15:05 Royal Ascot

Friday 21 June 2024

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

Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 1m 12.51s

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Selected odds by:

(15)

Evade²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A Watson| OR: 108| D

12/1

Group 3-placed in France at 2 for Andre Fabre. Improved on that form when making a successful start for the Archie Watson stable in 7f Epsom listed event 3 weeks ago. Has the potential for better again and ought to be fine back down at 6f.

Form: 1429-1

(14)

Givemethebeatboys³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 108| BF| D

4/1

Group 3 winner at 2. Returned to win a 6f Navan listed race in April and even better form when narrowly denied by Bucanero Fuerte in Naas Group 3 weeks later.

Form: 1434-12

(1)

Inisherin²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 113| D

9/4

Travelled smoothly up with the pace for a long way when pitched into the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on only his third start and proved a revelation dropped to 6f in the Group 2 Sandy Lane at Haydock (good to soft), making all by 3¾ lengths from Orne. Supplemented for £46,000. The one to beat.

Form: 2-161

(5)

Jasour⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: C G Cox| OR: 110| CD

4/1

Group 2 winner at Newmarket July meeting (6f, good to firm) last summer. Bombed out in the Morny and Middle Park subsequently but got his career firmly back on track when seeing off Adaay In Devon (who won a Sandown listed at the weekend) in the trial over C&D in May. Owner/trainer won this in 2020.

Form: 21189-1

(3)

Kind Of Blue³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 90| D

22/1

From a speedy family which has served the stable so well and he's looked a smart prospect when winning 6f novices at Kempton (AW) and Doncaster (firm) this spring. This a huge jump in class but there's definitely more to come.

Form: 11

(8)

Lake Forest²⁶⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 108| D

12/1

Gimcrack winner at York (6f, good to firm) last August but it wasn't a particularly strong renewal and he was well beaten in the Group 1 Middle Park at Newmarket on his final start. First outing for 8 months.

Form: 12417-

(7)

Louis Barthas³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: J F Egan| T: Ollie Sangster

200/1

Third in 6f AW novice on sole 3-y-o start. Actually stepped up on that form when 10¼ lengths ninth of 14 to Elite Status in listed race at Newbury (6f, good to firm) on reappearance but it suggests he won't be anywhere near up to the task here.

Form: 3-9

(12)

Malc³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 102

22/1

Useful at 2, notably runner-up in the Norfolk at this meeting. Showed he's trained on when 5¼ lengths fourth of 14 to Elite Status in listed race at Newbury (6f, good to firm) on reappearance 34 days ago but it's hard to see him turning the tables on Karl Burke's charge.

Form: 1264-4

(9)

Military^b,t³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 100| D

22/1

Represents top connections but his form to date is no better than useful, finishing behind Givemethebeatboys when fourth in 6f Naas Group 3 in first-time blinkers (retained) last month.

Form: 143-544

(11)

Orne^b²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: K Shoemark| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 102

50/1

Winner of the Horris Hill at Newmarket (7f, heavy) last November and several good efforts in defeat in a busy start to his 3-y-o campaign, including 3¾ lengths second to Inisherin when dropped to 6f in the Sandy Lane at Haydock (good to soft) 27 days ago.

Form: 233202

(10)

Pocklington^v1³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Harry Russell| T: G R Oldroyd| OR: 96| D

40/1

Landed a pair of 6f Newcastle novices early in 2024 and not disgraced when 5¼ lengths fifth of 14 to Elite Status in listed race at Newbury (6f, good to firm) 34 days ago. Likely capable of better after only 3 starts but a big jolt of improvement will be needed to go close here. Has a visor added.

Form: 115

(6)

Starlust^b1²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 114| D

9/1

Won a 6f Group 3 on AW at 2 and third to Big Evs in Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint on final start. A bit disappointing behind Jasour in the trial over C&D at the start of May but back to form with a bang when producing a really smart handicap performance at York (5f) 4 weeks ago. Blinkered first time.

Form: 53-2361

(2)

Classic Flower³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: M Barzalona| T: P Cottier| OR: 106| BF| D

50/1

Useful French filly who has finished runner-up at listed/Group 3 level at Chantilly 3 times this year but her merit looks well established after 9 starts and she's surely playing for minor money at best here.

Form: 251-222

(13)

Pandora's Gift⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: S M Levey| T: S C Williams| OR: 101| D

20/1

Winner of 4 of her 5 starts on the AW, impressing again upped to listed company at Chelmsford (6f) last time. A filly going places and capable of making her presence felt at a higher level assuming she's as effective on turf.

Form: 21-111

Non-Runners

(4)

Elite Status³⁴

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: K R Burke J: C Lee

Forecasts

Inisherin (9/4), Elite Status (7/2), Jasour (4/1), Givemethebeatboys (4/1), Starlust (9/1), Lake Forest (12/1), Evade (12/1), Pandora's Gift (20/1), Kind Of Blue (22/1), Malc (22/1), Military (22/1), Pocklington (40/1), Classic Flower (50/1), Orne (50/1), Louis Barthas (200/1)

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid holds a really strong hand, with easy Sandy Lane winner INISHERIN preferred to Elite Status, who was equally impressive from the front in a Newbury listed race last time. Jasour, whose connections know what it takes to win this, was a ready winner of the trial over C&D at the start of last month and looks best of the remainder.