17:05 Royal Ascot
Tuesday 18 June 2024
All14:3015:0515:4516:2517:0517:4018:15
Ascot Stakes (Heritage Handicap)
- 4YO plus | Class 2 | 2m 3f 210y | Good to Firm | 20 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 4m 21.99s
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Selected odds by:
Smart hurdler who wasn't beaten far when sixth under Jamie Spencer in the 2022 renewal of this. Good efforts both subsequent starts in this sphere, latterly a fine second in the Cesarewitch during the autumn, and he also performed with great credit on his latest hurdles start in March. Big player.
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Decisive winner of the Shergar Cup Stayers (2m, good) on sole previous visit here last summer. However, safely held in the Irish and Newmarket versions of the Cesarewitch on next 2 starts and, though not disgraced back in this sphere (fit from jumps) at Down Royal recently, he's on a tough mark.
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Useful on the Flat in France and promising start for new yard/hurdles debut when just touched off by a race-fit rival following almost a year off at Killarney (20.2f, good to soft). Unexposed and represents a top trainer-jockey combination with a good recent record in this race. Tongue strap added.
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Struggled over hurdles following Wexford maiden success in September but has looked better than ever back on the Flat this spring, bagging handicaps at Navan (13f, good to soft) and Killarney (16.8f, soft). However, he's gone up 16 lb in total and is going into the unknown stamina-wise here.
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Did nothing wrong last season and has continued the good work this time round, finishing third over 1½m at Doncaster on return in April before an impressive display back up in trip at Haydock (16.2f, good to soft). 9 lb rise asks a question but she goes on any ground and promises to stay this trip.
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Out with the washing in the Queen Alexandra at this meeting in 2022 and, though he won his next 2 starts, that campaign ended on a low-key note. No issues ground/trip-wise but this is a very big ask on the back of 21-month absence.
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Winless on the Flat last year but posted a couple of solid efforts in big handicaps, including when third in this race off a 5 lb higher mark. Scored over hurdles during the winter and should be spot-on for this following a couple of spins on the AW in April. Live each-way contender.
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Ended 2023 with a pair of wins at Chelmsford and duly left his low-key reappearance behind when making it 2-4 on turf at Salisbury (14.2f, heavy). That was a career-best performance by some way but this demands another, all things considered. Also engaged in the 6.15 on this card.
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Runner-up in the Queens Vase at this meeting in 2020 and, though down the field in a handicap back here 12 months ago, he put in some good shifts last term, not least when fifth of 22 off 1 lb higher in the Ebor. Respectable efforts at Newmarket this year and each-way shout if he sees this trip out.
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Four-time Flat winner in France and, following a couple of solid efforts over hurdles earlier this year, he resumed in this sphere with a cracking effort in the Chester Cup (18.6f, good to firm), beaten just a length into third after encountering traffic problems. Big player with Buick booked.
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Successful twice for Andrew Balding in 2022 and made it third time lucky over hurdles for this yard at Navan in January. Good third in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival next time but latest effort wasn't so good and yard saddles a stronger candidate here in Pied Piper.
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Landed a competitive handicap at the Curragh off 2 lb lower last June before posting a creditable effort in a very valuable Leopardstown contest. Rather in-and-out over hurdles since, though, and it remains to be seen if he possesses the required stamina reserves for this test.
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Much-improved in 2022, winning 4 times at up to 1¾m, including the Copper Horse Stakes at this meeting. Mixed bag since and while the handicapper has reacted accordingly, it's far from certain that a stamina test such as this is what he wants.
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Winner of a minor event at Killarney for Denis Hogan last August and has performed with credit in the handicaps won by Boher Road the last twice. Shrewd yard's raiders always command respect but this 5-y-o will need to improve if he's to take this.
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Best effort yet when landing a 17-runner handicap at the big Goodwood meeting last summer (20.4f, soft). Sound start to present campaign when 1¼ lengths second to Pledgeofallegiance back at that Sussex venue last month and, now 2 lb better off with that rival, he's an each-way player.
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Good effort when fourth in this off a 3 lb higher mark 12 months ago and resumed with a creditable effort in defeat at Chester last month. Possible that the race came too soon when well behind Divine Comedy at Haydock 15 days later but others make more appeal in any case.
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Didn't enjoy the best of runs when mid-field in this race last year and went down all guns blazing just 4 days later in the Queen Alexandra. However, more miss than hit since and losing run stretches back to his victory in this in 2019.
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Raised his game in 2023, winning 3 times at up to 2m, and built on encouraging reappearance effort when seeing off Temporize and 5 others at Goodwood (2m, good) last month. 3 lb rise fair and shapes as though he'll relish this stamina test. Each-way chance.
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Useful handicapper who has contested his fair share of competitive events. Signed off truncated 2023 campaign by finishing second in 1¾m Goodwood handicap (final run for William Haggas) but absent since flopping badly on hurdles/yard debut at Ludlow in November.
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Snapped a losing run with a decisive display at Goodwood (2m, good to firm) recently. Shapes as though this trip will be within range but stall 20 is a possible negative and good deal more will be needed under a penalty in what is a much stronger race.
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Forecasts
Zanndabad (9/2), Boher Road (13/2), Divine Comedy (8/1), Nusret (8/1), My Lyka (17/2), Pied Piper (9/1), Kyle Of Lochalsh (12/1), Tritonic (14/1), Temporize (18/1), Almuhit (18/1), Pledgeofallegiance (20/1), Law Of The Sea (20/1), Tenerife Sunshine (25/1), Ndaawi (28/1), Berkshire Rocco (28/1), Get Shirty (33/1), The Grand Visir (33/1), The Very Man (40/1), Nathanael Greene (66/1), Master Milliner (100/1)
This extreme stamina test could be just the ticket for ZANNDABAD, who shaped like the best horse at the weights when an eye-catching third in the Chester Cup and he could be the answer with William Buick aboard. Pied Piper is taken to improve on his sixth-placed finish in this race a couple of years ago and is feared most ahead of last year's third, Tritonic, while the unexposed My Lyka has to be of interest for the Mullins-Moore combination and Berkshire Rocco has each-way claims.
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £56,694.002nd: £26,587.003rd: £13,299.004th: £6,644.005th: £3,322.006th: £1,661.00
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