18:10 Royal Ascot
Thursday 22 June 2023
All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:3518:10
Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap)
- 3YO plus | Class 2 | 7f | Good to Firm | 29 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 18:12 | Winning time: 1m 26.82s
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Kept busy for this yard and suddenly thriving, landing a 9-runner handicap at Haydock in May and he excelled himself when fourth of 6 in Group 3 back company back there 12 days ago. Inflated mark to deal with as a result.
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Career-best effort when second in a good-quality minor event at Newcastle returned to 6f in April. Habit of missing the break isn't ideal but he's shaped as though in top form both starts since and this straight track will suit him.
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Gelded and better than ever in a re-fitted visor when making all at Newcastle a year ago. Sound return to action when second at Kempton in March and this classy sort was fourth in the Jersey on his previous C&D outing.
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Victoria Cup winner over C&D in May 2022 and added to tally at Goodwood (1m) in September. Continued the good work with a trio of placed efforts this term (including trying to win here again last month) but rider no longer able to claim.
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Highly progressive 4-y-o who completed a 7f Kempton AW hat-trick in impressive style in April. Seemed to find 1m testing his stamina at Newbury last month but that run augurs well for his prospects on turf returned to 7f. Big player.
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Low-mileage 5-y-o who was progressive last year (fifth in this race from 5 lb lower) and better than ever when justifying strong support at Newmarket a month ago. Up 4 lb but he's in expert hands and his limit may not have been reached.
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One of the most progressive handicappers around last season and shaped well enough to think he may have even more to offer in 2023 when seventh of 27 in Irish Lincoln on reappearance. Strong in the betting and wasn't ideally placed in the Victoria Cup over C&D last month.
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Irish Cambridgeshire winner in 2021 who struck in 1m Newmarket handicap in April. Stuck to his task when second at York a month ago and this stiffer track will play to his strengths.
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Queen Anne winner in his prime and his second to Vafortino in last year's Victoria Cup shows he's still capable of really smart handicap performances. Shaped quite well on reappearance but brushed aside here last month.
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Cashed in on a falling mark in 14-runner contest at Listowel and better than even when following up at Fairyhouse 6 days later (both 6f). Tactically versatile but this may not be the race to try 7f for the first time.
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It's now 19 starts since his last win in 2021 but he arrives in good nick, short of room briefly but keeping on nicely for fourth over 6f at York last month. Versatile regarding trip and same mark here.
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Dual winner last term who is in the veteran stage of his career but nothing wrong with both comeback runs this spring. 1 lb above last successful mark but probably vulnerable to anything with scope.
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Completed a hat-trick in winter of 2022 but suffered a heavy defeat in this race a year ago and patchy form since. That said, he was probably a shade unlucky not to win when last seen in Meydan in February. Since left Godolphin.
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Most progressive last year, winning 5 times on different ground over 7f. Holding form extremely well, sticking to his task when best of the rest behind Rebel Territory over C&D latest and he's a must for the shortlist from the same mark.
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Improved to win at Windsor in September and back on the up when signing off with further success at Chelmsford on final outing last season. Seemed to get bogged down in the Lincoln bur he tanked along when regaining the winning thread at York last month. 3 lb rise very fair.
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Listed winner over 7f in France for Yann Barberot last spring but hasn't shown enough in his 3 outings for current yard this spring to suggest he'll play a prominent role here. That said, blinkers fitted for the first time and Oisin Murphy takes over so there's some cause for optimism.
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Low-mileage 5-y-o who landed back-to-back 1m Lingfield handicaps in February. Seemed unsuited by the track on his turf debut at Newmarket but confirmed he's as effective on grass when third at Newbury a month ago.
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Progressive 3-y-o who picked up where he left off when a ready winner of 6-runner handicap at Kempton in May. Up 7 lb in a better race but ceiling not yet reached and he's in top hands.
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Back to form with a bang for new yard when winning 7f Doncaster handicap (heavy) last November. Travelled well long way when third of 22 in Lincoln there on reappearance and he was a pretty big eye-catcher in the Victoria Cup over C&D (tongue tied), forced to switch. Very interesting.
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Bounced back to form with a career best when scoring at Chester in August. Solid fourth at York on final outing last year and positives to glean from both outings at former track last month.
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Consistent sort who confirmed the encouragement of his reappearance when landing a 15-runner event at Thirsk, always doing enough. Cracking third at York since and he's a most likeable type, but doesn't appear to have anything in hand of his current mark.
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Useful performer for Michael O'Callaghan last year. Positive start for new stable when 5¼ lengths fourth of 10 to Jimi Hendrix in Spring Cup at Newbury (1m) but recoiled from that in a big way at Newmarket since. Drops back in trip.
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Regular in this race and down in grade, he outclassed the opposition in 9-runner handicap at Goodwood last month. Hit with a 7lb rise, which may well anchor him.
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Most progressive in handicaps last year, completing 4-timer at Yarmouth in July. Continued the good work since upon being reassessed, better than the result when last seen at Meydan in February. Off since but represents a successful mark. Tongue tie off.
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Career best when ploughing through the mud to win easily at Leicester (7f, heavy) in April but that was a 4-runner race and he was readily brushed aside in the Victoria Cup.
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Missed 2022 but this prominent racer has made up for lost time this spring, winning at Newcastle and at Newmarket. Shade disappointing at latter venue last time and no easy task dominating this field.
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Caught the eye on return at Newbury and confirmed promise of that run when adding to his tally at Goodwood (6f) in May. Hammered home fact he's in the form of his life for latest success over 7f at Epsom and he's a credit to connections.
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Smart handicapper at best who is on a lengthy losing run but his mark has eased and better for return when tenth in last month's Victoria Cup over C&D. Bit disappointing at Epsom 3 weeks ago but that steadily-run race was against him and this environment much more suitable.
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Thirteen-time winner who hit the frame 4 times in a row during the middle of last season. Won on last season's reappearance from 2 lb lower but some training performance to land a handicap of this nature from 8 months off.
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Forecasts
Biggles (13/2), Croupier (7/1), Montassib (7/1), Unforgotten (8/1), Vafortino (9/1), Rhoscolyn (14/1), Northern Express (16/1), Kingdom Come (16/1), Lir Speciale (18/1), Totally Charming (18/1), The Gatekeeper (22/1), Spangled Mac (25/1), Baradar (25/1), Spanish Star (28/1), Spirit Of Light (33/1), Accidental Agent (33/1), Rhythm Master (33/1), Bopedro (40/1), Gorak (40/1), Ropey Guest (40/1), Warrior Brave (40/1), Witch Hunter (50/1), Percy's Lad (50/1), Tylos (50/1), Great Max (50/1), Toimy Son (50/1), Redarna (66/1), Documenting (66/1), Silent Film (80/1)
Any number to consider, with BARADAR topping the shortlist having shaped with a lot of promise in a brace of good-quality handicaps this term, latterly in the Victoria Cup when forced to switch. Biggles was an excellent second in that aforementioned race over C&D and he seems sure to give it a good go, with low-mileage 4-y-o Kingdom Come capable of a bigger performance and highly respected also.
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £51,540.002nd: £24,170.003rd: £12,090.004th: £6,040.005th: £3,020.006th: £1,510.00
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