18:10 Royal Ascot

Friday 20 June 2025

All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:3518:10

Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes (Handicap)

Off time: 18:10 | Winning time: 58.21s

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Selected odds by:

(17)

Hammer The Hammer⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 100| D

9/2

Progressive sprinter made it a hat-trick when winning in impressive fashion at Chester (6f) 44 days ago, fast away to lead from the widest stall and never looked like stopping. Should prove every bit as effective returned to 5f and may well prove even better than a handicapper in time.

Form: 42-2111

(29)

Mr Lightside³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: K Stott| T: M Appleby| OR: 99| D

11/1

Dual winner of 5f novices and placed in the Molecomb last season. Better than ever on his return when runner-up in conditions event at Chelmsford City (6f) in April. Too free to make an impact returned to 5f at York last time but represents a shrewd yard and may do better now handicapping.

Form: 3470-25

(15)

Candy²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: George Wood| T: R Spencer| OR: 98

40/1

Improved well last autumn, landing hat-trick over 6f with a win in valuable 2-y-o Trophy at Redcar. Wasn't disgraced in a Group 3 at Ascot on reappearance but well beaten in the Group 2 Sandy Lane at Haydock last month. Yet to win over 5f and others look more progressive now.

Form: 2111-67

(26)

Miss Lamai³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 97| D

20/1

Useful filly was a 5f Listed winner as a juvenile and has proved an even better 3-y-o, taking a step forward when beaten a neck third in 5f listed race at York last month. Remains to be seen if she can back that up on handicap debut.

Form: 4165-53

(3)

Maw Lam²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Jack Nicholls⁽⁷⁾| T: Adrian Nicholls| OR: 96| D

20/1

Useful form as a juvenile but yet to hit those heights as a 3-y-o, faring no better when well held in a 6f listed race at Haydock 26 days ago. Looks up against it back at 5f for handicap debut.

Form: 392-568

(18)

Zayer^p1²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 96| D

16/1

Showed plenty of speed when opening his account in a Ripon maiden (5f) in August but finished mid-field in pair of Group contests thereafter. Well backed when creditable fourth on reappearance/handicap debut and best forgiven latest run at York. Could have more to offer in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 2156-47

(6)

Stormy Impact¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Warren Fentiman⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 95| D

18/1

5f winner on final 2-y-o outing and took a significant step forward on second start in handicap company when coming from off the pace to land the Epsom Dash under this rider, having been taking off her feet early in a strongly-run race. More on her plate from 5 lb higher but will get similar set-up.

Form: 2251-61

(4)

Redorange^t⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Rossa Ryan| T: C G Cox| OR: 95| D

12/1

Useful sort has carried on progression into his 3-y-o season, making it 2 wins from last 3 starts, well backed to land a straightforward success when beating Ruby's Profit at Chester (5.1f) last month, having been well drawn. Going the right way and should remain competitive up in class.

Form: 5321-31

(11)

Bodhi Bear³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: J A Heffernan| T: J A Stack| OR: 94| D

22/1

Landed a Navan maiden on final start of last season and improved to show useful form when winning 7-runner conditions race at Cork (5f) on seasonal reappearance. Well held but not disgraced in a strong Group 3 over 6f last month and may well resume progress now handicapping.

Form: 321-14

(25)

King's Call⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: D Swift| T: S Spencer| OR: 94

100/1

Useful performer for Kevin Ryan and made promising start on stable debut for Dylan Cunha but regressed on subsequent starts in Dubai. Subsequently sold for 38,000 guineas and was again below form (following 4 months off) on first start for current connections at York 6 days ago. Bit to prove now.

Form: 26-4700

(9)

Realign²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: W J Haggas| OR: 93

7/2

€550,000 breeze-up purchase has improved with each start and got off the mark with ease following 9 months off when making all for an easy victory at Salisbury (6f) last month, looking destined for bigger things. Has the speed to cope with 5f and open to further improvement on handicap debut.

Form: 23-1

(21)

Ruby's Profit^t¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: K Shoemark| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole| OR: 93| BF| D

18/1

Routed her rivals from the front on reappearance at Wolverhampton and confirmed herself a sprinter on the up when doing the same thing at Goodwood last month. Lost little in defeat in third in the Epsom Dash (did best of those who raced close to strong pace) and she could still be well handicapped.

Form: 43-1213

(7)

Enola Holmes⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: David Probert| T: Jack Jones| OR: 93

80/1

Winner of maiden at Wolverhampton in February and while not disgraced in the Fred Darling in April, she was a long way below that form when well held in a listed race at Chelmsford (6f) 50 days ago. Looks up against it on handicap debut.

Form: 5-12469

(8)

Englemere^b1⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Billy Loughnane| T: G Boughey| OR: 90| D

50/1

Three wins as a juvenile including a Newbury listed success but hasn't fired in two starts in listed company this season, having been slowly away both occasions. Fitted with blinkers for return to a handicap but improvement needed.

Form: 4404-06

(27)

Dark Cloud Rising³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 90

10/1

Justified support when comfortably taking 9-runner handicap at Pontefract (6f) on handicap debut/reappearance in April. Upped in grade and two creditable efforts at Newmarket since but may need to find further improvement in an ultra-competitive handicap.

Form: 137-143

(1)

Suhail Star²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Ashley Lewis⁽⁷⁾| T: Mohammed Khalifa Al| OR: 90

100/1

Only fairly useful form in Qatar (both wins around 7f) and was out of his depth on UK debut when last in the Heron Stakes at Sandown over 1m. Now reverts to sprinting and has plenty to find.

Form: 515127

(13)

King Of Light³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: S Foley| T: K R Burke| OR: 90| D

66/1

Useful dual 5f scorer at 2 yrs but struggled on reappearance in a French Group 3. Stepped forward in first-time cheekpieces (removed) to finish eighth in a 22-runner handicap at York, shaping as though ready for a step up to 6f. Will need to improve again but could be staying on at the death.

Form: 7417-78

(5)

King Of Bears¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Callum Shepherd| T: George Scott| OR: 89

40/1

Fairly useful juvenile for Paul & Oliver Cole and has proved better than ever in two starts for George Scott, running well in a competitive 5f York handicap on stable debut and backing that up when third over 6f at Windsor earlier this month. More on his plate up in grade.

Form: 176-973

(24)

Adrestia¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 89| D

10/1

Cost £420,000 and looked useful when showing a change of gear to make a winning nursery debut at Sandown (5f) last season. Bounced back to form when a close third in a Windsor handicap on reappearance. Likely to track the pace under Oisin Murphy and could be competitive.

Form: 01105-3

(16)

Jorge Alvares^b¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: C T Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 89| BF

25/1

In excellent heart since joining Ger Lyons, coping with a rise in grade when a creditable third of 14 in a handicap at the Curragh (5f, good) 16 days ago. That looks solid form and he may well progress again.

Form: 6-31223

(22)

Brosay^p⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Edward Greatrex| T: P Attwater| OR: 88| D

33/1

Improved model on AW for this yard and proved every bit as effective back on turf over 5f when runner-up at Sandown in April, for all it took him a while to warm to the task having been slowly away. That's usually a good race (third and fourth also reoppose here) and he should remain competitive.

Form: 01-2622

(31)

Brighton Boy²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: W Buick| T: A M Balding| OR: 88

7/1

Useful form at 2 yrs, ended campaign with a solid second in a valuable sales race at Newmarket (6f). Subsequently gelded and shaped as though retaining all of his ability at Goodwood on reappearance last month. Often travels strongly but it remains to be seen how he copes with the drop to 5f.

Form: 21012-7

(2)

Lexington Blitz¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: S M Levey| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 88| D

28/1

Dual winner over 5f from the front last summer and proved better than ever on second start this term when finishing runner-up in the Epsom Dash 13 days ago, only headed in the final 50 yards by Stormy Impact. Lightly-raced for a sprinter and remains open to improvement.

Form: 4110-02

(12)

Mearall^h1³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: S A Gray| T: R A Fahey| OR: 87

100/1

Fairly useful as a juvenile but looked on a stiff mark for handicap debut, despite needing the run after 8 months off, when finishing midfield in a 22-runner handicap at York last month. Lightly-raced but will need to improve in a first-time hood.

Form: 137-0

Non-Runners

(20)

Jungle Drums¹³³

Weight: 9-8| Age: 3

T: J A Osborne J: Saffie Osborne

(19)

Arctic Voyage²³⁷

Weight: 9-1| Age: 3

T: R M Beckett J: R Kingscote

(30)

Vingegaard²⁷⁰

Weight: 9-1| Age: 3

T: Miss J A Camacho J: Ryan Sexton

(28)

Red Sand³⁷

Weight: 8-13| Age: 3

T: E Walker J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Realign (7/2), Hammer The Hammer (9/2), Brighton Boy (7/1), Adrestia (10/1), Dark Cloud Rising (10/1), Mr Lightside (11/1), Redorange (12/1), Red Sand (14/1), Zayer (16/1), Ruby's Profit (18/1), Stormy Impact (18/1), Maw Lam (20/1), Miss Lamai (20/1), Bodhi Bear (22/1), Jorge Alvares (25/1), Arctic Voyage (25/1), Lexington Blitz (28/1), Brosay (33/1), Vingegaard (33/1), King Of Bears (40/1), Candy (40/1), Englemere (50/1), Jungle Drums (50/1), King Of Light (66/1), Enola Holmes (80/1), Mearall (100/1), King's Call (100/1), Suhail Star (100/1)

A typically highly competitive renewal and a 4-timer could be beckoning for the fast-improving HAMMER THE HAMMER who looked a sprinter to follow when dominating from the front at Chester last month. Ruby's Profit did best of those who raced close to the strong pace in the Epsom Dash and could still be underestimated by her mark. She's feared most ahead of handicap debutant Realign who looked destined for better things when routing the opposition in a Salisbury novice last month.