THERE might be no Frankel to tackle in this year's Queen Anne Stakes - but Animal Kingdom still sets a very high standard as trainer David Simcock outlined.

Animal Kingdom was an emphatic winner of the Dubai World Cup back in March and heads the 13-strong line-up for the Group 1 Royal Ascot opener on Tuesday.

The Trillium Place team will be represented by Trade Storm, no slouch himself in Dubai, winning a Group 2 and then finishing fourth in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free.

But the official handicapper has Animal Kingdom some 13lb higher on ratings and Simcock knows the American-trained horse will be a tough, tough nut to crack.

He said: "Realistically, Trade Storm would look like he is racing for second, third or fourth behind Animal Kingdom who was outstanding in Dubai.

"If he (Animal Kingdom) is anywhere near that, he will win. There is not a lot between the next six or seven in the betting."

Another Royal meeting runner on Friday looks likely to be Ray Ward. The Galileo gelding, who is also entered up in the King George V Handicap, was second to a potentially classy type in Ennistown at Haydock just over a week ago. But his trainer feels the stiffer stamina test of the 2m Group 3 is the more probable Ascot assignment.

He said: "I was happy enough with his last run, given the circumstances. He was beaten by an exciting horse so I wasn't disappointed. He will stay well, whatever."

Go Angellica, a Listed winner at two, was unable to find her best form at the Carnival earlier this year. But she appears fresh and well once more in Newmarket and has the Listed Handicap, Sandringham Stakes inked in for her first start back in the UK.

David assessed: "Go Angellica is on a retrieval mission from Dubai."

Progressive Sheikhzayedroad will have a Royal Ascot outing with either the Wolferton (10f) or Saturday's Duke of Edinburgh Stakes on his agenda. He was an impressive at Epsom on Derby Day but Simcock is not entirely sure that Ascot will suit him.

There are other Trillium Place entries, too, for Royal Ascot with David currently putting the final touches to his team for the world's greatest Flat meeting. http://royal-ascot.racingpost.com/