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16:20 Royal Ascot

Wednesday 20 June 2018

All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:35

Prince Of Wales's Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 2m 3.51s

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Selected odds by:

(2)

Cliffs Of Moher^t²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 115| D

10/1

Runner-up in the Derby last year and returned to form with a win in a Group 2 at Naas last month. Only beaten by a proven Group 1 performer who had optimum conditions subsequently and there's still a suspicion we haven't seen the best of him.

Form: 678-512

(5)

Cracksman¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 130| CD

2/5

Couldn't have been more impressive in the Champion Stakes over C&D last year and made easy work of the Ganay on return in France. Stayed on gamely to get up at Epsom last time having looked ill at ease on the track and he's the one to beat here.

Form: 2111-11

(6)

Desert Encounter^h²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock| OR: 113| C

40/1

Placed in the Eclipse last year but generally a little out of his depth at this level and well beaten by re-opposing Poet's Word last time. 3lb better off at the weights but has others to worry about here and likely to find a few too good.

Form: 3615-93

(4)

Eminent⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: M Meade| OR: 116| BF| D

16/1

Fared best of those on a strong pace in the Irish Champion Stakes last year, staying on well for third. Very disappointing at Chester on his seasonal bow but that wasn't his true running and not without some chance if back to his best.

Form: 64513-5

(3)

Hawkbill^b¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 122| CD

11/1

Impressive winner of the Sheema Classic at Meydan (Poet's Word second), gaining a second career Group 1 success. Showed he's not the most consistent in the Coronation Cup last time and drop back to 1m2f perhaps not a positive. Others preferred.

Form: 122-115

(1)

Poet's Word²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 119| D

11/2

A distant runner-up to Cracksman in the Champion Stakes last year and has held his form well since. Followed a placed effort behind Hawkbill in the Sheema Classic with an odds-on win in the Brigadier Gerard but has plenty more on his plate here.

Form: 1226-21

(7)

Royal Julius³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: G Mosse| T: J Reynier| OR: 114

66/1

Career best effort when winning a Group 2 in France last time. Needs to take his form to a whole new level to have any say here though.

Form: 20-3821

Forecasts

Cracksman (2/5), Poet's Word (11/2), Cliffs Of Moher (10/1), Hawkbill (11/1), Eminent (16/1), Desert Encounter (40/1), Royal Julius (66/1)

CRACKSMAN had excuses when only narrowly getting up in the Coronation Cup last time out and back on a more conventional course, he could be very hard to beat. Cliffs Of Moher has returned in good form this season and could prove best of the rest for last year's winning trainer of this race while Eminent may be able to challenge for minor honours if he bounces back from a poor run at Chester last time.