17:05 Royal Ascot
Wednesday 19 June 2024
All14:3015:0515:4516:2517:0517:4018:15
Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap) (Str)
- 3YO plus | Class 2 | 1m | Good to Firm | 29 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 17:06 | Winning time: 1m 38.2s
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Selected odds by:
Runner-up in this last year and shaped well without having much luck in some competitive events subsequently. It all clicked when he scored with an improved showing at Newbury on reappearance and another bold showing seems likely.
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Making second start for current yard, at least as good as ever when narrowly denied in a Meydan Group 3 in February. Has shaped as if still in good form since but others look better treated.
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Low-mileage 5-y-o who confirmed promise of his Lingfield run when running out a good winner of the Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton (8.6f) in March. Struggled in listed company here last time and has a stiff task from a mark of 107.
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Debut winner in the Chesham at this meeting in 2022. Seen just twice last season and hasn't fired on either outing this term. Others are more persuasive.
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Unbeaten in 5 starts as a 2-y-o and posted his best effort last season when third in the Jersey Stakes here. Back on track when sixth in the Victoria Cup here last time, shaping as if worth a go over 1m, so not ruled out.
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Fairly useful form for Francis-Henri Graffard in France last year, winning 3 of his 5 starts at up to 9.5f. Changed hands for €340,000 prior to being narrowly denied at Epsom on return and worth chancing to go one better.
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Well prepped for a big run at the Curragh on reappearance but hasn't fired on either outing since. Has the right sort of style for this race, but hard to make a solid case for based on recent efforts.
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2021 Britannia winner last seen looking as good as ever when scoring here 10 months ago and, while he'll need a career best, this is just his second season with Roger Varian and he should be tuned up for it.
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Low-mileage 4-y-o who landed 9f handicap at Newmarket in September. Not disgraced when fifth in Darley Stakes there following month and likely needed his return at Newbury. Remains with potential and jockey booking catches the eye.
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Successful twice on the AW during the winter and further progress when landing a valuable Newcastle handicap in March. Continued the good work returned to turf when third in competitive events at Newbury and might well be on the premises again.
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Took a couple of good prizes in Irish handicaps last year and very much caught the eye faced with an inadequate test at the Curragh on return, finishing well. Back up to ideal distance with tongue tie back on, so all set for a bold showing.
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Smart gelding who resumed from 7 months off with a good third of 21 in Victoria Cup here. Struggled up in grade at Haydock next time but can't be discounted given his excellent course record.
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First run since leaving Roger Varian when 19¾ lengths sixth of 7 to Charyn in listed race (11/1) at Doncaster (8f, heavy) 88 days ago. Useful at his best in France and return to a sounder surface could help, but doesn't appear to have much in hand of his mark.
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Rounded off a fine 2023 season with success in the valuable Balmoral Handicap over C&D in October. Ridden too aggressively in the Lincoln on reappearance and could get back on track.
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Was in top form towards the end of 2023 and returned with a smooth-travelling fifth in the Victoria Cup here last month. Just as effective over 1m and should strip fitter for his return, so not ruled out.
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Looked as good as ever when edging out Great Blasket (won next time) despite racing freely at Nottingham last time. Has a penalty for that and his style should suit the nature of this race, so could go well.
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Encouraging start to present campaign when fourth of 17 at York (first run following a wind op). Possible that he didn't handle Epsom next time and has plenty of course experience but others are still more persuasive.
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Deservedly gained a second career win at Goodwood in October and resumed with a couple of promising efforts, shaping well under another attacking ride when fourth of 21 in handicap at Newbury on penultimate outing. Rare poor run at Newmarket last time and blinkers go back on.
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5-y-o who missed whole of last season but, fit from a spell in Meydan, has returned firmly on the up, scoring comfortably at Yarmouth and Goodwood. Type to go on improving and makes obvious appeal.
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Useful ex-French performer who ran creditably on the back of 6 months off (acquired for €37,000) when keeping on fifth in Thirsk Hunt Cup (1m). Might have found the race coming too soon at York next time and remains unexposed for this shrewd stable.
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Latest win at Lingfield in January. Creditable fifth of 15 in handicap at Epsom (8.5f, soft, 11/1) 19 days ago, left with too much to do. Could get competitive if things drop right.
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C&D winner. 6/1, creditable 2½ lengths second of 12 to Sonny Liston in handicap at Newbury (8f, good to firm) 32 days ago. Likeable sort who should give another good account.
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Three-time winner who returned better than ever with a couple of excellent placed efforts at Newmarket. Already a C&D winner and visor goes on for the first time, so worthy of respect.
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Successful twice in Group company in 2022 and though generally below par last year, he proved that plenty of ability remains when runner-up in a listed contest at Kempton in December. Both subsequent efforts have been poor, though. Blinkers go on.
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Real success story for his yard, adding more wins at Southwell and Kempton at the beginning of the year. Proved beyond doubt he's still every bit as big a force on turf as all-weather when bumping into a Group-race bound winner at York and was quickly back on track at Chester 4 days ago.
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Cracking servant to connections who looked as good as ever this spring, runner-up in back-to-back competitive Newmarket handicaps. Couple of sub-par efforts since, however, so has a bit to prove in this company.
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Debut winner at Nottingham last season before landing short odds at Lingfield on third run. Good efforts both starts since back on turf but needs more if he's to seriously compete from this mark in such a competitive event.
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Successful twice at Newcastle last year and stepped up on recent return when bolting up in 11-runner handicap there in May. Not in the same form at York next time and may find this too competitive.
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Progressive at 3 yrs and made a winning return at Newmarket in May. Did enough to suggest he remains in good heart when only fourth at Sandown last time and he's still relatively unexposed, so may have more in him.
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Non-Runners
19
(13)
Silent Film57
Weight: 9-0| Age: 6
T: Ian Williams J: Non Runner
NR
26
(26)
Imperial Fighter4
Weight: 8-11| Age: 5
T: J A Osborne J: Callum Shepherd
NR
Forecasts
Wild Tiger (11/2), Crack Shot (11/2), Beshtani (13/2), Sonny Liston (17/2), Real Gain (9/1), Coeur d'Or (12/1), Metal Merchant (18/1), Daysofourlives (20/1), Holloway Boy (22/1), Perotto (25/1), Talis Evolvere (25/1), Bless Him (28/1), Blue For You (28/1), Streets Of Gold (28/1), Fantastic Fox (33/1), Sean (33/1), Dutch Decoy (33/1), Regheeb (33/1), Aerion Power (33/1), Thunder Ball (33/1), Tempus (33/1), Silent Film (33/1), King's Code (40/1), Ropey Guest (40/1), Raadobarg (40/1), The Gatekeeper (40/1), Eldrickjones (66/1), Kingdom Come (66/1), Imperial Fighter (66/1), Mirsky (80/1), Padishakh (80/1)
BESHTANI showed that he's still improving when an excellent second at Epsom on return and, with that form having been boosted by the winner since, he gets the vote to go one better at the possible expense of Wild Tiger, who is progressing fast. Sonny Liston is another big player and Real Gain still has some potential intact.
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £90,195.002nd: £42,298.003rd: £21,158.004th: £10,570.005th: £5,285.006th: £2,642.00
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