18:15 Royal Ascot
Friday 21 June 2024
All14:3015:0515:4516:2517:0517:4018:15
Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes (Handicap)
- 3YO only | Class 2 | 5f | Good to Firm | 28 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 18:16 | Winning time: 59.6s
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Selected odds by:
Confirmed debut promise when scoring at Bath 12 months ago and ended his 2-y-o campaign with a couple of third-placed efforts in Group 2 company. Handicapper taken no chances with his opening mark, so another chunk of improvement needed.
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Progressive sort who won 2 of his 3 starts in novice/maiden company on AW last year and found further progress making handicap debut runner-up at Newcastle on New Year's Day. Disappointed there next time, but back on song when second on turf debut in listed company at York. Plenty to like.
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Made it 2-2 this year with a career best in 7-runner handicap at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) 33 days ago by neck from Completely Random. Up 5 lb but she's weighted to go close once more in her bid to land a five-timer.
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Dark Angel filly who returned with a 5.5f win in Listed event at Chantilly in March. Not quite at that level in pattern company on her next couple of starts but back on track when 3¾ lengths fourth of 6 to Electric Storm in listed race at Haydock (6f, soft) 4 weeks ago. Makes handicap bow.
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Useful juvenile but both efforts at listed level this year leave a bit to be desired. Now heads into handicaps with something to prove.
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Improving in leaps and bounds and completed the hat-trick in 17-runner handicap at York (good) 5 weeks ago by 1¼ lengths from Vantheman, unsurprisingly seeing out the drop to 5f thoroughly. That wasn't far off a smart performance, so he's one for the shortlist.
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Dual winner as a juvenile and stepped up on reappearance/yard debut making handicap bow when ½-length second of 11 to Kendall Roy at the Curragh (5f, good to firm) 16 days ago. Another step forward needed but that's not beyond the realms of possibility.
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Fairly useful winner in America who, back in headgear, stepped up on his reappearance run when 2¾ lengths third of 7 to Big Evs in listed race at York (5f, good) just over 5 weeks ago. He looks ready for a try at 6f, so others make more appeal this time.
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Made it 3 wins from his first 5 starts when holding on by a head in a blanket finish at Lingfield in February. Not seen to best effect from a wide draw back there (6f, AW) a month later and hasn't been seen since. Would be folly to discount back on turf.
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Dual winner at 2 yrs but ended that campaign with a couple of poor efforts in the mud. Ran his best race returning from 7 months off (gelded in the interim) when second of 7 in handicap at Windsor (6f, good to firm) earlier this month and every chance he can build on that.
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Fairly useful form in France, winning 8-runner maiden at Deauville (6f, heavy) on reappearance. Ran a cracker on her first start outside her native country when second of 11 to Pandora's Gift in listed race at Chelmsford (6f) just over 7 weeks ago and now goes handicapping with a hood on.
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Bright start for new yard, successful at Southwell in December. Clearly derived plenty of benefit from his reappearance fourth at Chester and found a chunk of improvement to record a third career success at Epsom (5f, good to soft) just under 3 weeks ago. Should go well again.
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Won 6f Windsor novice in good style last year. Found out in better company later in 2023 but having changed hands for 125,000 gns, looked an unlucky loser on Sandown return. Ran to a similar level on the figures at Newmarket a month later and capable of getting involved back at 5f.
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Showed much improved form to blitz his rivals in 10-runner handicap at Musselburgh (5f, good) just under 3 weeks ago, making all and drawing clear from 2f out. Clearly very speedy and worth his place in this better company.
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Blitzed his rivals from the front at Kempton in November and emphatically left his disappointing reappearance well behind to making a winning start in handicap company at Doncaster (6f, firm) just under 5 weeks ago, looking the sort that can climb the ranks quickly. One to follow.
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Was returning from 5 months off and without the usual headgear, resumed progress returned to turf/handicap company at Cork (5f, good to soft) by length from Kendall Roy last month (now successful on 3 of her last 4 starts in such events). Respected having her first start on these shores.
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Displayed plenty of zip when making a winning nursery debut fitted with blinkers at Sandown last August. Has been runner-up on all 3 subsequent starts, taking his form up a level at Newmarket (6f, good) just under 7 weeks ago. That appeals as strong form, and he remains of interest.
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Didn't really progress in pattern/listed company after winning a novice on debut at the Dante meeting last year and it was a similar story on his return, essentially not up to the task in a listed race at York (5f, good) just over 5 weeks ago. Big outsider on handicap bow.
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Successful sole 2-y-o start and, despite still looking green, he made it 2-2 on return in a Hamilton novice (5f, good to soft), conceding 11 lb to the runner-up. Lost unbeaten record up in grade when last of 7 in Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock (6f, good to soft) and now goes handicapping.
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City Light colt who is 3-3 in maiden/novice company, well placed dropped to the minimum trip when dipping deep to score at Newcastle in April. Makes handicap/turf debut and looks one to keep a close eye on for powerful connections.
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Improved a chunk from debut after 9 months off (had breathing operation) when getting off the mark at Yarmouth last month and completed a simple task despite taking quite a grip when following up at Lingfield (6f, good to firm) just over 3 weeks ago. Very interesting runner now handicapping.
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Straightforward sprinter who was gelded during the winter and has seemingly improved for it judged on his solid placed efforts at Bath and Sandown (both at 5f on heavy/good respectively) in April. Needs to shrug off a lesser effort at York (5f, good) subsequently, however.
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Completed her hat-trick in 4-runner handicap at Goodwood last month and while she couldn't continue her run-to-run progression, she ran at least respectably when 1¾ lengths fifth of 7 to Adaay In Devon in listed race at Sandown (5f, good to soft) 6 days ago. Returns to handicap company.
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Had a busy first year scoring second time up at Goodwood but struggled to get competitive in a couple of starts at Meydan earlier this year (latterly on dirt). Makes handicap debut starting out for a new yard (sold for 110,000 gns and has been gelded).
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Posted a useful effort when making it 3 wins from first 4 starts at Southwell (5f) in January. Wasn't seen to best effect back down in trip when 5¼ lengths seventh of 19 to Blue Storm at Epsom (5f, good to soft) earlier this month (hampered start and then posted deep) so may bounce back.
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Scored second time up at 2 yrs and left disappointing reappearance behind when fifth of 7 in handicap at Windsor (6f, good to firm) 18 days ago. This demands plenty more, but it remains early days and it's interesting to see Colin Keane booked.
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Ayr maiden winner last year but has been a revelation since being switched to handicaps/dropped to 5f this season, making a winning return at Newcastle before finding just one too strong in a 17-runner event at York (good) 5 weeks ago. Looks tailor made for this so warrants considerable respect.
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Left debut form well behind fitted with a hood when scoring at Newcastle last July. Highly tried after but back down in grade, did plenty wrong with the hood back on when runner-up at that same course when last seen in October. Others looks more appealing on handicap debut.
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Forecasts
Jubilee Walk (5/1), Shagraan (6/1), Dorney Lake (8/1), Vantheman (9/1), Woodhay Wonder (10/1), Mukaafah (10/1), Dyrholaey (11/1), Sommelier (14/1), Pilgrim (18/1), Blue Storm (18/1), Two Tribes (20/1), Billy Webster (22/1), Tazara (28/1), Mon Na Slieve (33/1), Hedge Fund (33/1), Brave Empire (40/1), Matters Most (40/1), No Half Measures (50/1), Scorchio (50/1), Got To Love A Grey (50/1), Dark Vintage (66/1), Thunder Blue (66/1), Markakol (66/1), Toca Madera (66/1), Majestic Beauty (66/1), Airman (80/1), Moswaat (100/1), Symbology (125/1)
The biggest field yet of this competitive 3-y-o handicap and the suggestion is MUKAAFAH, who left his disappointing reappearance behind in no uncertain terms at Doncaster last month and Kevin Philippart de Foy's colt looks the sort that can climb the ranks quickly. Dorney Lake looks a serious threat now handicapping, so he heads up the opposition, with Vantheman, Pilgrim, Jubilee Walk and Dyrholaey all seemingly having plenty going for them, too.
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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