13:15 Royal Ascot

Wednesday 17 June 2020

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

Silver Royal Hunt Cup Handicap (Str)

  • 3YO plus  |   Class 2  |   1m  |   Good (Round Course: Good to Soft in places)  |   22 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 13:17  |   Winning time: 1m 39.54s
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1
(18)
Horse silk
Sir Busker15
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: W J Knight| OR:  96| D
12/1
Progressive last year when winning a couple of handicaps and made a winning return at Newcastle 15 days ago. 4lb higher in a much deeper contest here so he will need to come on for that but he ought to get a decent pace to aim at.
2
(15)
Horse silk
Home Before Duskp105
Age: 5|  Weight: 9-10| J: Ben Sanderson(3)| T: K Dalgleish| OR:  96| D
100/1
Has won five races on AW since he was last seen on turf when rated 32lb lower. Needs to prove he can be as effective given his record is 0-12 so far on turf.
3
(1)
Horse silk
Universal Gleam95
Age: 5|  Weight: 9-9| J: David Probert| T: K Dalgleish| OR:  95| D
100/1
Slowly improving sort for this yard but his very best efforts have come over further than this and he's up 3lb for an AW win at Wolverhampton when last seen; career best required.
4
(8)
Horse silk
Brian Epstein8
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-9| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR:  95| D
9/1
Made it two wins from seven starts when winning a Musselburgh handicap in June. Missed the rest of the season and while he ran well on return at Haydock, this is a tough ask up in class.
5
(16)
Horse silk
Plantadream11
Age: 5|  Weight: 9-9| J: K T O'Neill| T: J R Best| OR:  95| D
20/1
Made it two wins from four starts when bolting up at Lingfield 11 days ago on handicap debut. Has a habit of missing the break and the assessor has put him up 14lb but he's completely unexposed and he might come on for that run.
6
(6)
Horse silk
So Beloved15
Age: 10|  Weight: 9-9| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR:  95| D
50/1
Group 3 winner at Goodwood in 2015 but hasn't won since a Listed success at Haydock in 2016; hasn't shown his best form here and likely best watched given his advancing years.
7
(22)
Horse silk
Zhui Fengp10
Age: 7|  Weight: 9-8| J: M Dwyer| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR:  94| CD
18/1
Losing run goes back to a four-runner Listed success in 2018 but he won the Royal Hunt Cup here back in 2018 and he's useful if allowed to dominate from the front. Well-handicapped and may improve from Newmarket reappearance 10 days ago.
8
(3)
Horse silk
Dean Street Doll14
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Watson| T: D Menuisier| OR:  93| D
40/1
Won a Limerick maiden at the start of last year but that's her only success and she was failing to make any impression in Group company last year. Well beaten on return in Listed class at Kempton and official mark looks stiff on what she's achieved.
9
(9)
Horse silk
Brainsb8
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-7| J: Nicola Currie| T: J A Osborne| OR:  93| D
66/1
Progressive on AW last year but well beaten on his return from his revised handicap mark and has plenty to prove up at this level on turf.
10
(12)
Horse silk
Red Bond11
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-6| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: K Dalgleish| OR:  92| D
14/1
Made it three wins from seven when bolting up at Newcastle in January and he posted a smart effort when third in behind the progressive Daarik at Newcastle 11 days ago. Interesting if he comes on for that run and return to this trip should suit.
11
(23)
Horse silk
Smile A Mile102
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-6| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR:  92| D
40/1
Won four handicaps last year and has been holding his form well on AW this winter but hard to argue he's well handicapped in any way on his return to turf here.
12
(2)
Horse silk
Hortzadar229
Age: 5|  Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR:  92| D
28/1
Won his first two starts for this yard and got his head back in front at Ripon in August. Just 1lb above his last winning mark but this is competitive and it requires a career best.
13
(20)
Horse silk
Nicklaus265
Age: 5|  Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR:  92| D
18/1
Looked progressive as a three-year-old but failed to add to his tally last year and remains 3lb above his last winning handicap mark. Probably wants fast ground to be seen at his best and others preferred.
14
(17)
Horse silk
Salayelh270
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-6| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR:  92
12/1
A winner at Jebel Ali (6f) on dirt for her previous yard but she's been a bit frustrating to follow for her new connections. Doesn't always settle well but a big field may help on that front and she remains with potential.
15
(24)
Horse silk
Ouzo10
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: R Hannon| OR:  91| D
4/1
Recorded a hat-trick last season and only narrowly denied at Newmarket 10 days ago. Had no obvious excuses but front two pulled clear and he can race off the same mark here.
16
(19)
Horse silk
Almuftit116
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: H Palmer| OR:  91| BF| D
33/1
Gained two wins on AW this winter but disappointed when he was a short-priced favourite at Lingfield last time. Still relatively unexposed and has performed well on turf despite failing to gain a win. Wants a good pace to aim at.
17
(5)
Horse silk
Maydanny14
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-4| J: Jim Crowley| T: C & M Johnston| OR:  90| D
4/1
Promise in two starts in novice/maiden company and made easy work of his opening handicap mark at Yarmouth 14 days ago. A 10lb rise looks a bit harsh on the bare form but he's open to improvement on just his fourth start here.
18
(21)
Horse silk
Alternative Fact10
Age: 5|  Weight: 9-4| J: L Dettori| T: E A L Dunlop| OR:  90| D
9/1
Gained a first win since 2017 at Newmarket in November but disappointed on return and didn't look well-handicapped from this sort of mark last season.
19
(7)
Horse silk
Sucellus15
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-4| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR:  90
40/1
Sandown winner on his final start for John Gosden but beaten a long way on his return at Newcastle and will need to improve to defy this mark; drops back in trip.
20
(11)
Horse silk
Ambassadorial11
Age: 6|  Weight: 9-4| J: J F Egan| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR:  90
12/1
A winner on debut for this yard but all his wins have come on AW and he's up 1lb for a 3L second at Newmarket on return. This is tougher and others preferred.
22
(14)
Horse silk
Presidential4(ex 5)
Age: 6|  Weight: 9-3| J: S W Kelly| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR:  84
40/1
Ended a bit of a losing run when winning at Doncaster four days ago but 5lb higher in a tougher race now and all his best form has come at 7f.
23
(10)
Horse silk
Goringv102
Age: 8|  Weight: 9-2| J: Georgia Dobie(5)| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR:  88| D
40/1
Got his head back in front on AW in February and allowed to race from a reduced turf mark these days but well beaten in four of his five starts at this venue and has never won from a mark this high on turf.

Non-Runners

21
(4)
Horse silk
Asdaa4
Weight: 9-3|  Age: 4
T: C & M Johnston  J: Non Runner
NR
24
(13)
Horse silk
Model Guest11
Weight: 9-1|  Age: 4
T: G G Margarson  J: Non Runner
NR

Forecasts

Maydanny (4/1), Ouzo (4/1), Alternative Fact (9/1), Brian Epstein (9/1), Sir Busker (12/1), Salayel (12/1), Ambassadorial (12/1), Red Bond (14/1), Nicklaus (18/1), Zhui Feng (18/1), Plantadream (20/1), Hortzadar (28/1), Almufti (33/1), Model Guest (33/1), Asdaa (33/1), Presidential (40/1), Dean Street Doll (40/1), Sucellus (40/1), Smile A Mile (40/1), Goring (40/1), So Beloved (50/1), Brains (66/1), Home Before Dusk (100/1), Universal Gleam (100/1)

Verdict

A consolation race for the Royal Hunt Cup and nearly as competitive as the valuable handicap itself. The one who could be best suited to this race is the unexposed SALAYEL. She put up her best UK performance in a big field at York and given that they're like to go a decent gallop here, she ought to be able to settle better than she has in some of her starts. Sir Busker is another who will be suited to a decent pace and a 4lb rise is fair for his recent success at Newcastle. Plantadream was impressive on return and looks less exposed than most of his rivals; he looks interesting if he converts his AW form to turf.
  1. Salayel
  2. Plantadream
  3. Sir Busker

Prize Money

1st: £22,642.002nd: £6,738.003rd: £3,367.004th: £1,684.00

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