Royal Ascot

14:30

Runners: 16 Distance: 0m 5f 0y Going: Good to Firm

Form
EW Places: 1/5 ODDS - 3 PLACES

Verdict: The vote goes to FIRST LEGION who won well on his York debut before finishing runner-up in the National Stakes.

Charles Darwin

Jockey: R L Moore Trainer: A P O'Brien Age/Wt: 2/9-3 F: 411

9 tips

4/6

Comment: Brother to three winners including the Prix Morny and Middle Park winner Blackbeard; only fourth of seven when sent off 4-6 for his Curragh debut (5f, good) in April, but has since made all to win easily in a Navan maiden (5.8f, soft; 8-11) and a four-runner conditions event at Naas (5f, good; 1-14); he wouldn't be certain to get his own way in front again, but a major player nonetheless; stable has won this three times, the latest in 2017; entered in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
18/05/25	Naas / Unknown / F	-	1 / 4	1/14	-
26/04/25	Navan / Unknown / F	-	1 / 12	8/11	-
12/04/25	Curragh / Unknown / F	-	4 / 7	4/6	-

Naval Light

Jockey: James Doyle Trainer: K R Burke Age/Wt: 2/9-3 F: 2

1 tip

6/1

Comment: 360,000gns breeze-up purchase in April; made his debut in the same Beverley contest (5f, good; 3-1) in which connections' Shareholder made a successful debut last year before taking this, but this colt could manage only second of six; still of interest, though, and very much one for the shortlist; holds a Phoenix Stakes entry.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type		Class	Result	SP	OR
24/05/25	Beverley / Unknown / F		2	2 / 6	3/1	-

Afjan

Jockey: Alexis Pouchin Trainer: H F Devin Age/Wt: 2/9-3 F: 1

1 tip

7/1

Comment: Half-brother to two 5f winners in France whose dam finished runner-up here in the Queen Mary; won a newcomers' contest at Chantilly (5.5f; good to soft; 16-5) this month and his RPR suggests that was a useful performance; shouldn't be passed over at all lightly.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type		Class	Result	SP	OR
01/06/25	Chantilly / Maiden, Unraced / F		-	1 / 9	16/5	-

Sandals Song

Jockey: James McDonald Trainer: George Weaver Age/Wt: 2/9-3 F: 1

2 tips

8/1

Comment: Made a successful debut in the Royal Palm Juvenile at Gulfstream Park (5f, firm) last month which gained him automatic entry into this race; should be suited by the ground and it will be interesting to see how he fares in the market; trainer's previous runner in this race finished ninth of 14 in 2023.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type		Class	Result	SP	OR
10/05/25	Gulfstream Park / Stakes / F		-	1 / 8	79/10	-

First Legion

Jockey: S Foley Trainer: R Hannon Age/Wt: 2/9-3 F: 12

1 tip

14/1

Comment: 500,000gns breeze-up purchase in April; 6-1 when coming from off the pace to make a winning debut at York (6f, good to firm) last month and, despite things not entirely panning out his way, he again ran well to be beaten a length into second of seven in the Listed National Stakes at Sandown (5f, good) a fortnight later; this stiff 5f should also suit him; trainer won this in 2014; high on list.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type		Class	Result	SP	OR
29/05/25	Sandown / Listed / F		1	2 / 7	9/4	-
15/05/25	York / Unknown / F		2	1 / 11	6/1	-

Wise Approach

Jockey: W Buick Trainer: C Appleby Age/Wt: 2/9-3 F: 14

14/1

Comment: 1,000,000gns yearling; half-brother to two winners including Perfect Power (5f-7f including 2yo/three Group 1s; RPR 119); 16-5 when making a winning debut against previous winners in a conditions race over C&D (good to firm) in April, but a bit disappointing when beaten 2l into fourth of 11 behind First Legion at York (6f, good to firm) five weeks ago; 5lb better off with that rival (who was making his debut) and may fare better now returned to Ascot.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type		Class	Result	SP	OR
15/05/25	York / Unknown / F		2	4 / 11	11/8	-
30/04/25	Ascot / Unknown / F		2	1 / 13	16/5	-

Comical Point

Jockey: Oisin Murphy Trainer: A M Balding Age/Wt: 2/9-3 F: 1

1 tip

25/1

Comment: 140,000gns yearling; half-brother to a 6f AW winner out of a Listed-placed 5f winner; 17-2 when making all and holding on by a neck on his Salisbury debut (5f, good to firm) five weeks ago (first two clear); open to improvement but the form leaves him with a lot to find in this company; stable saddled the runner-up in this last year.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type		Class	Result	SP	OR
15/05/25	Salisbury / Unknown / F		4	1 / 8	17/2	-

Hey Tru Blue

Jockey: Billy Loughnane Trainer: G Boughey Age/Wt: 2/9-3 F: 2

30/1

Comment: 175,000gns breeze-up purchase in April; 9-2 when beaten just over a length into second of 13 on his Leicester debut (6f, good) last month; plenty to find on ratings but wins by the third and fifth last weekend give the form some substance; not ruled out each-way.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type		Class	Result	SP	OR
27/05/25	Leicester / Unknown / F		4	2 / 13	9/2	-

London Boy

Jockey: D Egan Trainer: Raphael Freire Age/Wt: 2/9-3 F: 1

33/1

Comment: 90,000gns foal, 300,000gns yearling; 15-8 when beating his four rivals on Brighton debut (5f, good to firm) ten days ago; the bare form needs improving upon, but that's never an easy track for a 2yo to have their first start and a Phoenix Stakes entry suggests he is held in some regard; tongue-tie is given a go; could go well.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type		Class	Result	SP	OR
09/06/25	Brighton / Unknown / F		5	1 / 5	15/8	-

Clear Force

Jockey: C Lee Trainer: K R Burke Age/Wt: 2/9-3 F: 214

40/1

Comment: Second on Musselburgh debut (5f, good) in April and easily went one better in a five-runner Ripon novice (5f, good; 1-4) 13 days later; 15-8 favourite for the Listed National Stakes at Sandown (5f, good) three weeks ago but could manage only fourth of the seven runners (just over 2l behind First Legion); something to find; one of two runners for last year's winning stable.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
29/05/25	Sandown / Listed / F	1	4 / 7	15/8	-
26/04/25	Ripon / Unknown / F	4	1 / 5	1/4	-
13/04/25	Musselburgh / Unknown / F	2	2 / 7	10/11	-

Exclamation

Jockey: Finley Marsh Trainer: G Harris Age/Wt: 2/9-3 F: 332

50/1

Comment: Made a promising debut when third of 17 in the Brocklesby at Doncaster (5f, good to soft) in March; although that race hasn't really worked out, the form of his third of six in a Newmarket novice (5f, good) and second of eight in the Lily Agnes at Chester (5f, good) certainly has; maidens have won this race in recent years and he could outrun his likely big odds.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
07/05/25	Chester / Unknown / F	2	2 / 8	14/1	-
17/04/25	Newmarket / Unknown / F	4	3 / 6	5/1	-
29/03/25	Doncaster / Unknown / F	2	3 / 17	40/1	-

Lil Brother

Jockey: T E Whelan Trainer: P Attwater Age/Wt: 2/9-3 F: 21

66/1

Comment: 50-1 for last month's Bath debut (5f, firm) but beaten under a length into second of six and went one better with a half-length success at Nottingham (5f, good) a week ago; needs to improve plenty to make an impact in this.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type		Class	Result	SP	OR
12/06/25	Nottingham / Unknown / F		5	1 / 8	6/1	-
23/05/25	Bath / Unknown / F		5	2 / 6	50/1	-

Star Material

Jockey: Connor Beasley Trainer: A Keatley Age/Wt: 2/9-3 F: 621

66/1

Comment: Finished a long way behind Clear Force on Musselburgh debut (5f, good) in April but has improved, going down narrowly to the subsequent Hilary Needler winner at Pontefract (5f, good) later in month and winning a Ripon novice (5f, good) 15 days ago; will need to step up again to play a part here, though; holds a Phoenix Stakes entry.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
04/06/25	Ripon / Unknown / F	5	1 / 8	9/4	-
30/04/25	Pontefract / Unknown / F	4	2 / 7	1/1	-
13/04/25	Musselburgh / Unknown / F	2	6 / 7	7/2	-

Graft

Jockey: K Shoemark Trainer: Mrs J Soudan Age/Wt: 2/9-3 F: 3231

100/1

Comment: Placed in his first three starts over 4.5f-6f before off the mark in a Listed event at Chantilly (5f, good to soft) this month, just getting the better of a stablemate of Clear Force and Naval Light; a player on form, but he still has something to prove having raced only on ground softer than good.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
01/06/25	Chantilly / Listed / F	-	1 / 8	41/5	-
16/05/25	Chantilly / Conditions / F	-	3 / 7	16/5	-
28/04/25	Chantilly / Conditions / F	-	2 / 6	38/5	-
04/04/25	Saint-Cloud / Claiming / F	-	3 / 10	69/10	-

Ameeq

Jockey: K Stott Trainer: K A Ryan Age/Wt: 2/9-3 F: 61

125/1

Comment: Midfield on Beverley debut (5f, good to firm) but stepped up from that when winning a Nottingham maiden (5f, good) 18 days ago (runner-up filled same position at Chester last weekend); open to further progress but that form leaves him with plenty to find at this level; stable won this in 2011.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type		Class	Result	SP	OR
01/06/25	Nottingham / Unknown / F		5	1 / 7	6/1	-
13/05/25	Beverley / Unknown / F		5	6 / 11	15/2	-

Irish Fighter

Jockey: S De Sousa Trainer: I Mohammed Age/Wt: 2/9-3 F: 2

125/1

Comment: Promising second of nine (clear of the third) on Wolverhampton debut (5f, AW; 20-1) last month; should win races but it's unlikely to be this one.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type		Class	Result	SP	OR
27/05/25	Wolverhampton / Unknown / F		5	2 / 9	20/1	-

Favourite

2nd Favourite

Royal Ascot

15:05

Runners: 19 Distance: 1m 3f 211y Handicap Going: Good to Firm

Race Predictor

Form
EW Places: 1/4 ODDS - 4 PLACES

Verdict: Ralph Beckett can win it for the third time in five years, this time with SING US A SONG who is preferred to Gunship.

Merchant

Jockey: Tom Marquand Trainer: W J Haggas Age/Wt: 3/9-4 F: 721-31 OR: 90

3 tips

11/4

Comment: Favourite for his two handicaps this season, both on good to firm and the win was never in doubt through the last 3f at York last time on his step up to 1m4f; 8lb rise demands more from him but he was impressive at York and the form has been boosted; Group 1 King George entry here next month.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
15/05/25	York / Handicap / F	3	1 / 8	5/2	82
04/05/25	Newmarket / Handicap / F	3	3 / 7	11/10	82
27/12/24	Wolverhampton / Unknown / F	4	1 / 10	10/11	-
03/12/24	Newcastle / Unknown / F	5	2 / 10	3/1	-
01/11/24	Newmarket / Unknown / F	4	7 / 15	14/1	-

Sing Us A Song

Jockey: James Doyle Trainer: R M Beckett Age/Wt: 3/9-6 F: 531-1 OR: 92

6 tips

7/2

Comment: Irish Derby entry; scraped home at Goodwood (1m2f, heavy) last September and raised his game to follow up in clearcut style in a 12-runner handicap at Sandown (1m2f, good; made most) on return; changed hands since; up 7lb but pedigree and performance suggest strongly that a move up to 1m4f will suit, just as it did for the stable's winners of this race in 2021 and 2024.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
25/04/25	Sandown / Handicap / F	4	1 / 12	4/1	85
25/09/24	Goodwood / Unknown / F	2	1 / 6	1/3	-
16/08/24	Newbury / Unknown / F	4	3 / 10	7/1	-
12/07/24	Newmarket (July) / Unknown / F	3	5 / 13	16/1	-

Serious Contender

Jockey: R L Moore Trainer: A P O'Brien Age/Wt: 3/9-6 F: 421-1 OR: 92

1 tip

6/1

Comment: Big-race entries; won a maiden at Leopardstown (1m, soft) final 2yo start; always close up to justify favouritism again in a 16-runner handicap at same track (1m2f, good; unraced on firmer) on return, working his way to the front late on as Light As Air flashed home for a close second; needs further improvement but likely to stay; one of three for Aidan O'Brien.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
30/03/25	Leopardstown / Handicap / F	-	1 / 16	9/4	85
19/10/24	Leopardstown / Unknown / F	-	1 / 10	1/1	-
06/10/24	Tipperary / Unknown / F	-	2 / 10	1/1	-
19/09/24	Naas / Unknown / F	-	4 / 7	11/2	-

Gunship

Jockey: Oisin Murphy Trainer: J Ferguson Age/Wt: 3/9-3 F: 1-231 OR: 89

2 tips

6/1

Comment: Two wins and placed both starts in between; favourite for handicap/turf debut at Sandown (1m2f, good) in April but found himself with far too much to do against Sing Us A Song and made good late inroads to be third of 12; built on that with a Newcastle win (1m2f, AW) and, judged on the Sandown run in particular, looks a tempting proposition for 1m4f.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
11/05/25	Newcastle / Handicap / F	3	1 / 6	13/8	83
25/04/25	Sandown / Handicap / F	4	3 / 12	5/2	82
21/03/25	Southwell / Unknown / F	5	2 / 10	3/1	-
03/12/24	Newcastle / Unknown / F	5	1 / 10	22/1	-

Propose

Jockey: S M Levey Trainer: A P O'Brien Age/Wt: 3/9-3 F: 7-21 OR: 89

10/1

Comment: One of three runners for Aidan O'Brien; runner-up at Dundalk (10.5f, AW) on return and went one better when 8-13 in another maiden at the Curragh (1m2f, good) two months later, comfortably in the end but he was pushed along over 3f out; has many a big-race entry and brings clear potential, plus probable stamina, to this handicap debut.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
24/05/25	Curragh / Unknown / F	-	1 / 11	8/13	-
28/03/25	Dundalk / Unknown / F	-	2 / 9	15/8	-
03/11/24	Curragh / Unknown / F	-	7 / 27	17/2	-

Masai Moon

Jockey: W Buick Trainer: C Appleby Age/Wt: 3/9-9 F: 1-71 OR: 95

12/1

Comment: Newmarket Listed race (1m1f, good to soft; 7-1) in April saw him tailed off, but he'd earlier won his only 2yo start (AW) and went on to score at Nottingham (1m2f, good) this May in another novice; 6-4 favourite in the latter but looked an unlikely winner at one stage before battling back to see off three challengers headed by Boatswain; gelded three days later and that performance suggests that 1m4f for this handicap debut will suit him well.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
09/05/25	Nottingham / Unknown / F	5	1 / 5	6/4	-
15/04/25	Newmarket / Listed / F	1	7 / 8	7/1	-
14/10/24	Kempton / Unknown / F	5	1 / 9	2/5	-

Lightening Mann

Jockey: Edward Greatrex Trainer: J Channon Age/Wt: 3/8-13 F: 5-12312 OR: 85

2 tips

12/1

Comment: Bang there in 1m2f handicaps on last four starts, winning by a neck at Newmarket on third occasion and beaten by a neck when front-running on latest (both on good to firm); while that might suggest he's a bit exposed, the latest race was the London Gold Cup at Newbury, always a strong contest, and it looks like 1m4f will suit him.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
17/05/25	Newbury / Handicap / F	2	2 / 9	14/1	81
04/05/25	Newmarket / Handicap / F	3	1 / 7	15/2	77
16/04/25	Beverley / Handicap / F	4	3 / 6	9/5	77
27/03/25	Chelmsford / Handicap / F	5	2 / 9	16/5	75
05/03/25	Lingfield / Unknown / F	5	1 / 8	6/5	-
25/07/24	Doncaster / Unknown / F	5	5 / 9	12/1	-

Omni Man

Jockey: D McMonagle Trainer: J P O'Brien Age/Wt: 3/9-4 F: 3-321 OR: 90

14/1

Comment: Marked improver through his four maiden races; it was just a four-runner race when he won at Roscommon (10.5f, good; unraced on firmer) one month ago but he surged nearly 8l clear from the odds-on favourite and the third was beaten a nose next time; this handicap debut is a very different scenario but he's getting the hang of things and 1m4f looks plausible.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
19/05/25	Roscommon / Unknown / F	-	1 / 4	6/4	-
19/04/25	Cork / Unknown / F	-	2 / 17	10/3	-
08/04/25	Navan / Unknown / F	-	3 / 12	10/3	-
28/10/24	Galway / Unknown / F	-	3 / 7	7/1	-

Light As Air

Jockey: W M Lordan Trainer: A P O'Brien Age/Wt: 3/9-3 F: 33-23 OR: 89

14/1

Comment: Has big-race entries; his four races have resulted in one second and three thirds; got stuck in traffic in a handicap at Leopardstown on reappearance and finished strongly to run stablemate Serious Contender to half a length; he did not build significantly on that, however, when close third at Navan (again 1m2f on good) and now sports cheekpieces; half-brother to St Leger winner Continuous; one of three in this from his top stable.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
17/05/25	Navan / Handicap / F	-	3 / 7	11/10	86
30/03/25	Leopardstown / Handicap / F	-	2 / 16	5/1	79
21/10/24	Gowran Park / Unknown / F	-	3 / 10	4/6	-
09/10/24	Navan / Unknown / F	-	3 / 11	10/3	-

Daiquiri Bay

Jockey: Rossa Ryan Trainer: A King Age/Wt: 3/9-7 F: 3-12 OR: 93

20/1

Comment: Well-backed winner of a maiden at Chester, coming from off the pace to score by 5l; beaten at evens in a Doncaster novice (again about 1m2f on good) 13 days ago but by only a neck and it was a creditable effort; dam won at up to 2m and he shapes as if stepping up to 1m4f will suit him well.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
06/06/25	Doncaster / Unknown / F	5	2 / 6	1/1	-
07/05/25	Chester / Unknown / F	3	1 / 9	11/4	-
25/10/24	Newbury / Unknown / F	4	3 / 12	33/1	-

Pantile Warrior

Jockey: R Havlin Trainer: J & T Gosden Age/Wt: 3/9-1 F: 2-1443 OR: 87

28/1

Comment: His eight runs have yielded one win, in a 1m2f AW maiden in March; on last two outings he showed he stays 1m4f at York (behind Merchant) and 14.5f at Doncaster (hooded) but he needs to find more and faces a ton of rivals who are far less exposed.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
07/06/25	Doncaster / Handicap / F	2	3 / 10	11/2	86
15/05/25	York / Handicap / F	3	4 / 8	16/1	87
30/03/25	Doncaster / Handicap / F	3	4 / 6	11/4	87
08/03/25	Chelmsford / Unknown / F	5	1 / 8	1/6	87
03/09/24	Goodwood / Unknown / F	2	2 / 10	4/1	84
16/08/24	Newbury / Unknown / F	4	2 / 10	8/1	-

The Cursor

Jockey: Rob Hornby Trainer: A M Balding Age/Wt: 3/9-1 F: 5-27 OR: 87

30/1

Comment: Well-bred maiden who went down by a neck at Doncaster (1m2f, good to soft) and appeared to show better form in Listed race at Epsom (1m2f, good) in April, albeit finishing last of seven; unexposed but also plenty to prove.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
22/04/25	Epsom / Listed / F	1	7 / 7	15/2	-
29/03/25	Doncaster / Unknown / F	5	2 / 10	9/2	-
23/10/24	Newmarket / Unknown / F	3	5 / 7	7/2	-

Nautical Force

Jockey: B M Coen Trainer: J P Murtagh Age/Wt: 3/9-8 F: 44-12 OR: 94

33/1

Comment: Won a Cork maiden (soft) on return and ran well when the runner-up that day made the most of a weights concession from him at Roscommon (good) over three weeks later, both at about 10.5f; likely to stay and has had just four races but he needs to raise his game again for this handicap debut.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
12/05/25	Roscommon / Unknown / F	-	2 / 8	15/8	-
19/04/25	Cork / Unknown / F	-	1 / 18	10/3	-
21/09/24	Gowran Park / Unknown / F	-	4 / 9	7/2	-
24/08/24	Curragh / Unknown / F	-	4 / 15	25/1	-

Boatswain

Jockey: M Barzalona Trainer: S & E Crisford Age/Wt: 3/9-8 F: 122 OR: 94

1 tip

33/1

Comment: Impressive debut at Lingfield (AW) in January and lost out oh so narrowly in further 1m2f novice events at Nottingham (good; against Masai Moon, hung left in front) and Leicester (good to firm); mounted such a powerful finish last time that 1m4f has to be well worth a go on today's handicap debut.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
26/05/25	Leicester / Unknown / F	4	2 / 6	4/6	94
09/05/25	Nottingham / Unknown / F	5	2 / 5	3/1	-
03/01/25	Lingfield / Unknown / F	5	1 / 10	1/1	-

Ammes

Jockey: S De Sousa Trainer: James Owen Age/Wt: 3/9-0 F: 4-231 OR: 86

40/1

Comment: Second on second start (1m2f, AW) looks his best form but he seems to have got 1m4f okay on both outings since (good ground); landed odds of 8-15 in a two-runner novice at Chepstow on latest, in workmanlike style but the runner-up has won since; cheekpieces go on for this demanding handicap debut.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
21/05/25	Chepstow / Unknown / F	5	1 / 2	8/15	86
09/05/25	Chester / Unknown / F	2	3 / 6	16/5	-
21/04/25	Kempton / Unknown / F	5	2 / 14	10/1	-
07/11/24	Chelmsford / Unknown / F	4	4 / 7	25/1	-

Mafting

Jockey: D Tudhope Trainer: D O'Meara Age/Wt: 3/8-13 F: 221 OR: 85

40/1

Comment: Closely related to very smart Secret Advisor; made debut in late April; short-priced favourite on all three starts, travelling best on first two occasions but failing to get the job done; put that right by a neck when front-running at 4-7 in a Redcar maiden (1m2f, good to firm) but that's no great recommendation for this red-hot race on handicap debut.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
27/05/25	Redcar / Unknown / F	5	1 / 6	4/7	-
16/05/25	Hamilton / Unknown / F	4	2 / 4	4/11	-
24/04/25	Beverley / Unknown / F	5	2 / 10	6/5	-

Waterford Flow

Jockey: J P Spencer Trainer: J P O'Brien Age/Wt: 3/8-10 F: 5-3243 OR: 82

40/1

Comment: Had three AW runs over the winter and two on turf (soft/good) this spring but still no win; Nautical Force finished ahead in those last two outings (10.5f); needs to show something new on this handicap debut and he's not so stoutly bred as some of these.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
12/05/25	Roscommon / Unknown / F	-	3 / 8	8/1	78
19/04/25	Cork / Unknown / F	-	4 / 18	7/1	78
14/02/25	Dundalk / Unknown / F	-	2 / 11	5/2	-
29/01/25	Dundalk / Unknown / F	-	3 / 13	7/4	-
18/12/24	Dundalk / Unknown / F	-	5 / 11	11/1	-

Chess Dad

Jockey: Hollie Doyle Trainer: Dr R Newland & J Insole Age/Wt: 3/9-5 F: 134 OR: 91

50/1

Comment: Has run in three novice events, winning at Newcastle (1m, AW) on debut in January; bang there at Newmarket and fourth to Masai Moon at Nottingham (again 1m2f on good) was creditable; granddam was Oaks winner and he also shapes as if improvement is likely at 1m4f; handicap debut.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
09/05/25	Nottingham / Unknown / F	5	4 / 5	9/4	92
16/04/25	Newmarket / Unknown / F	2	3 / 9	9/1	-
21/01/25	Newcastle / Unknown / F	5	1 / 5	7/2	-

Grecian Legacy

Jockey: Jim Crowley Trainer: D & C Kubler Age/Wt: 3/8-12 F: 24-12 OR: 84

66/1

Comment: Won handicap at Goodwood (1m2f, good) in May in taking fashion from the rear; last to first in a nine-runner handicap at Epsom (1m2f, good to soft) 12 days ago but another strong finisher sentenced him in the dying strides to his fourth second place from six outings; up another 4lb and not crying out as loudly for 1m4f as some of today's rivals.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
07/06/25	Epsom / Handicap / F	2	2 / 9	9/1	80
02/05/25	Goodwood / Handicap / F	5	1 / 10	9/2	74
02/11/24	Newmarket / Handicap / F	4	4 / 6	4/1	75
25/09/24	Kempton / Unknown / F	5	2 / 11	9/2	-
06/08/24	Catterick / Unknown / F	5	2 / 8	15/8	-
20/07/24	Doncaster / Unknown / F	2	2 / 11	20/1	-

Favourite

2nd Favourite

Royal Ascot

15:40

Runners: 11 Distance: 1m 3f 211y Going: Good to Firm

Race Predictor

Form
EW Places: 1/5 ODDS - 3 PLACES

Verdict: Preference is for ECSTATIC, who didn't get the breaks at Newbury last time and could have untapped potential now she's tackling 1m4f.

Catalina Delcarpio

Jockey: W J Lee Trainer: P Twomey Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 12

2 tips

11/4

Comment: Impressive on debut at Leopardstown (1m2f, good) in April; runner-up in Group 3 Salsabil Stakes at Navan (1m2f, soft) when no match for the winner (subsequently fourth in the Oaks) but had to wait for a clear run and her pedigree provides optimism regarding this longer trip; this very lightly raced filly could take her form to a new level today; one to consider.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type		Class	Result	SP	OR
26/04/25	Navan / Group 3 / F		-	2 / 8	2/1	-
09/04/25	Leopardstown / Unknown / F		-	1 / 7	11/4	-

Serenity Prayer

Jockey: Oisin Murphy Trainer: A M Balding Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 12 OR: 100

6 tips

10/3

Comment: Won on debut at Newbury (1m2f, good) in April and runner-up in the Group 3 Musidora (10.2f, good to firm) last month; no match for the winner at York but that was Whirl, who has since gone very close in the Oaks; very much shaped last time as though she would benefit from today's longer trip and this well-bred contender is on the shortlist.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type		Class	Result	SP	OR
14/05/25	York / Group 3 / F		1	2 / 6	10/3	-
11/04/25	Newbury / Unknown / F		4	1 / 8	2/1	-

Life Is Beautiful

Jockey: Tom Marquand Trainer: J & T Gosden Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 1-22 OR: 98

3 tips

6/1

Comment: Has raced three times and improved when upped to 1m2f at Newmarket (good to firm) latest, beaten about 3l when second in that Listed contest; the winner is a top prospect and the third won a Listed race next time; shaped as though 1m4f could be a good fit and she's firmly in calculations for a top stable which has a prolific record in this race and runs three this time.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
04/05/25	Newmarket / Listed / F	1	2 / 7	9/1	84
09/04/25	Kempton / Unknown / F	5	2 / 10	7/2	-
06/11/24	Kempton / Unknown / F	5	1 / 14	5/1	-

Garden Of Eden

Jockey: R L Moore Trainer: A P O'Brien Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 20-761 OR: 99

13/2

Comment: Two wins from eight starts and opposable on the majority of her form but she took a big step forward when upped to 10.3f at Naas (good) latest, keeping on well to win that Listed race by 1l and shaping as though 1m4f could prompt further improvement; Ryan Moore's mount of the Ballydoyle three and trainer/jockey have combined to win the last two runnings; respected.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
10/05/25	Naas / Listed / F	-	1 / 8	6/1	97
05/05/25	Curragh / Group 3 / F	-	6 / 11	14/1	99
12/04/25	Curragh / Group 3 / F	-	7 / 9	25/1	99
28/09/24	Curragh / Unknown / F	-	12 / 14	6/1	99
14/09/24	Leopardstown / Listed / F	-	2 / 9	25/1	89
31/08/24	Curragh / Group 3 / F	-	6 / 8	16/1	-

Lady Vivian

Jockey: James Doyle Trainer: R M Beckett Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 5-211 OR: 88

1 tip

10/1

Comment: Beat Caspi Star to win maiden at Southwell (1m4f, AW) in March on third start and followed up on handicap debut at Chester (12.2f, good) last month, when clear with the runner-up; this is a big step up in grade but she's just the type her trainer excels with and she could have lots more to offer.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
08/05/25	Chester / Handicap / F	4	1 / 7	10/11	80
28/03/25	Southwell / Unknown / F	5	1 / 7	30/100	-
28/02/25	Southwell / Unknown / F	5	2 / 10	7/4	-
13/11/24	Lingfield / Unknown / F	5	5 / 10	5/1	-

Go Go Boots

Jockey: W Buick Trainer: J & T Gosden Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 1-139 OR: 99

11/1

Comment: 2-2 (1m/1m2f, AW) before third to subsequent Oaks runner-up Whirl in Group 3 Musidora (10.2f, good to firm; Serenity Prayer a neck ahead in second); well beaten herself in the Oaks but perhaps the slow ground and/or track didn't suit; top stable (runs three) has fine record in this race and she retains potential; not written off in first-time headgear.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
06/06/25	Epsom / Group 1 / F	1	9 / 9	33/1	99
14/05/25	York / Group 3 / F	1	3 / 6	9/1	89
28/04/25	Lingfield / Unknown / F	5	1 / 6	2/11	-
04/12/24	Lingfield / Unknown / F	5	1 / 8	3/1	-

Caspi Star

Jockey: S De Sousa Trainer: C Johnston Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 67-213 OR: 96

1 tip

12/1

Comment: Second to Lady Vivian in Southwell maiden (1m4f, AW) in March on third start then easily won Musselburgh maiden (12.4f, good to soft); improved again when third in Listed Cheshire Oaks (11.3f, good); mixed messages from that form with Minnie Hauk following up in the Oaks but the runner-up being unplaced in French Group 3; this stiffer stamina test can suit; not ruled out.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
07/05/25	Chester / Listed / F	1	3 / 7	12/1	80
19/04/25	Musselburgh / Unknown / F	2	1 / 5	4/1	74
28/03/25	Southwell / Unknown / F	5	2 / 7	7/2	-
24/09/24	Beverley / Unknown / F	5	7 / 7	8/1	-
24/08/24	Goodwood / Unknown / F	2	6 / 7	9/2	-

Ecstatic

Jockey: W M Lordan Trainer: A P O'Brien Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 5-275 OR: 98

1 tip

14/1

Comment: Sole win from seven starts came in Tipperary maiden last year and on the face of it she's down the Ballydoyle pecking order; soundly beaten when Listed fifth at Newbury (1m2f, good to firm) last time but she didn't enjoy a clear run and her pedigree suggests she will relish this step up in trip, with her dam having won this race for connections in 2018; stayed on well for second in Group 3 Park Express Stakes (1m, good) in April; interesting outsider.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
17/05/25	Newbury / Listed / F	1	5 / 10	4/1	99
26/04/25	Navan / Group 3 / F	-	7 / 8	9/2	100
12/04/25	Curragh / Group 3 / F	-	2 / 9	7/1	97
11/10/24	Newmarket / Group 3 / F	1	5 / 10	7/1	-
12/09/24	Doncaster / Group 2 / F	1	5 / 9	13/2	-
09/08/24	Tipperary / Unknown / F	-	1 / 15	2/1	-

Understudy

Jockey: R Havlin Trainer: J & T Gosden Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 41

25/1

Comment: Built upon the promise of last month's debut run at Newmarket (1m2f, good) when winning comfortably at 5-4 at Southwell (1m4f, AW); takes on vastly tougher opposition today and has by far the worst chance on ratings, but she's one of three for a stable with an excellent record in this race and it remains to be seen where the ceiling of her ability lies.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type		Class	Result	SP	OR
31/05/25	Southwell / Unknown / F		5	1 / 10	5/4	-
02/05/25	Newmarket / Unknown / F		2	4 / 6	13/2	-

Island Hopping

Jockey: D McMonagle Trainer: A P O'Brien Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 515-33 OR: 96

28/1

Comment: 0-3 in Group 3 and Listed races since winning a maiden at Gowran Park last September on second start, most recently third to stablemate Garden Of Eden at Naas (10.3f, good); however, given who she's trained by (she's one of three for the stable) it's possible she'll take a sizeable step forward at some stage, and perhaps the first-time blinkers will facilitate that; Port Fairy improved in a first-time visor to win this last year for the yard.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
10/05/25	Naas / Listed / F	-	3 / 8	7/4	95
26/04/25	Navan / Group 3 / F	-	3 / 8	18/1	95
22/10/24	Curragh / Group 3 / F	-	5 / 11	8/1	-
21/09/24	Gowran Park / Unknown / F	-	1 / 11	3/1	-
10/08/24	Newmarket (July) / Unknown / F	2	5 / 9	8/1	-

Hollys Graces

Jockey: C T Keane Trainer: H De Bromhead Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 1-6 OR: 90

1 tip

30/1

Comment: Kept on well to win at Dundalk (7f, AW) last September on sole 2yo start and may have needed her comeback run at Naas (10.3f, good; Listed) last month, when sixth of eight behind Garden Of Eden; unexposed and bred to be suited by 1m4f but has plenty to find in today's company.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type		Class	Result	SP	OR
10/05/25	Naas / Listed / F		-	6 / 8	6/1	-
27/09/24	Dundalk / Unknown / F		-	1 / 10	9/2	-

Favourite

2nd Favourite

Royal Ascot

16:20

Runners: 8 Distance: 2m 3f 210y Going: Good to Firm

Race Predictor

Form
EW Places: 1/5 ODDS - 3 PLACES

Verdict: Trawlerman produced a mighty effort 12 months ago but faces 4yos of mouthwatering potential in Illinois and CANDELARI (nap).

Trawlerman

Jockey: W Buick Trainer: J & T Gosden Age/Wt: 7/9-4 F: 323-51 OR: 118

2 tips

2/1

Comment: Can front-run; peak days in 2023 and 2024 saw him go head to head with the best stayers around, last term beaten just 1l in this race (good to firm) by the champion Kyprios; that old rival is now absent and this battling 7yo warmed up with a dominant performance in four-runner race at Sandown; looks sure to go well again.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
29/05/25	Sandown / Group 3 / F	1	1 / 4	4/5	118
05/04/25	Meydan / Group 2 / F	-	5 / 10	11/4	119
19/10/24	Ascot / Group 2 / F	1	3 / 9	5/1	118
20/06/24	Ascot / Group 1 / F	1	2 / 9	7/1	118
30/03/24	Meydan / Group 2 / F	-	3 / 15	8/1	118
21/10/23	Ascot / Group 2 / F	1	1 / 8	9/1	113

Candelari

Jockey: M Barzalona Trainer: F Graffard Age/Wt: 4/9-3 F: 1-1131 OR: 118

4 tips

21/10

Comment: French-trained 4yo who made debut only last December and has had just five races, winning four; upped to 1m7f for Group 3 at Longchamp in April, held up last, outpaced when the pace quickened but beaten by just two heads; with a more truly run race over an extended 1m7f for Group 1 there four weeks later he turned the tables and did it in some style, ridden closer and emerging in front 2f out before stretching clear late on; the ground for both Longchamp races was officially good to soft but significantly firmer judged on race times; one of the top contenders on ratings and a hugely exciting staying prospect.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
25/05/25	ParisLongchamp / Group 1 / F	-	1 / 9	4/1	-
27/04/25	ParisLongchamp / Group 3 / F	-	3 / 7	8/5	-
09/03/25	Chantilly / Conditions / F	-	1 / 7	3/5	-
14/02/25	Chantilly / Conditions / F	-	1 / 9	1/2	-
07/12/24	Chantilly / Maiden / F	-	1 / 16	23/5	-

Illinois

Jockey: R L Moore Trainer: A P O'Brien Age/Wt: 4/9-3 F: 2221-1 OR: 116

6 tips

11/5

Comment: Won Queen's Vase here (1m6f, good to firm) last June and went close in the St Leger (14.5f, good) before his Longchamp Group 2 win (1m7f, soft) in October; as good as ever with 1m5f reappearance win at Chester; resolute galloper who races prominently and can make the running, so Ryan Moore may try to dictate; tendency to hang left might again be in evidence in closing stages but he's looked a thorough stayer at shorter distances and it will be no surprise if he takes Aidan O'Brien's Gold Cup wins into double figures.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
08/05/25	Chester / Group 3 / F	1	1 / 6	6/5	116
05/10/24	ParisLongchamp / Group 2 / F	-	1 / 8	2/5	-
14/09/24	Doncaster / Group 1 / F	1	2 / 7	11/4	116
21/08/24	York / Group 2 / F	1	2 / 5	7/2	113
13/07/24	ParisLongchamp / Group 1 / F	-	2 / 8	37/10	-
19/06/24	Ascot / Group 2 / F	1	1 / 11	7/4	106

Sweet William

Jockey: R Havlin Trainer: J & T Gosden Age/Wt: 6/9-4 F: 3212-3 OR: 116

2 tips

9/1

Comment: Headgear and Rab Havlin all starts; not straightforward but only once failed to give his running (final start 2023) and took well to the visor last season, in which two wins included 2m2f Doncaster Cup in good style; 1m6f on return was surely an insufficient stamina test (still close up) and he was third in this race last year on good to firm, 5l behind Trawlerman but coming from right out the back; has never finished outside the first three.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
16/05/25	York / Group 2 / F	1	3 / 5	10/3	117
19/10/24	Ascot / Group 2 / F	1	2 / 9	8/1	115
13/09/24	Doncaster / Group 2 / F	1	1 / 6	7/4	113
30/07/24	Goodwood / Group 1 / F	1	2 / 6	11/2	113
20/06/24	Ascot / Group 1 / F	1	3 / 9	9/1	109
23/05/24	Sandown / Group 3 / F	1	1 / 6	5/2	108

Dubai Future

Jockey: James McDonald Trainer: S bin Suroor Age/Wt: 9/9-4 F: 4/119 OR: 116

25/1

Comment: 1m2f Listed winner at this meeting in 2022; has raced over a range of distances in the interim, given his first crack at 2m in the Dubai Gold Cup this April (second run since a long absence) when he showed far too much toe for his rivals in the closing stages of a steadily run race; this, however, should be much more of a slog and he needs to bounce back from a heavy defeat behind Candelari in France last month (the ground probably wasn't to blame, based on times); a hood joins his usual cheekpieces.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
25/05/25	ParisLongchamp / Group 1 / F	-	9 / 9	9/2	-
05/04/25	Meydan / Group 2 / F	-	1 / 10	17/2	113
21/02/25	Meydan / Group 3 / F	-	1 / 6	20/1	107
22/12/23	Meydan / Handicap / F	-	4 / 13	10/1	113
03/02/23	Meydan / Group 2 / F	-	5 / 10	13/2	114
13/01/23	Meydan / Group 2 / F	-	2 / 11	7/2	114

Coltrane

Jockey: Oisin Murphy Trainer: A M Balding Age/Wt: 8/9-4 F: 643-22 OR: 112

1 tip

33/1

Comment: Stalwart of the top staying races who was at his best in 2023 but not far off it on two occasions in 2024, in a very mixed campaign; runner-up in two four-runner races this season, with latest start better than the first but he was still no match for Trawlerman; second and fifth in the last two Gold Cups and others will have to underperform if he's to win it.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
29/05/25	Sandown / Group 3 / F	1	2 / 4	7/1	112
30/04/25	Ascot / Group 3 / F	1	2 / 4	4/6	113
05/10/24	ParisLongchamp / Group 1 / F	-	3 / 5	23/1	-
13/09/24	Doncaster / Group 2 / F	1	4 / 6	11/1	112
30/07/24	Goodwood / Group 1 / F	1	6 / 6	12/1	114
20/06/24	Ascot / Group 1 / F	1	5 / 9	10/1	117

Wonder Legend

Jockey: Daniel Muscutt Trainer: J Ferguson Age/Wt: 5/9-4 F: 31-211 OR: 108

33/1

Comment: Has raced only three times on turf, with a soft-ground win on first occasion but lesser shows since, including at this meeting on good ground two years ago; on the other hand he's been reliable and progressive on AW, surging to new heights with his two handicap wins this March/April; latest was for a big prize at Newcastle (2m) and he did it in good style, so he's not miles away on ratings today but still has a lot to prove.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
18/04/25	Newcastle / Handicap / F	2	1 / 14	4/1	100
15/03/25	Wolverhampton / Handicap / F	2	1 / 5	11/10	96
05/02/25	Kempton / Handicap / F	2	2 / 6	2/1	96
18/11/24	Southwell / Handicap / F	3	1 / 7	1/1	94
05/10/24	Southwell / Handicap / F	3	3 / 10	5/1	94
07/09/24	Kempton / Handicap / F	3	2 / 10	10/3	92

Yashin

Jockey: Callum Shepherd Trainer: M L W Bell Age/Wt: 6/9-4 F: 3006-1 OR: 106

66/1

Comment: Irish 1m6f Group 3 winner in 2023; left Jessica Harrington for 80,000gns last October, given wind surgery and also had tongue tied first time when he reappeared for Group 3 here (2m, good to firm) in April, back with a bang as he was the outsider of four but came through to win by 1l from Coltrane; that was a slowly run race, seemingly not a great pointer for this but it could be argued that he's unexposed with major stamina tests.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
30/04/25	Ascot / Group 3 / F	1	1 / 4	11/1	103
14/09/24	Leopardstown / Group 3 / F	-	6 / 10	18/1	104
24/08/24	York / Handicap / F	2	18 / 20	22/1	105
29/06/24	Newcastle / Handicap / F	2	11 / 20	15/2	105
17/05/24	Leopardstown / Group 3 / F	-	3 / 6	14/1	105
27/04/24	Navan / Listed / F	-	3 / 7	16/1	105

Favourite

2nd Favourite

Royal Ascot

17:00

Runners: 30 Distance: 1m 0f 0y Handicap Going: Good to Firm

Race Predictor

Form
EW Places: 1/4 ODDS - 5 PLACES

Verdict: As interesting as any is PAROLE D'ORO, who may have been saved for this since narrowly failing to give 2lb to Teroomm in April.

Raafedd

Jockey: Tom Marquand Trainer: W J Haggas Age/Wt: 3/9-1 F: 6-61 OR: 92

3 tips

9/2

Comment: 370,000gns yearling; first-time tongue-tie when not overly troubled at Newbury (7f novice, good) to beat a subsequent winner and he's in the right hands to keep progressing now into handicaps, especially raised to 1m; could very easily take a huge step forward, and runs here in preference to Saturday's Group 3 Jersey Stakes; dangerous; trainer won this in 2012.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
16/05/25	Newbury / Unknown / F	4	1 / 9	11/4	-
17/04/25	Newmarket / Unknown / F	4	6 / 11	15/2	-
09/11/24	Chelmsford / Unknown / F	4	6 / 12	12/1	-

Brave Mission

Jockey: C T Keane Trainer: R M Beckett Age/Wt: 3/9-1 F: 521-2 OR: 92

1 tip

13/2

Comment: Frankel colt and dam's siblings include Grade 1 and Group 3 winners; progressed in novices and the manner in which he kept on for second on his handicap debut here over 7f (good to firm) suggests he'll devour today's extra distance; going the right way and seemingly held in high regard having been towards the top of the market in all his races; firmly enters calculations.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
09/05/25	Ascot / Handicap / F	2	2 / 10	10/3	91
06/09/24	Kempton / Unknown / F	4	1 / 11	5/2	-
17/08/24	Doncaster / Unknown / F	3	2 / 4	3/1	-
20/07/24	Newbury / Unknown / F	4	5 / 11	5/2	-

Parole D'oro

Jockey: Callum Shepherd Trainer: M L W Bell Age/Wt: 3/9-1 F: 21-2 OR: 92

3 tips

7/1

Comment: Second on his debut here before winning at Epsom; it's easy to make a case on strength of his reappearance at Thirsk (1m novice, good to firm) where he went down narrowly to subsequent improver Teroomm (who was receiving 2lb), having travelled more sweetly than the winner; it could be that he needed the race (off for 264 days) and he has a 6lb pull on his conqueror; now has tongue tied; stable won this in 2007; interesting.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
22/04/25	Thirsk / Unknown / F	4	2 / 6	2/1	-
01/08/24	Epsom / Unknown / F	4	1 / 7	4/9	-
13/07/24	Ascot / Unknown / F	2	2 / 12	28/1	-

La Botte

Jockey: J P Spencer Trainer: Harry Eustace Age/Wt: 3/9-8 F: 3-14 OR: 99

15/2

Comment: All runs at 7f; returned with wide-margin maiden win on the AW; better again when fourth in a Listed race at Newmarket (good) won by subsequent Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Cosmic Year and the third has since secured Listed honours; unlikely to have any trouble seeing out today's 1m and his trainer won this two years ago with Docklands; interesting.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
02/05/25	Newmarket / Listed / F	1	4 / 10	16/1	-
29/03/25	Newcastle / Unknown / F	5	1 / 12	13/8	-
16/10/24	Kempton / Unknown / F	5	3 / 12	50/1	-

Arabian Story

Jockey: Oisin Murphy Trainer: S bin Suroor Age/Wt: 3/9-6 F: 601 OR: 97

1 tip

15/2

Comment: Down the field in his Meydan races but returned from a break for British debut and he dominated throughout in that 1m maiden at Chelmsford, scoring by 3l; had the run of things that day and the handicapper has taken no chances, but he's a dark one on turf debut for a trainer who's had plenty of success at this meeting; a nagging concern is that only one recent winner emerged from a maiden or novice.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
22/05/25	Chelmsford / Unknown / F	4	1 / 15	5/2	-
07/02/25	Meydan / Conditions / F	-	10 / 14	11/4	-
03/01/25	Meydan / Conditions / F	-	6 / 12	30/1	-

Teroomm

Jockey: S De Sousa Trainer: R Varian Age/Wt: 3/9-5 F: 4-111 OR: 96

2 tips

17/2

Comment: All good this year and completed his hat-trick in the always-competitive Silver Bowl at Haydock (1m, good); has made a canny habit of not winning any of his races by far and could still be on happy terms with the handicapper despite a 6lb rise; a tough colt who won't be fazed by the challenge of a Britannia and he's on the shortlist for yard that won this in 2020.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
24/05/25	Haydock / Handicap / F	2	1 / 12	3/1	90
22/04/25	Thirsk / Unknown / F	4	1 / 6	5/6	-
04/04/25	Bath / Unknown / F	4	1 / 9	5/6	-
20/11/24	Kempton / Unknown / F	2	4 / 12	11/2	-

Consolidation

Jockey: James Doyle Trainer: R M Beckett Age/Wt: 3/9-4 F: 6231-1 OR: 95

1 tip

12/1

Comment: Looked a work in progress last season before doing it easily in a 7f AW novice in September; gelded afterwards and was noticeably strong in the market when making a successful handicap debut at Goodwood (good), where he needed all of the 7f to seal the deal; 5lb higher but this extra furlong could make a huge difference to him; one of three runners for Ralph Beckett who took this race in 2019.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
03/05/25	Goodwood / Handicap / F	3	1 / 6	6/4	90
20/09/24	Kempton / Unknown / F	4	1 / 13	4/5	87
03/08/24	Goodwood / Unknown / F	2	3 / 11	2/1	-
28/06/24	Doncaster / Unknown / F	4	2 / 6	3/1	-
14/06/24	Sandown / Unknown / F	4	6 / 12	11/1	-

Fearnot

Jockey: David Probert Trainer: C G Cox Age/Wt: 3/9-3 F: 1231 OR: 94

1 tip

12/1

Comment: Hooded for all his races; made his debut in only March and strolled home in a C&D handicap on fast ground in early May; the handicapper didn't hold back with a 10lb hit and he will need to be every bit as progressive as he looked; respected nonetheless.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
09/05/25	Ascot / Handicap / F	4	1 / 10	4/1	84
17/04/25	Newmarket / Handicap / F	4	3 / 10	9/1	84
26/03/25	Kempton / Unknown / F	5	2 / 11	6/4	-
08/03/25	Wolverhampton / Unknown / F	3	1 / 8	5/2	-

Shout

Jockey: R Havlin Trainer: S & E Crisford Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 131-23 OR: 93

16/1

Comment: All six runs highly respectable; his handicap debut win was over 6f but he's been finishing well over 7f, particularly here last time when hot on the heels of Brave Mission despite completely fluffing the start (good to firm; first-time cheekpieces, now replaced with a visor); wouldn't want a repeat of that in this deeper race but he's clearly on a workable mark (untouched); stable has won a Britannia.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
09/05/25	Ascot / Handicap / F	2	3 / 10	17/2	93
11/04/25	Newbury / Handicap / F	2	2 / 9	15/2	92
13/09/24	Doncaster / Handicap / F	4	1 / 8	6/1	83
14/08/24	Salisbury / Unknown / F	4	3 / 12	13/8	-
24/07/24	Salisbury / Unknown / F	4	1 / 8	13/8	-
03/06/24	Windsor / Unknown / F	4	5 / 11	11/1	-

Afentiko

Jockey: Warren Fentiman Trainer: P & O Cole Age/Wt: 3/9-6 F: 126-3 OR: 97

18/1

Comment: Has handled good to firm and the mud; consistent last season until his heavy defeat in a Group 3; usually races prominently but had to be dropped in from a bad draw in the Silver Bowl at Haydock, so all things considered he did well to finish only a length off Teroomm; enters calculations with a talented claimer secured.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
24/05/25	Haydock / Handicap / F	2	3 / 12	22/1	93
26/10/24	Newbury / Group 3 / F	1	6 / 8	16/1	93
01/10/24	Bordeaux-le Bouscat / Listed / F	-	2 / 7	14/5	-
06/09/24	Kempton / Handicap / F	4	1 / 5	8/13	83
21/08/24	Kempton / Unknown / F	4	2 / 12	2/1	-
25/05/24	Windsor / Unknown / F	5	1 / 11	8/13	-

Serengeti

Jockey: R L Moore Trainer: A P O'Brien Age/Wt: 3/9-3 F: 631-8 OR: 94

18/1

Comment: Won his maiden on the AW at Dundalk; it could be that soft to heavy ground wasn't to his liking when beaten a long way on his handicap debut in March and he was then utilised as a pacemaker in the French 2,000 Guineas; his yard's previous winner of this race in 2015 was also downgraded from a Group 1; still relatively unexposed, there are some reasons for optimism.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
11/05/25	ParisLongchamp / Group 1 / F	-	-	33/1	-
23/03/25	Naas / Handicap / F	-	8 / 10	4/1	95
30/10/24	Dundalk / Unknown / F	-	1 / 11	2/1	-
19/10/24	Leopardstown / Unknown / F	-	3 / 13	15/8	-
05/10/24	Curragh / Unknown / F	-	6 / 14	13/2	-

Fifth Column

Jockey: W Buick Trainer: J & T Gosden Age/Wt: 3/9-1 F: 622-11 OR: 92

1 tip

18/1

Comment: Failed to win any of his four races at two but was deemed good enough to have a Group 1 entry; has banished all those blues since being gelded, winning his maiden on the AW before a successful handicap debut at Sandown (1m, good; 6lb higher today); that was no more than workmanlike but he could be the type who does only enough in his races, and today's cheekpieces are an interesting addition; respected for a stable that's won four of these.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
25/04/25	Sandown / Handicap / F	2	1 / 8	5/2	86
07/04/25	Kempton / Unknown / F	5	1 / 14	5/4	86
31/10/24	Chelmsford / Unknown / F	5	2 / 11	8/11	82
20/09/24	Kempton / Unknown / F	4	2 / 13	5/2	-
06/09/24	Ascot / Unknown / F	3	6 / 9	10/3	-
07/08/24	Kempton / Unknown / F	4	7 / 13	11/8	-

The Fingal Raven

Jockey: Saffie Osborne Trainer: J A Osborne Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 13-332 OR: 93

22/1

Comment: 7f AW novice winner; further raised his profile with three good runs in Meydan earlier this year (7f/1m) and it's no wonder that he couldn't hold a candle to subsequent Guineas hero Ruling Court in a Listed race last time; unlikely that a three-month absence will count against him (stable won a Royal Hunt Cup with a seasonal debutant) and he's a reliable gelding who might well have a part to play; blinkers are now worn in isolation after partnering a hood on latest start; trainer won this in 2016.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
01/03/25	Meydan / Listed / F	-	2 / 10	12/1	93
31/01/25	Meydan / Conditions / F	-	3 / 10	13/2	93
03/01/25	Meydan / Conditions / F	-	3 / 10	12/1	88
21/09/24	Newbury / Unknown / F	4	3 / 7	9/4	88
04/09/24	Kempton / Unknown / F	4	1 / 13	4/1	-
30/07/24	Goodwood / Unknown / F	2	8 / 14	10/1	-

Arctic Grey

Jockey: P J Dobbs Trainer: R Hannon Age/Wt: 3/9-0 F: -121 OR: 91

1 tip

28/1

Comment: Made his debut in only April and doubled his tally when all out on handicap debut at Goodwood (1m, good); that race didn't go at all swimmingly and he probably did well to win at all; 5lb higher here but likely improvement has to be factored in; trainer also had him in Saturday's Jersey.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
23/05/25	Goodwood / Handicap / F	4	1 / 8	9/1	86
04/05/25	Hamilton / Unknown / F	2	2 / 5	9/2	-
20/04/25	Southwell / Unknown / F	5	1 / 8	14/1	-

Competizione

Jockey: Daniel Muscutt Trainer: J & T Gosden Age/Wt: 3/8-13 F: 722 OR: 90

28/1

Comment: Unexposed colt after only three runs and he was best of the rest behind all-the-way winner Arabian Story on the Chelmsford AW (1m) on final qualifying start; may yet do better.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
22/05/25	Chelmsford / Unknown / F	4	2 / 15	5/2	-
03/05/25	Doncaster / Unknown / F	4	2 / 7	7/2	-
17/04/25	Newmarket / Unknown / F	4	7 / 11	25/1	-

Tribal Nation

Jockey: D McMonagle Trainer: J P O'Brien Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 521-53 OR: 93

33/1

Comment: Heavy-ground maiden winner who is effective on good but unraced on faster; the Group 3 he contested on reappearance was won by a Group 1 horse and he might have gone really close on handicap debut at Naas (1m) had he been sharper from the stalls; that form is working out well and he wouldn't be exposed just yet; considered.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
28/04/25	Naas / Handicap / F	-	3 / 15	9/2	93
30/03/25	Leopardstown / Group 3 / F	-	5 / 7	11/1	90
28/10/24	Galway / Unknown / F	-	1 / 7	6/4	-
21/09/24	Gowran Park / Unknown / F	-	2 / 9	10/11	-
24/08/24	Curragh / Unknown / F	-	5 / 15	5/1	-

The Lost King

Jockey: D Tudhope Trainer: A M Balding Age/Wt: 3/8-13 F: 916-3 OR: 90

1 tip

33/1

Comment: Made all in his novice over 7f at Newmarket last August before fading out of it in a Listed race; took quite a grip on his seasonal/handicap debut so did well to finish within 3l of Fifth Column (1m, good); could easily have brighter days ahead of him and this big-field scenario (granted some cover) might well trigger a spike in his form; trainer won this 11 years ago.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
25/04/25	Sandown / Handicap / F	2	3 / 8	11/2	90
07/09/24	Haydock / Listed / F	1	6 / 8	6/1	-
23/08/24	Newmarket (July) / Unknown / F	4	1 / 7	11/2	-
07/08/24	Kempton / Unknown / F	4	9 / 13	25/1	-

Mr Chaplin

Jockey: Rossa Ryan Trainer: R M Beckett Age/Wt: 3/9-5 F: 0154-8 OR: 96

40/1

Comment: All seven runs on good or quicker; highly tried last season after overcoming some bother in running in a 7f handicap at Glorious Goodwood, but that win was off an 8lb lower mark and, while he didn't have the clearest of runs back at Goodwood on return (having been gelded), he couldn't be called unlucky; steps up to 1m for the first time; others have more pressing claims.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
24/05/25	Goodwood / Handicap / F	2	8 / 14	13/2	96
13/09/24	Doncaster / Listed / F	1	4 / 7	6/1	96
21/08/24	York / Group 3 / F	1	5 / 11	14/1	96
01/08/24	Goodwood / Handicap / F	2	1 / 16	10/1	88
18/06/24	Ascot / Group 2 / F	1	16 / 22	28/1	-
17/05/24	Newbury / Unknown / F	4	1 / 20	11/2	-

Hawksbill

Jockey: M Barzalona Trainer: H Palmer Age/Wt: 3/9-4 F: 146-22 OR: 95

40/1

Comment: The only real blip in five runs at two was in the Group 2 Royal Lodge; in good form in defeat this season and his second at Goodwood (1m conditions race, good) behind subsequent stylish Listed winner Amiloc can be upgraded as he went off like the clappers with one other; if ridden differently, this mark is tempting on his handicap debut.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
02/05/25	Goodwood / Unknown / F	2	2 / 6	13/2	95
29/03/25	Kempton / Unknown / F	2	2 / 5	9/4	95
28/09/24	Newmarket / Group 2 / F	1	6 / 7	25/1	94
07/09/24	Haydock / Listed / F	1	4 / 8	9/1	86
09/08/24	Haydock / Unknown / F	3	1 / 4	1/3	-
19/07/24	Newbury / Unknown / F	4	2 / 16	11/8	-

Dividend

Jockey: Hollie Doyle Trainer: Dr R Newland & J Insole Age/Wt: 3/9-4 F: 01-116 OR: 95

60/1

Comment: Won his final race as a juvenile (1m AW novice) and his first two handicaps this year, over 1m on the AW at Southwell; reportedly hung left throughout when sixth of eight runners behind Fifth Column at Sandown (good); hard to envisage a sudden resurgence in this deep a race.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
25/04/25	Sandown / Handicap / F	2	6 / 8	7/1	95
06/04/25	Southwell / Handicap / F	3	1 / 7	15/8	88
28/02/25	Southwell / Handicap / F	4	1 / 6	11/4	83
25/09/24	Kempton / Unknown / F	5	1 / 11	11/2	84
22/08/24	York / Handicap / F	2	17 / 17	18/1	86
27/07/24	Ascot / Listed / F	1	5 / 5	22/1	-

Brise Noir

Jockey: Tommie Jakes Trainer: B J Meehan Age/Wt: 3/9-3 F: 38-14 OR: 94

60/1

Comment: 1m2f novice winner at Windsor (good to firm); given every chance in a Listed race in France last time (extended 1m1f, good) but faded late on into fourth; that was nonetheless his best form and a stiff 1m here could be a better fit; not dismissed.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
24/05/25	Bordeaux-le Bouscat / Listed / F	-	4 / 9	17/2	-
12/05/25	Windsor / Unknown / F	5	1 / 9	9/4	-
05/10/24	ParisLongchamp / Conditions / F	-	8 / 12	42/5	-
15/08/24	Deauville / Maiden, Unraced / F	-	3 / 11	22/5	-

Defence Minister

Jockey: James McDonald Trainer: H Al Jehani Age/Wt: 3/9-3 F: 16-9 OR: 94

66/1

Comment: Hit the ground running last season with back-to-back wins (good/good to soft) but raced freely when highly tried in the Group 1 Middle Park (soft) and again on his reappearance in a Listed race, in which he also hung for pressure on the good to firm ground; pedigree suggests he should stay this far but running style casts doubts.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
17/05/25	Newbury / Listed / F	1	9 / 10	8/1	94
28/09/24	Newmarket / Group 1 / F	1	6 / 6	7/1	90
05/09/24	Haydock / Unknown / F	3	1 / 5	11/8	-
17/08/24	Newmarket (July) / Unknown / F	4	1 / 11	8/1	-

Shameful

Jockey: K Shoemark Trainer: C G Cox Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 1-22 OR: 93

66/1

Comment: One of two runners for Clive Cox who won this in 2003; has advanced his RPR with each start and it's interesting that he was so strong in the market for handicap debut at the Curragh (7f, good; 15-8) where he was given every chance but ultimately repelled by Iceford; won his maiden over 6f but 1m shouldn't be a problem; every chance of serving up another personal best.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
24/05/25	Curragh / Handicap / F	-	2 / 11	15/8	90
26/03/25	Kempton / Unknown / F	5	2 / 12	8/11	-
20/09/24	Newbury / Unknown / F	4	1 / 12	3/1	-

Iceford

Jockey: B M Coen Trainer: J P Murtagh Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 2-6221 OR: 93

66/1

Comment: Had been running well despite heading to the Curragh last time as a five-race maiden and he won that 7f handicap in workmanlike style from Shameful (7f, good); cheekpieces worn the last twice are working well, but he may lack the same scope for improvement as some in here.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
24/05/25	Curragh / Handicap / F	-	1 / 11	5/1	86
07/05/25	Gowran Park / Unknown / F	-	2 / 15	6/1	82
06/04/25	Cork / Handicap / F	-	2 / 11	9/2	79
16/03/25	Curragh / Unknown / F	-	6 / 13	6/1	-
13/10/24	Naas / Unknown / F	-	2 / 11	12/1	-
21/09/24	Navan / Unknown / F	-	4 / 10	12/1	-

Supido

Jockey: Billy Loughnane Trainer: Ian Williams Age/Wt: 3/9-7 F: 1231-5 OR: 98

80/1

Comment: Quite useful form in France and Germany as a 2yo; joined this yard for 90,000euros; weak 33-1 at Chester last month (extended 7f, good) and yet wasn't beaten far from an unpromising position (behind God Of War); it's easy to envisage him finding something on that form.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
08/05/25	Chester / Handicap / F	2	5 / 9	33/1	98
08/08/24	Saint Malo / Conditions / F	-	1 / 6	6/5	-
17/07/24	Vichy / Listed / F	-	3 / 8	31/10	-
30/06/24	Saint-Cloud / Conditions / F	-	2 / 5	29/10	-
13/06/24	Strasbourg / Maiden / F	-	1 / 7	3/1	-

Thunder Wonder

Jockey: J Fanning Trainer: C Johnston Age/Wt: 3/9-5 F: 6-31401 OR: 96

80/1

Comment: This year's handicap wins (1m/1m1f) have come from prominent positions at Musselburgh, the latest 12 days ago in gritty fashion; only 4lb higher and a line can be put through his run at Haydock (behind Teroomm) on penultimate start as early interference put paid to him adopting his preferred tactics; this looks no masterplan but he should give his running if nothing else.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
07/06/25	Musselburgh / Handicap / F	2	1 / 8	4/1	92
24/05/25	Haydock / Handicap / F	2	11 / 12	11/2	93
25/04/25	Sandown / Handicap / F	2	4 / 8	7/2	90
19/04/25	Musselburgh / Handicap / F	3	1 / 8	4/1	84
06/04/25	Southwell / Handicap / F	3	3 / 7	14/1	84
12/09/24	Doncaster / Handicap / F	3	6 / 6	6/1	85

God Of War

Jockey: N Callan Trainer: Tom Clover Age/Wt: 3/9-3 F: 4157-2 OR: 94

80/1

Comment: Highly tried last season after winning his novice and ran well in a 7f Listed race; another sound effort in defeat on his handicap debut at Chester (extended 7f, good; having been gelded) when narrowly denied by a similarly unexposed 3yo; there are concerns that they finished in a bit of a heap that day, suggesting that none of them were that well handicapped.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
08/05/25	Chester / Handicap / F	2	2 / 9	4/1	93
26/10/24	Newbury / Group 3 / F	1	7 / 8	16/1	93
13/09/24	Doncaster / Listed / F	1	5 / 7	12/1	-
25/07/24	Doncaster / Unknown / F	5	1 / 9	6/4	-
04/07/24	Yarmouth / Unknown / F	4	4 / 11	17/2	-

Wolf Of Badenoch

Jockey: Alec Voikhansky Trainer: H Palmer Age/Wt: 3/9-9 F: 1246-5 OR: 100

100/1

Comment: Followed his 2yo maiden win with a second at Group 2 level but that is as good as it's got; didn't smack of a Britannia winner when only fifth of seven in a conditions race on the AW, albeit a valuable one won by the French Derby third Detain; gelded in the meantime and tries cheekpieces; topweights have struggled down the years.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
03/04/25	Chelmsford / Unknown / F	2	5 / 7	22/1	102
12/10/24	Newmarket / Group 3 / F	1	6 / 6	28/1	105
14/09/24	Doncaster / Group 2 / F	1	4 / 5	7/2	106
30/07/24	Goodwood / Group 2 / F	1	2 / 7	14/1	-
16/06/24	Doncaster / Unknown / F	5	1 / 9	15/2	-

Hott Shott

Jockey: Finley Marsh Trainer: R Hughes Age/Wt: 3/9-7 F: 51-246 OR: 98

100/1

Comment: Won twice at two and his defeats came in races won by top-notchers; has also kept good company this season, running well on the AW before failing to fire around Chester in the 1m2f Listed Dee Stakes; while that wasn't the ideal preparation for a Britannia, he'd be no forlorn hope if back on song.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
08/05/25	Chester / Listed / F	1	6 / 7	16/1	98
03/04/25	Chelmsford / Unknown / F	2	4 / 7	11/1	94
26/02/25	Kempton / Unknown / F	3	2 / 6	28/1	94
16/10/24	Kempton / Unknown / F	5	1 / 12	1/1	95
31/08/24	Sandown / Group 3 / F	1	5 / 7	16/1	-
03/08/24	Goodwood / Unknown / F	2	1 / 11	5/1	-

Seagolazo

Jockey: Harry Davies Trainer: H Palmer Age/Wt: 3/9-5 F: 31742- OR: 96

125/1

Comment: Won a maiden last summer but was a different horse in the autumn once gelded and blinkered, following his fourth in a valuable big-field sales race (extended 6f, good) with a second at York (1m nursery, soft); whether his progress will be stalled by a lengthy absence remains to be seen.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
12/10/24	York / Handicap / F	2	2 / 10	14/1	94
12/09/24	Doncaster / Unknown / F	2	4 / 20	66/1	82
22/08/24	York / Handicap / F	2	7 / 17	9/1	83
27/07/24	Chester / Unknown / F	4	1 / 6	10/11	-
04/07/24	Haydock / Unknown / F	3	3 / 9	7/2	-
20/06/24	Lingfield / Unknown / F	5	4 / 9	9/2	-

Linwood

Jockey: Non Runner Trainer: R Hannon Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 4115- OR: 93

Comment: Beat Hawksbill in his Newbury novice (7f, good) but behind that rival when 4l fifth at Haydock (1m, good) in September on final appearance; that was a hot Listed race and it's hard to know what progress he might have made through the winter; lacking a run is not ideal but he's not entirely dismissed.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
07/09/24	Haydock / Listed / F	1	5 / 8	12/1	89
17/08/24	Ripon / Unknown / F	2	1 / 9	8/15	-
19/07/24	Newbury / Unknown / F	4	1 / 16	11/1	-
11/06/24	Salisbury / Unknown / F	4	4 / 12	40/1	-

Favourite

2nd Favourite

Royal Ascot

17:35

Runners: 13 Distance: 1m 1f 212y Going: Good to Firm

Race Predictor

Form
EW Places: 1/5 ODDS - 3 PLACES

Verdict: The step up in trip should be a firm plus for JACKKNIFE and he earns the vote ahead of another twice-raced contender in High Stock.

Detain

Jockey: C T Keane Trainer: J & T Gosden Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 16-163 OR: 113

6 tips

7/2

Comment: Staying-on sixth of 16 in the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1m, good; unraced on faster) last month and suited by the step up in trip when close third of 18 in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club 18 days ago (10.5f, good to soft; Trinity College a head further back in fourth); leading form claims.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
01/06/25	Chantilly / Group 1 / F	-	3 / 18	33/5	-
11/05/25	ParisLongchamp / Group 1 / F	-	6 / 16	18/1	-
03/04/25	Chelmsford / Unknown / F	2	1 / 7	5/4	103
26/10/24	Doncaster / Group 1 / F	1	6 / 8	10/1	104
09/10/24	Kempton / Unknown / F	5	1 / 12	4/11	-
21/08/24	Kempton / Unknown / F	4	1 / 12	9/4	-

Trinity College

Jockey: R L Moore Trainer: A P O'Brien Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 42-124 OR: 113

7/2

Comment: Didn't look happy on the camber when going close behind Sea Scout in Listed race at Epsom (1m2f, good) in April and took a step forward when a close fourth of 18 in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club (10.5f, good to soft) 18 days ago, when helping to force the pace and beaten just a head by Detain; sole contender for top trainer who has won this four times; key player.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
01/06/25	Chantilly / Group 1 / F	-	4 / 18	24/1	-
22/04/25	Epsom / Listed / F	1	2 / 7	9/4	105
23/03/25	Naas / Unknown / F	-	1 / 6	10/11	105
19/10/24	Leopardstown / Group 3 / F	-	2 / 6	7/4	103
28/09/24	Curragh / Group 2 / F	-	4 / 5	18/5	-
10/09/24	Galway / Unknown / F	-	1 / 10	10/11	-

Jackknife

Jockey: Oisin Murphy Trainer: R Varian Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 13 OR: 105

3 tips

4/1

Comment: 13-8 when winning on debut at Epsom (8.5f, good) in April and stayed on strongly once in the clear in Sandown Listed race (1m, good) last month, finishing third; this half-brother to the yard's 1m4f Group 1 winner Defoe is open to plenty of improvement now up in trip and could be a major player.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type		Class	Result	SP	OR
29/05/25	Sandown / Listed / F		1	3 / 7	9/2	-
22/04/25	Epsom / Unknown / F		4	1 / 9	13/8	-

Tornado Alert

Jockey: James McDonald Trainer: S bin Suroor Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 31-46 OR: 112

2 tips

11/2

Comment: Won at Newcastle (1m, AW) last October on second start and fourth on reappearance in the 2,000 Guineas (1m, good), albeit no match for the front three; creditable sixth of 18 in the Derby at Epsom (1m4f, good) 12 days ago; he'll appreciate the drop back in grade and is not discounted.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
07/06/25	Epsom / Group 1 / F	1	6 / 18	40/1	112
03/05/25	Newmarket / Group 1 / F	1	4 / 11	50/1	-
03/10/24	Newcastle / Unknown / F	5	1 / 11	9/4	-
14/09/24	Lingfield / Unknown / F	5	3 / 9	4/1	-

High Stock

Jockey: W Buick Trainer: A M Balding Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 12 OR: 107

2 tips

8/1

Comment: Well-backed winner of the Wood Ditton on debut at Newmarket (1m, good) in April and headed close home by the Ballydoyle favourite when going down by a neck in the Listed Dee Stakes at Chester (10.3f, good) last month; this twice-raced colt could have plenty more to offer and is one to consider.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type		Class	Result	SP	OR
08/05/25	Chester / Listed / F		1	2 / 7	11/4	-
16/04/25	Newmarket / Unknown / F		2	1 / 15	11/2	-

Arabian Force

Jockey: Tom Marquand Trainer: W J Haggas Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 611 OR: 95

12/1

Comment: Won at Wetherby (1m, good to firm) in April on second run and followed up by 5l in Salisbury novice (1m2f, good to firm); hanging badly left in the latter is a concern and the 1-4 runner-up may not have been at his best, but that one is unbeaten otherwise and this fellow obviously possesses plenty of raw talent; no surprise to see a big run up in grade.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
15/05/25	Salisbury / Unknown / F	4	1 / 6	9/4	-
27/04/25	Wetherby / Unknown / F	5	1 / 10	11/8	-
07/04/25	Kempton / Unknown / F	5	6 / 14	17/2	-

Emit

Jockey: D McMonagle Trainer: J P O'Brien Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 315-22 OR: 102

14/1

Comment: May well have won the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes over 1m2f at the Curragh (good) last month but for being hampered by first-past-the-post Reyenzi (who was demoted to third; this fellow was promoted to second); however, he's in a tougher Group 3 here and further improvement is needed.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
23/05/25	Curragh / Group 3 / F	-	2 / 5	15/2	98
19/04/25	Cork / Unknown / F	-	2 / 5	3/1	99
19/10/24	Leopardstown / Group 3 / F	-	5 / 6	6/1	-
06/10/24	Tipperary / Unknown / F	-	1 / 10	7/4	-
31/08/24	Curragh / Unknown / F	-	3 / 12	15/2	-
08/08/24	Leopardstown / Unknown / F	-	5 / 11	17/2	-

Reyenzi

Jockey: B M Coen Trainer: J P Murtagh Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 2-13 OR: 102

1 tip

14/1

Comment: Easily won Navan maiden (1m2f, soft) in April on reappearance and second start, and came from the back of the five-runner field to be first past the post in Group 3 Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh last month (1m2f, good; demoted to third, having hampered Emit); needs another step forward in this hotter contest but he's very lightly raced and could have more left in the tank.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
23/05/25	Curragh / Group 3 / F	-	3 / 5	5/2	-
26/04/25	Navan / Unknown / F	-	1 / 20	6/1	-
19/09/24	Naas / Unknown / F	-	2 / 7	40/1	-

Glittering Legend

Jockey: Daniel Muscutt Trainer: J R Fanshawe Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 141-11 OR: 104

18/1

Comment: Made it four wins from six starts when landing a Listed race at Newcastle (1m, AW) in April; won on good and soft ground in 2yo campaign; further improvement is needed today but he's in good hands to continue to progress and his dam was a 1m2f Listed winner; not ruled out now up in trip.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
18/04/25	Newcastle / Listed / F	1	1 / 6	9/2	104
29/03/25	Kempton / Unknown / F	2	1 / 5	5/2	93
25/10/24	Doncaster / Handicap / F	3	1 / 4	13/8	90
29/09/24	Epsom / Unknown / F	2	4 / 5	3/1	-
03/09/24	Goodwood / Unknown / F	2	1 / 10	20/1	-
28/06/24	Doncaster / Unknown / F	4	5 / 6	12/1	-

Great David

Jockey: James Doyle Trainer: J Tate Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 441-13 OR: 102

60/1

Comment: Built upon 2yo promise with easy win in Nottingham handicap (1m2f, good) in April; improved again with Listed third at Chester (10.3f, good) but has nearly 3l to find with runner-up High Stock on that form.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
08/05/25	Chester / Listed / F	1	3 / 7	25/1	86
09/04/25	Nottingham / Handicap / F	4	1 / 9	6/1	76
17/10/24	Brighton / Unknown / F	4	1 / 10	10/3	72
14/09/24	Bath / Unknown / F	4	4 / 10	7/2	-
14/08/24	Beverley / Unknown / F	4	4 / 9	5/1	-
18/07/24	Epsom / Unknown / F	4	6 / 10	14/1	-

Sea Scout

Jockey: Harry Davies Trainer: S & E Crisford Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 51-180 OR: 105

1 tip

70/1

Comment: Reappeared with a Listed win from Trinity College at Epsom (1m2f, good) in April but he's since come up well short in the Dante (10.2f, good to firm) and the Derby (1m4f, good) and others make greater appeal.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
07/06/25	Epsom / Group 1 / F	1	11 / 18	125/1	105
15/05/25	York / Group 2 / F	1	8 / 11	25/1	105
22/04/25	Epsom / Listed / F	1	1 / 7	40/1	-
21/11/24	Lingfield / Unknown / F	4	1 / 11	4/1	-
14/10/24	Kempton / Unknown / F	5	5 / 9	10/1	-

Tiberius Thunder

Jockey: D Egan Trainer: A Murray Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 1345 OR: 100

100/1

Comment: Won Dundalk maiden (1m, AW) on debut in February and some respectable efforts since in Group 3 and Listed races over 1m2f on turf; however, he's finished behind some of these and it's probably best to look elsewhere.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
23/05/25	Curragh / Group 3 / F	-	5 / 5	4/1	101
22/04/25	Epsom / Listed / F	1	4 / 7	17/2	-
30/03/25	Leopardstown / Group 3 / F	-	3 / 7	12/1	-
14/02/25	Dundalk / Unknown / F	-	1 / 11	8/15	-

Stardrop

Jockey: S D Bowen Trainer: James Owen Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 4801 OR: 62

175/1

Comment: Gelded and made handicap debut at Windsor (1m2f, good) ten days ago, showing considerable improvement to win easily; closely related to Group 1 winner Inspiral and it remains to be seen where limitations now lie, but that was just a 0-62 race and it would be a major shock if he follows up in this.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
09/06/25	Windsor / Handicap / F	6	1 / 10	14/1	62
01/05/25	Yarmouth / Unknown / F	5	11 / 12	200/1	-
16/04/25	Newmarket / Unknown / F	2	8 / 9	80/1	-
04/03/25	Newcastle / Unknown / F	5	4 / 4	12/1	-

Al Shababi

Jockey: Billy Loughnane Trainer: Owen Burrows Age/Wt: 3/9-2 F: 27-13 OR: 83

Comment: Reappeared with a convincing win in a maiden at Windsor (1m, good to firm) in April, which was his third start; kept on for close third in Class 4 handicap at Haydock (1m, good) last time and shaped as though he would be suited by this step up in trip, but it needs to prompt dramatic improvement.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
31/05/25	Haydock / Handicap / F	4	3 / 9	11/10	82
28/04/25	Windsor / Unknown / F	5	1 / 10	5/4	-
13/11/24	Lingfield / Unknown / F	5	7 / 12	11/4	-
16/10/24	Kempton / Unknown / F	5	2 / 12	16/1	-

Favourite

2nd Favourite

Royal Ascot

18:10

Runners: 29 Distance: 0m 7f 0y Handicap Going: Good to Firm

Race Predictor

Form
EW Places: 1/4 ODDS - 4 PLACES

Verdict: Never So Brave can go well but GLENEAGLE BAY excelled himself in the Victoria Cup and there's a good chance he can improve again.

English Oak

Jockey: James Doyle Trainer: E Walker Age/Wt: 5/9-7 F: 29-906 OR: 100

3 tips

5/1

Comment: Well ahead of his mark last June when taking this race to pieces but he never went on from that and has been slow to come to hand this year; first-time cheekpieces could hurry him up and he's only 1lb higher than last year so has a big weights chance.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
17/05/25	Newbury / Handicap / F	2	6 / 11	12/1	103
10/05/25	Ascot / Handicap / F	2	14 / 17	11/1	106
26/04/25	Haydock / Handicap / F	2	9 / 10	7/2	108
05/10/24	Ascot / Group 3 / F	1	9 / 9	4/1	108
20/09/24	Newbury / Listed / F	1	2 / 8	4/1	108
17/08/24	Newbury / Group 2 / F	1	6 / 7	3/1	108

Never So Brave

Jockey: Oisin Murphy Trainer: A M Balding Age/Wt: 4/9-12 F: 720-2 OR: 105

2 tips

6/1

Comment: Looked a smart prospect when impressing against a good rival on handicap debut at Chester (extended 7f, good) last May for Sir Michael Stoute, but this free-goer saw more daylight than ideal when sixth in the Group 3 Jersey here last June; he had some excuses after but the return to good ground suited on yard debut at Chester (7f) in May where he was hampered but only just failed to overhaul Myal; up 4lb but still has handicapping scope.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
31/05/25	Chester / Handicap / F	2	2 / 13	10/3	101
04/10/24	Ascot / Handicap / F	2	10 / 10	11/4	101
22/08/24	Chelmsford / Handicap / F	2	2 / 5	10/11	100
04/08/24	Chester / Handicap / F	2	7 / 11	13/8	101
22/06/24	Ascot / Group 3 / F	1	6 / 19	8/1	101
09/05/24	Chester / Handicap / F	2	1 / 7	1/1	94

Gleneagle Bay

Jockey: D Egan Trainer: Stephen Thorne Age/Wt: 5/9-2 F: 222-53 OR: 95

4 tips

6/1

Comment: Close up in two good handicaps in Ireland last autumn, over 7f at Leopardstown and 1m at the Curragh, but a close third in the Victoria Cup over C&D (good to firm) last month promised better, considering he arrived late on the scene away from his main rivals; he's since joined Amo Racing; up 3lb but strong chance.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
10/05/25	Ascot / Handicap / F	2	3 / 17	11/2	92
16/03/25	Curragh / Handicap / F	-	5 / 27	10/3	92
03/11/24	Curragh / Handicap / F	-	2 / 17	11/2	91
14/09/24	Leopardstown / Handicap / F	-	2 / 17	14/1	88
14/06/24	Fairyhouse / Unknown / F	-	2 / 4	9/4	90
02/06/24	Listowel / Unknown / F	-	5 / 6	10/1	-

Roi De France

Jockey: R L Moore Trainer: J & T Gosden Age/Wt: 4/9-12 F: 12-326 OR: 105

1 tip

10/1

Comment: Improved on last year's turf form when returned to the AW over the winter, but he went up the weights and his challenge never seriously materialised in the Victoria Cup over C&D (good to firm) in May, when a one-paced sixth of 17; dropped just 1lb and needs more for first-time cheekpieces; sold for £320,000 this week.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
10/05/25	Ascot / Handicap / F	2	6 / 17	11/2	106
18/04/25	Newcastle / Handicap / F	2	2 / 14	4/1	104
26/03/25	Kempton / Handicap / F	2	3 / 9	6/4	104
04/12/24	Kempton / Listed / F	1	2 / 9	13/8	100
20/11/24	Kempton / Handicap / F	2	1 / 14	1/1	95
28/09/24	Newmarket / Handicap / F	2	19 / 31	17/2	95

Oliver Show

Jockey: Billy Loughnane Trainer: G Boughey Age/Wt: 5/9-6 F: 0131-2 OR: 99

10/1

Comment: Three AW handicap wins at 7f and 1m in 2024 and he nearly sprang a surprise in the Lincoln (1m, good to soft) this March, when he arrived in front with a well-timed run only to lose out on the nod; up 4lb; interesting to see him back at 7f but he has hopes of better; has now had a second wind operation.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
29/03/25	Doncaster / Handicap / F	2	2 / 22	22/1	95
29/08/24	Southwell / Handicap / F	3	1 / 14	11/2	90
25/07/24	Yarmouth / Handicap / F	3	3 / 11	14/1	90
15/04/24	Kempton / Handicap / F	4	1 / 6	5/2	84
17/02/24	Newcastle / Handicap / F	4	11 / 12	3/1	84
04/02/24	Newcastle / Handicap / F	3	1 / 13	13/2	82

Akkadian Thunder

Jockey: W J Lee Trainer: D O'Meara Age/Wt: 5/9-2 F: 83-871 OR: 95

2 tips

11/1

Comment: Unexposed in 7f turf handicaps and things didn't go his way when a never-nearer eighth of 18 over C&D (soft) in the autumn; confirmed he was on the right side of the handicapper when a cosy winner from Billyjoh at Doncaster (7f, good) 12 days ago and he's in contention off 6lb higher.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
07/06/25	Doncaster / Handicap / F	3	1 / 14	11/4	89
09/05/25	Ascot / Handicap / F	3	7 / 10	11/4	91
26/04/25	Leicester / Handicap / F	2	8 / 11	11/1	91
26/10/24	Doncaster / Handicap / F	3	3 / 17	9/2	92
19/10/24	Ascot / Handicap / F	2	-	-	-
05/10/24	Ascot / Handicap / F	2	8 / 18	5/1	93

Fifty Nifty

Jockey: J P Spencer Trainer: Tom Clover Age/Wt: 4/9-2 F: 1-26 OR: 95

14/1

Comment: Successfully dropped to 7f at Newmarket (good to firm) in August but after a promising comeback on the Rowley Mile (7f, good) he checked out fast there in May; off the win list this time.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
02/05/25	Newmarket / Handicap / F	2	6 / 6	2/1	95
16/04/25	Newmarket / Handicap / F	2	2 / 7	5/4	93
10/08/24	Newmarket (July) / Handicap / F	2	1 / 9	10/3	87
11/07/24	Newmarket (July) / Handicap / F	3	4 / 9	7/2	88
31/05/24	Doncaster / Unknown / F	5	5 / 11	5/1	-
23/04/24	Yarmouth / Unknown / F	5	1 / 8	11/2	-

Witch Hunter

Jockey: S M Levey Trainer: R Hannon Age/Wt: 6/9-10 F: 26070 OR: 103

1 tip

16/1

Comment: Popped up in this race (good to firm; 50-1 off today's mark) in 2023 and he also won a Group 2 later that summer; hard to place at different levels in the meantime but a better effort back here can't be ruled out.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
31/05/25	Chester / Handicap / F	2	10 / 13	4/1	105
10/05/25	Ascot / Handicap / F	2	7 / 17	18/1	107
30/04/25	Ascot / Listed / F	1	10 / 11	11/1	109
29/03/25	Doncaster / Listed / F	1	6 / 9	6/1	109
08/03/25	Wolverhampton / Listed / F	1	2 / 7	9/2	109
28/02/25	Lingfield / Handicap / F	2	6 / 9	9/1	109

Apiarist

Jockey: T Eaves Trainer: K A Ryan Age/Wt: 4/9-5 F: 216103 OR: 98

16/1

Comment: Has mostly raced over 1m since handicapping but the return to 7f paid off handsomely on Southwell AW in February when he interrupted the winning sequence of a smart one; has returned to 1m since, finding stronger finishers ahead of him when mid-division in the Lincoln in March, but a strongly run 7f could be more the ticket.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
18/04/25	Newcastle / Handicap / F	2	3 / 14	18/1	97
29/03/25	Doncaster / Handicap / F	2	10 / 22	28/1	98
14/02/25	Southwell / Handicap / F	2	1 / 11	11/2	93
17/01/25	Newcastle / Handicap / F	2	6 / 12	11/2	95
11/01/25	Chelmsford / Handicap / F	3	1 / 16	11/4	90
01/01/25	Newcastle / Handicap / F	2	2 / 7	3/1	88

Ramazan

Jockey: Warren Fentiman Trainer: R A Fahey Age/Wt: 5/9-3 F: 30-600 OR: 96

1 tip

16/1

Comment: Has left an imprint on some of the best-known handicaps, such as when only just losing out in the Victoria Cup over C&D (good) in May 2024; has not aspired to those heights in 2025 but he's 9lb lower than for the aforementioned run and promising Warren Fentiman claims 5lb; one to keep an eye on.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
14/05/25	York / Handicap / F	2	11 / 16	33/1	97
26/04/25	Haydock / Handicap / F	2	10 / 10	10/1	99
13/04/25	Musselburgh / Handicap / F	2	6 / 8	6/1	102
09/11/24	Doncaster / Listed / F	1	11 / 11	17/2	104
05/10/24	Redcar / Listed / F	1	3 / 6	7/2	105
21/09/24	Ayr / Handicap / F	2	13 / 25	14/1	106

Inside Matters

Jockey: D Tudhope Trainer: D O'Meara Age/Wt: 4/9-5 F: 42/1- OR: 98

18/1

Comment: Well connected; unraced on quicker than good to soft, winning a 7f Compiegne maiden on very soft last July; gelded and had wind surgery since; interesting type but easier options will be available later.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
22/06/24	Compiegne / Maiden / F	-	1 / 15	13/5	-
08/09/23	Saint-Cloud / Maiden / F	-	2 / 8	19/10	-
17/08/23	Deauville / Maiden, Unraced / F	-	4 / 10	43/5	-

Billyjoh

Jockey: Frederick Larson Trainer: M Appleby Age/Wt: 5/9-1 F: 4-832 OR: 94

18/1

Comment: Has yet to win a turf handicap but he's been a superb performer in these big-field races and was the one to chase home English Oak in this 12 months ago; ran another cracker when runner-up at Glorious Goodwood (also 7f on good to firm) in July and looks primed for another sterling effort after running well behind Akkadian Thunder at Doncaster recently.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
07/06/25	Doncaster / Handicap / F	3	2 / 14	9/1	92
26/04/25	Leicester / Handicap / F	2	3 / 11	11/1	92
30/03/25	Doncaster / Handicap / F	3	8 / 19	12/1	93
17/10/24	Southwell / Handicap / F	2	4 / 12	9/2	94
21/09/24	Ayr / Handicap / F	2	12 / 25	40/1	96
24/08/24	York / Handicap / F	2	16 / 19	10/1	96

Divine Libra

Jockey: James McDonald Trainer: C Hills Age/Wt: 5/9-1 F: 820-65 OR: 94

1 tip

20/1

Comment: Never involved from way back in this race last year but he fared better with a more prominent ride when about 2l behind the winner Northern Express over C&D (good to firm) in July; the luck hasn't been with him this year but he still needs to improve on that latter form.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
09/05/25	Chester / Handicap / F	2	5 / 14	4/1	94
26/04/25	Haydock / Handicap / F	2	6 / 10	7/1	95
05/10/24	Ascot / Handicap / F	2	12 / 18	28/1	96
31/08/24	Chester / Handicap / F	2	2 / 13	9/1	94
27/07/24	Ascot / Handicap / F	2	8 / 18	18/1	95
13/07/24	Newmarket (July) / Handicap / F	2	10 / 20	15/2	95

Northern Express

Jockey: P Mulrennan Trainer: M Dods Age/Wt: 7/9-8 F: 82-588 OR: 101

22/1

Comment: Very steady in the top C&D handicaps, finishing third and fifth in the last two runnings of this before chalking one up (good to firm) in July; minor form in 2025 but he is just below that winning mark; can't be ruled out.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
15/05/25	York / Handicap / F	2	8 / 14	16/1	103
03/05/25	Thirsk / Handicap / F	2	8 / 13	18/1	105
12/04/25	Thirsk / Unknown / F	3	5 / 6	11/2	106
05/10/24	Redcar / Listed / F	1	2 / 6	6/1	106
21/09/24	Ayr / Handicap / F	2	8 / 25	50/1	106
27/07/24	Ascot / Handicap / F	2	1 / 18	22/1	102

Holguin

Jockey: W Buick Trainer: H Al Jehani Age/Wt: 5/9-7 F: 4/317-3 OR: 100

1 tip

22/1

Comment: Smart for Andrew Balding in 2023 when a Listed winner at 7f and in the frame in Group 2s; did well for latest trainer at Chester (7f, good) in May when, racing wide throughout from high draw, he still managed a close third to Myal and Never So Brave; back up 2lb but past form makes him worth a look.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
31/05/25	Chester / Handicap / F	2	3 / 13	18/1	98
22/09/24	Craon / Listed / F	-	7 / 7	14/5	-
21/07/24	La Teste De Buch / Conditions / F	-	1 / 9	22/5	-
04/07/24	ParisLongchamp / Conditions / F	-	3 / 8	21/10	-
26/08/23	Goodwood / Group 2 / F	1	4 / 7	11/1	110
01/08/23	Goodwood / Group 2 / F	1	4 / 6	12/1	111

No Retreat

Jockey: Callum Shepherd Trainer: George Scott Age/Wt: 4/9-4 F: 22123 OR: 97

22/1

Comment: Consistent in Britain and UAE but he has more to do than when getting off the mark at Meydan (7f, good to firm) in February and when third in a lower grade at Haydock (1m) for new yard in May; now has tongue-tie refitted with cheekpieces added.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
24/05/25	Haydock / Handicap / F	3	3 / 11	10/3	97
07/03/25	Meydan / Handicap / F	-	2 / 16	7/2	94
14/02/25	Meydan / Handicap / F	-	1 / 16	9/2	87
07/02/25	Meydan / Handicap / F	-	2 / 16	5/2	83
25/01/25	Abu Dhabi / Maiden / F	-	2 / 16	6/5	85
28/10/24	Redcar / Unknown / F	5	2 / 9	8/13	-

Myal

Jockey: Rossa Ryan Trainer: Steph Hollinshead Age/Wt: 4/9-7 F: 1-3181 OR: 100

25/1

Comment: Connections have done brilliantly in 7f handicaps with him, winning six from seven on all surfaces, but he seemingly had no excuses in the Victoria Cup over C&D last month and Never So Brave was hindered at Chester recently when only just failing to get past him; needs to pull out more.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
31/05/25	Chester / Handicap / F	2	1 / 13	11/2	95
10/05/25	Ascot / Handicap / F	2	8 / 17	10/1	95
26/04/25	Haydock / Handicap / F	2	1 / 10	3/1	91
29/03/25	Doncaster / Handicap / F	2	3 / 21	6/1	90
26/10/24	Doncaster / Handicap / F	3	1 / 17	15/2	82
27/09/24	Haydock / Handicap / F	3	1 / 8	4/1	78

Yorkshire

Jockey: Callum Rodriguez Trainer: E Bethell Age/Wt: 5/9-5 F: 11-514 OR: 98

28/1

Comment: Can lead; progressive on AW since dead-heating for most recent turf win, at Thirsk (7f, good to firm) last May; ran a solid race when a close fourth of ten back on turf at Haydock (7f, good) in April, but several of these should prove better treated.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
26/04/25	Haydock / Handicap / F	2	4 / 10	10/1	98
09/04/25	Kempton / Handicap / F	3	1 / 7	11/2	95
14/02/25	Southwell / Handicap / F	2	5 / 11	10/3	95
23/11/24	Wolverhampton / Handicap / F	2	1 / 10	9/4	92
21/10/24	Wolverhampton / Handicap / F	4	1 / 12	7/2	86
06/09/24	Haydock / Handicap / F	3	2 / 11	4/1	85

Mirsky

Jockey: Tom Marquand Trainer: D O'Meara Age/Wt: 6/9-2 F: 89-811 OR: 95

28/1

Comment: On a hat-trick after wins over about 1m at Thirsk (good to firm) and Epsom (good to soft), albeit having things play out well in the latter; finished a fair fifth of 18 in a good C&D handicap in October but it's likely something new is needed for the return to 7f.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
06/06/25	Epsom / Handicap / F	2	1 / 10	9/4	90
17/05/25	Thirsk / Handicap / F	3	1 / 8	9/4	88
03/05/25	Newmarket / Handicap / F	3	8 / 14	11/1	90
04/11/24	Kempton / Handicap / F	2	9 / 9	14/1	93
19/10/24	Ascot / Handicap / F	2	8 / 20	16/1	95
05/10/24	Ascot / Handicap / F	2	5 / 18	22/1	96

Run Boy Run

Jockey: George Wood Trainer: R Spencer Age/Wt: 4/9-2 F: 3-2242 OR: 95

33/1

Comment: Can lead; all three handicap wins at 7f, on good to firm, soft and AW, but he's run two very good races over 6f of late; now 9lb higher than when third of 13 over C&D in September and this needs more.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
17/05/25	Newbury / Handicap / F	2	2 / 8	7/1	94
03/05/25	Newmarket / Handicap / F	2	4 / 13	14/1	92
18/04/25	Newcastle / Handicap / F	2	2 / 14	7/1	92
17/01/25	Newcastle / Handicap / F	2	2 / 14	10/1	90
23/11/24	Wolverhampton / Handicap / F	2	3 / 10	10/3	90
31/10/24	Southwell / Handicap / F	3	1 / 13	15/2	85

Array

Jockey: C T Keane Trainer: A M Balding Age/Wt: 4/9-9 F: 317/35 OR: 102

40/1

Comment: Effective on all surfaces but his Group 2 win over 6f as a juvenile came on heavy; missed all of 2024 but seems to retain his ability, running as well as he was entitled to in Listed company at Haydock (7f, good to firm; worst chance at weights) in May; yard's main hope is Never So Brave.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
10/05/25	Haydock / Listed / F	1	5 / 5	16/1	102
12/04/25	Thirsk / Unknown / F	3	3 / 6	15/2	102
14/10/23	Newmarket / Group 1 / F	1	7 / 8	28/1	102
23/09/23	Newbury / Group 2 / F	1	1 / 6	7/4	100
09/09/23	Kempton / Group 3 / F	1	3 / 8	11/8	90
19/08/23	Newmarket (July) / Unknown / F	4	1 / 6	2/13	-

Two Tempting

Jockey: Rob Hornby Trainer: J G Portman Age/Wt: 6/9-8 F: 0-50418 OR: 101

50/1

Comment: Barnstorming year in 2024 with five wins (including on this course) at 1m and about 7f and he took full advantage of the rail draw when winning at Chester (extended 7f, good) last month; out the back at Epsom since, though, and he's up against it today.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
06/06/25	Epsom / Handicap / F	2	8 / 10	8/1	101
09/05/25	Chester / Handicap / F	2	1 / 14	9/4	96
12/04/25	Newbury / Handicap / F	2	4 / 14	14/1	97
29/03/25	Doncaster / Handicap / F	2	16 / 22	33/1	98
08/03/25	Wolverhampton / Handicap / F	2	5 / 12	10/1	98
05/10/24	Ascot / Handicap / F	2	10 / 18	25/1	99

Thunder Ball

Jockey: J M Sheridan Trainer: Brian Toomey Age/Wt: 5/9-4 F: 74002- OR: 97

50/1

Comment: Capable in competitive races for the Coles, including on good to firm, but some rain would have helped and best efforts at 1m and 1m1f; left the Coles for 55,000gns in the autumn; best watched on debut for new yard.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
25/09/24	Goodwood / Handicap / F	2	2 / 6	3/1	97
19/06/24	Ascot / Handicap / F	2	26 / 29	33/1	99
03/05/24	Newmarket / Handicap / F	2	10 / 10	5/1	100
20/04/24	Newbury / Handicap / F	2	4 / 21	10/1	101
23/03/24	Doncaster / Handicap / F	2	7 / 20	11/1	101
15/10/23	Goodwood / Handicap / F	2	1 / 6	3/1	95

Cerulean Bay

Jockey: David Probert Trainer: D O'Meara Age/Wt: 4/9-3 F: 17-705 OR: 96

66/1

Comment: All four 7f wins on good to soft, soft and good; signs of life on third run of 2025, when a staying-on fifth of 13 behind Myal and Never So Brave at Chester (extended 7f, good) in May, but sights are set higher here.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
31/05/25	Chester / Handicap / F	2	5 / 13	12/1	97
15/05/25	York / Handicap / F	2	11 / 14	28/1	98
26/04/25	Haydock / Handicap / F	2	7 / 10	17/2	99
14/09/24	Leopardstown / Handicap / F	-	7 / 17	7/2	100
30/08/24	Thirsk / Handicap / F	2	1 / 9	9/4	96
03/08/24	Thirsk / Handicap / F	3	1 / 8	7/4	92

Spangled Mac

Jockey: D McMonagle Trainer: G Boughey Age/Wt: 6/9-2 F: 7047-5 OR: 95

80/1

Comment: Had wind surgery since AW run in April (cheekpieces left off, refitted today); has course form but he's no standout at the weights on C&D form, including when fourth of 29 in this race off today's mark in 2023.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
06/04/25	Southwell / Handicap / F	2	5 / 11	25/1	96
28/09/24	Newmarket / Handicap / F	2	7 / 9	14/1	94
15/09/24	Doncaster / Handicap / F	2	4 / 9	10/1	95
07/09/24	Ascot / Handicap / F	2	10 / 13	9/1	96
31/08/24	Chester / Handicap / F	2	7 / 13	20/1	97
17/08/24	Newbury / Handicap / F	2	4 / 11	11/1	97

Tarkhan

Jockey: Saffie Osborne Trainer: J A Osborne Age/Wt: 6/9-12 F: 9 OR: 105

100/1

Comment: In good form in the autumn, winning a Listed race (extended 6f, soft) in Germany and close up in an Italian Group 2 (1m, heavy) but he didn't look well handicapped for his British debut at Chester last month and so it proved; has a lot to find in first-time blinkers.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type		Class	Result	SP	OR
09/05/25	Chester / Handicap / F		2	9 / 14	33/1	107

Jayyash

Jockey: M Barzalona Trainer: H Al Jehani Age/Wt: 4/9-7 F: 2323- OR: 100

100/1

Comment: Had some good results in Qatar over various trips since December, a close third of ten over 7f reading well, but he has more to prove on his British form being 18lb higher than for an AW defeat for the Gosdens in August.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
21/08/24	Kempton / Handicap / F	4	3 / 9	85/40	82
27/06/24	Newmarket (July) / Handicap / F	4	2 / 6	3/1	81
25/05/24	York / Handicap / F	3	3 / 7	9/2	81
01/05/24	Kempton / Handicap / F	4	2 / 8	11/10	80
10/04/24	Kempton / Unknown / F	5	1 / 9	8/11	-
14/03/24	Southwell / Unknown / F	4	2 / 12	8/13	-

Aafoor

Jockey: Szczepan Mazur Trainer: Mohammed Khalifa Al Age/Wt: 4/9-12 F: 2/082-7 OR: 105

150/1

Comment: Hampered when a never-nearer eighth of 18 in his sole 7f handicap in Britain, at Goodwood (good to firm) last July; much higher in the weights now following three 1m2f wins in Qatar over the winter and a remote finish in a Group 3 at Sandown (1m2f) recently left questions hanging.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
29/05/25	Sandown / Group 3 / F	1	7 / 7	200/1	107
10/08/24	Newmarket (July) / Handicap / F	3	2 / 6	8/1	90
31/07/24	Goodwood / Handicap / F	3	8 / 18	100/1	92
13/07/24	Newmarket (July) / Handicap / F	2	13 / 13	66/1	94
04/08/23	Galway / Unknown / F	-	2 / 12	7/1	-

Watch My Tracer

Jockey: Daniel Muscutt Trainer: George Scott Age/Wt: 4/9-8 F: 3/1060- OR: 101

150/1

Comment: Goes well fresh, winning a Listed AW race (7f) in 2024 before failing to go on and it was a similar story in Bahrain this winter, winning there in December but in the ruck twice since; has a demanding task here.

Date	Course/Race Class/Type	Class	Result	SP	OR
20/06/24	Ascot / Handicap / F	2	24 / 29	150/1	98
19/05/24	Newmarket / Handicap / F	2	6 / 7	14/1	99
20/04/24	Newbury / Group 3 / F	1	10 / 11	14/1	99
07/03/24	Lingfield / Listed / F	1	1 / 10	12/1	95
10/09/23	York / Handicap / F	3	3 / 6	4/1	97
26/08/23	Newmarket (July) / Unknown / F	2	9 / 15	3/1	97

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