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16:25 Royal Ascot

Friday 21 June 2024

All14:3015:0515:4516:2517:0517:4018:15

Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap)

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 2m 30.56s

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(12)

Kolossal²⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J A Osborne| OR: 105| BF| D

66/1

6-y-o mare who won 3 times at Pattern level last season in Germany, including Group 3s at Milan and Hoopegarten. Joined new yard for €200,000 but this looks a tough enough ask (off 8 months) off top weight on handicap bow.

Form: 8/11127-

(4)

Crystal Black²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: C T Keane| T: G Keane| OR: 103

11/1

Found his feet for new stable last summer, registering pair of victories either side of a smashing third in Irish Cambridgeshire (1m). Continued on the up this spring, winning pair of Curragh handicaps (at up to 10f) and he may not of reached his limit now stamina is tested further.

Form: 0131-11

(17)

Mandoob⁷¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: S M Levey| T: B J Meehan| OR: 103| DWS

22/1

Smart performer who made a promising start to his 4-y-o campaign when second at listed level but didn't kick on in 2 starts thereafter during 2022. Missed whole of last year and this looks a tough enough ask on his belated return to action/following wind surgery.

Form: 123250/

(11)

Safecracker^h,t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: W Buick| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 101| D

14/1

Won over this sort of trip at the Curragh 11 months ago. Best not judged on his final outing in Group 3 company but shaped well after 10 months off (best of those held up) when fifth behind Crystal Black returned to that venue 4 weeks ago. Mark demands more but he holds each-way claims.

Form: 57217-5

(10)

Cumulonimbus^p,t¹⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Hollie Doyle| T: George Baker| OR: 97| D

80/1

Progressed with cheekpieces applied last year, winning 3 of his 5 starts. Changed hands for 150,000 gns thereafter and shaped as if needing the run after 5 months off at Kempton (12f) in January. Headgear returns now but may find it tough trying to dominate this field. Has had wind surgery.

Form: 11310-6

(16)

Epic Poet³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97

25/1

Smart performer in France who disappointed in trio of starts for Freddie & Martyn Meade last summer. However, definite step back in right direction for new yard when sixth of 16 in handicap at York (10.2f) 5 weeks ago, without being ideally placed. Likely he can scale his resurgence further.

Form: 22/670-6

(21)

Deakin^p,t²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: D McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 97| D

7/1

4-y-o who took his form up a notch equipped with cheekpieces, impressive winner of maiden/handicap at Roscommon and Thurles at around this trip in the autumn. Highly encouraging return second behind Crystal Black at the Curragh (10f) 4 weeks ago and fancied to build on that back up in trip.

Form: 64411-2

(7)

Marhaba The Champ³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Rossa Ryan| T: K A Ryan| OR: 96| D

33/1

Improved model last season, winning competitive York handicaps at both the Dante/Ebor Festivals. However, was some way below best after 8 months off when twelfth of 13 in Jorvik Handicap on return at that venue 37 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 16019-0

(22)

Bague D'or⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J Ferguson| OR: 96| C| D

10/1

Likeable sort who twice shaped well upon joining present stable last summer and enhanced his good record fresh winning 11-runner handicap at Newmarket (14f, good) in May, doing well to pick up a better positioned rival. Another with each-way claims for all this is understandably tougher.

Form: 112/24-1

(15)

Party Central^t³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: D P McDonogh| T: G Elliott| OR: 96| BF| D

33/1

Likeable, prolific winning mare (useful hurdler) who seemed to find the test inadequate when eighth in Copper Horse handicap (14f) here on Tuesday, finishing with running left. Remains with potential in this sphere but further drop back in trip doesn't look ideal.

Form: 11-38

(6)

Sea King⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 96| D

22/1

Sea The Stars gelding who enhanced his good record fresh when taking 8-runner Ripon handicap (12f, heavy) in April, picking way through and leading close home. Stable bagged a winner here on Tuesday and a 3 lb rise shouldn't prevent him giving another good account.

Form: 7/2104-1

(2)

Fairbanks^v¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 94| BF| D

11/1

Most progressive equipped with a visor, registering a clear-cut success from the front at Newcastle (12.5f) in May. Ran well from 7 lb higher mark despite being a shade keener than ideal when second at Hamilton (13.1f) 19 days ago and he holds each-way claims up in class.

Form: 111-612

(19)

Shadow Dance²⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: R Varian| OR: 94| D

15/2

Made good strides forward in first season, impressing despite looking rough around the edges when successful at Haydock (11.6f) in September. Smashing second in Old Rowley Cup at Newmarket (12f) on final start and despite being absent since, he's very much one to keep on side this term.

Form: 23412-

(18)

Ethical Diamond⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: W P Mullins| OR: 94| D

7/4

Improved with each start in Flat maidens for Michael O'Meara, successful at Limerick (12.3f) 12 months ago. Useful form on second of 3 starts over hurdles for new yard and finished a fine second on handicap debut in this sphere at Leopardstown (10f) in May. Lots to like back up in trip.

Form: 431-2

(8)

Struth^p¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: R Kingscote| T: C Johnston| OR: 94| D

50/1

Winner at Chester (12.3f) last May and plenty of good efforts in defeat thereafter last term. Low-key efforts first 2 starts upon returning but did at least return to form (without looking straightforward) when third at Haydock (11.8f) 13 days ago. Not sure to build on that in refitted cheekpieces.

Form: 442-903

(5)

Vaguely Royal^p²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: K Shoemark| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 94| BF| D

40/1

Progressive 3-time winner as a 3-y-o who has been acquitting himself with credit from marks in the 90's, albeit his finishing effort a shade underwhelming when fifth of 8 in handicap at Goodwood (14f) 4 weeks ago. Well-run race returned to this shorter trip will play to his strengths.

Form: 1-53525

(9)

Sheer Rocks³⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 93| CD

50/1

Improved model as a 4-y-o, winning 8-runner C&D handicap before following up at Epsom (12f) this time last year. Solid display attempting the hat-trick when fifth in Old Newton Cup at Haydock a month later and whilst absent since, the fact he's gone well fresh previously rates a plus here.

Form: 399/115-

(13)

Ziggy²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: Harry Eustace| OR: 93| D

11/1

Sparsely campaigned in recent seasons, but he's returned as good as ever, again finding only a well-handicapped sort too strong at Epsom (12f) 3 weeks ago. May have more to offer at this sort of trip and yard's runners have acquitted themselves well this week.

Form: 01/23-22

(3)

Tony Montana²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: David Egan| T: M L W Bell| OR: 93

25/1

Aided by a good position when successful on return at Chester (10.3f) but proved that no fluke as he followed up in 11-runner Windsor handicap (10f) 27 days ago, overcoming trouble to lead final 50 yds. 2 lb rise looks fair and he's still low-mileage at this sort of trip.

Form: 4703-11

Non-Runners

(14)

Teumessias Fox⁸⁴

Weight: 9-12| Age: 5

T: A M Balding J: Non Runner

(1)

La Yakel²⁵¹

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: W J Haggas J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Ethical Diamond (7/4), Deakin (7/1), Shadow Dance (15/2), Bague D'or (10/1), La Yakel (10/1), Crystal Black (11/1), Ziggy (11/1), Fairbanks (11/1), Safecracker (14/1), Teumessias Fox (20/1), Mandoob (22/1), Sea King (22/1), Epic Poet (25/1), Tony Montana (25/1), Party Central (33/1), Marhaba The Champ (33/1), Vaguely Royal (40/1), Sheer Rocks (50/1), Struth (50/1), Kolossal (66/1), Cumulonimbus (80/1)

ETHICAL DIAMOND continued his theme of race-by-race progress on his first start on the Flat for his top NH stable when narrowly denied by another upwardly mobile sort at Leopardstown 6 weeks ago and, with the step back up in trip holding no fears, he makes plenty of appeal under Ryan Moore. Last month's Curragh 1-2 Crystal Black and Deakin bolster a strong Irish challenge and are feared, with returning Shadow Dance another to note. Bague d'Or and Vaguely Royal also make each-way appeal.