very adaptable, he’s very fast.

“We need them all to meet for racing. Not that we need to build Royal Ascot up, but I imagine there will be a lot of people going just to see that race alone.”