17:00 Royal Ascot
Wednesday 18 June 2025
All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:3518:10
Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap) (Str)
- 3YO plus | Class 2 | 1m | Good to Firm | 30 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 1m 38.1s
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Selected odds by:
Successful on 2 of his 3 starts last summer and resumed progress with victory in 16-runner handicap at Meydan (9f) in February. Posted a smart effort from career-high mark when third behind re-opposing Fox Legacy at Newmarket (9f) 46 days ago and respected for all this is a big ask off top weight.
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Placed in the English and Irish 2000 Guineas in 2023 but last season tailed off following a promising reappearance third in Group 3 company. However, showed much more spark back from 7 months off when runner-up in last month's Thirsk Hunt Cup but now his task is to prove he can build on that.
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Useful colt who was a winner on AW in France for Jean-Claude Rouget last year and left his reappearance/stable debut effort behind under switch to positive tactics when fourth in Amethyst Stakes (listed) at Leopardstown (1m) 38 days ago. More needed from what looks a high enough mark on handicap bow
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Useful performer who scored at Al Uqda (11.5f) in March but seemed to find things too tough returned to these shores when sixth of 9 in listed race at Goodwood (9.9f) 26 days ago. Return to shorter will hold no fears back in a handicap but his mark may well prove his biggest stumbling block.
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Landed 2 good prizes over 7f at Goodwood last summer and ended the campaign with a good second in listed company at Nottingham (8.3f, heavy). Resumed after 6 months off with an excellent second in Victoria Cup here 39 days ago and he's a player for stable who won this 2 years ago. Blinkers on.
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Smart at his best, acquitting himself well in Group company last term (including here). However, down the field in 2 starts in Meydan earlier this year and he ran poorly after 11 weeks off when 9¾ lengths ninth of 11 to My Cloud in handicap at Newbury (1m, firm) 32 days ago.
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Useful 1m winner for Ger Lyons earlier in his career and cemented the early positives displayed for new yard when adding to his tally in Bahrain back in March. Not seen to best effect on final start there later that month but this will demand a career-best returned to these shores.
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Smart performer at 3 yrs, winning twice including Goodwood Grp 3. Disappointed in 2 starts last term but did shape as if retaining much of his ability starting out for new yard/after 12 months off when 5 lengths fifth of 11 to My Cloud in handicap at Newbury (1m) 32 days ago. Cheekpieces back on.
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Highly tried at 3 yrs for current yard and placed 4 times in Australia in 2024 when trained by A Neasham & R Archibald. Returned with an encouraging fifth in the Lincoln in March and better than distance beaten suggests when down the field at Newmarket (9f) latest. Drop back to 1m can help.
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8-y-o on a long losing run and in a lull since returning from a stint in Dubai, last of 5 in handicap at Windsor (8.1f, good to firm) 23 days ago. Easy enough to look elsewhere.
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Useful French raider who landed handicaps at Deauville and Longchamp last summer prior to a career best second in listed company in November. Changed yards thereafter and not disgraced when sixth in 10.4f handicap over in Riyadh back in February. Return to 1m will hold no fears.
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A dual 1m2f winner in 2024 who is building a really solid profile, runner-up on return at Goodwood and collared late in the day when filling same spot in class 2 York handicap (10.2f) 33 days ago. Mark is creeping up all the time but definite each-way claims with cheekpieces now enlisted.
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Registered a couple of handicap victories at Redcar/Thirsk (both at 1m) last season and returned better than ever at the age of 8, posting a solid third of 14 in handicap at York (7.9f, good) 34 days ago. This rates tougher again, however and he's yet to defy a mark this high.
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Low-mileage 4-y-o who was successful on 2 of his 3 starts for Aidan O'Brien. Changed hands for 75,000 gns and promise after 12 months off when fourth in Naas listed race (7f) 31 days ago. Been subject of strong support for this and he's interesting with Ryan Moore booked. Cheekpieces/tongue tie on.
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7-y-o who is a regular here, running creditably despite not being ideally placed when fourth of 17 in Victoria Cup (7f) 39 days ago. Mark is easing steadily but surely now going to find some too good stepping back up in trip.
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C&D winner who showed improved form after 6 months off (also gelded) when just holding on in Spring Cup at Newbury (1m) in April. Similar form in making the frame on 2 of his 3 starts since, fourth of 10 in handicap at Epsom (8.5f) 12 days ago but there appears little wriggle room from present mark.
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Been in good form in Dubai this year, including a 9f win at Meydan in February. Shouldered with a 5 lb penalty for that and proved as good as ever when a solid fourth in the Lincoln at Doncaster (1m) 81 days ago and he's another holding each-way claims.
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3-time winner on AW last year, latterly at Chelmsford (7f) in December. Stepped up on return when third in a C&D handicap in April but not in same form when fourth of 5 in handicap at Windsor (8.1f, good to firm) 23 days ago. Down the field in this 12 months ago.
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Upwardly-mobile since attentions switched to handicaps, successful at Newcastle/Newmarket in the autumn. Made light of a 6 lb rise after 6 months off when bringing up the hat-trick at latter-named venue 62 days ago and this presumably the target since. Interesting.
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Had something of a mixed 2024 but strong in the betting after 5 months off/starting out for new yard when gaining a second career success in 6-runner handicap at Windsor (10f) on UK debut 23 days ago, very much having run of race. This understandably tougher under a penalty but not ruled out.
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Dual 1m winner at Chelmsford who has progressed further back on turf, just touched off behind Ebt's Guard in Spring Cup at Newbury (1m) and gained compensation when a good winner of small-field Sandown handicap on Saturday. More needed under a penalty but he's evidently thriving.
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On a losing run but he went close in some competitive big-field handicaps last term and comes here in good form, not ideally placed when sixth of 10 in handicap at Epsom (8.5f) 12 days ago. Still, others boast much more compelling claims for win purposes.
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Had a steadily progressive profile for Sir Michael Stoute last season (wide margin winner at Salisbury) and off 7 months/gelded, improved further when a clear winner of 13-runner handicap at Newmarket (9f) 46 days ago. 6 lb rise looks fair and unlikely we've seen all he has to offer.
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Real success story in handicaps last year, successful in London Mile Final at Kempton in September and defying the assessor again back there a month later. Found listed company a bridge too far on final start though, and this rates a tall ask returning from 6 months off.
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Kingman gelding who had a smashing 3-y-o season for Harry & Roger Charlton winning back-to-back handicaps before an excellent second in Cambridgeshire that year. Lightly campaigned and not at same level campaigned in the US. Returns to these shores for new yard now.
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Confirmed previous promise when opening account for this yard in Golden Mile at Goodwood last August and even better form when third in Cambridgeshire thereafter. Hasn't yet fully fired in 2 starts this term but on the plus side his mark is steadily coming back down.
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Smart prospect who overcame a 10 lb rise for his C&D reappearance victory and the run of the race when narrowly bringing up the hat-trick in 11-runner handicap at Newbury (1m, firm) 32 days ago. Looks tailor-made for the demands of this test and he's high on the shortlist up 5 lb.
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Dubawi colt who was successful on 2 of his 5 starts as a 3-y-o and he shaped well after 7 months off when second of 14 in handicap (5/2) at York (7.9f, good) 34 days ago. Well-made sort who appeals as the type to continue to progress this season and he's another of interest.
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Progressive Irish raider who bagged 3 handicaps at up to 9f last season and picked up where he left off when winning 9-runner handicap at Cork (7f) 6 weeks ago, overcoming trouble in running. This easily his toughest assignment to date but manner of that success suggests there's more to come.
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Shaped well when length fourth of 12 in the Lincoln Trial on Wolverhampton (8.6f) reappearance and best effort since with cheekpieces added when second of 12 in handicap at Sandown (1m) 20 days ago. Headgear retained here and he's not without an each-way squeak.
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Forecasts
My Cloud (3/1), Blue Brother (13/2), Fox Legacy (7/1), Qirat (10/1), Bullet Point (11/1), Arabian Light (11/1), The Liffey (12/1), Tony Montana (16/1), Greek Order (22/1), Sisyphean (22/1), Ancient Rome (22/1), Epictetus (22/1), Urban Lion (25/1), Tokenomics (25/1), Silawi (25/1), Ebt's Guard (28/1), Popmaster (33/1), Hi Royal (33/1), La Trinidad (40/1), Whip Cracker (40/1), Bopedro (50/1), Magnum Opus (50/1), Talis Evolvere (66/1), Galeron (66/1), Toimy Son (80/1), Wahdan (80/1), Sean (80/1), Jeff Koons (100/1), Soldier's Empire (100/1), Whitcombe Rockstar (100/1)
Roger Varian's MY CLOUD did well to overcome the run of the race when defying a 10 lb hike in the weights and bringing up the hat-trick at Newbury 32 days ago. Every inch a smart prospect, he looks tailor-made for the demands of this sort of test and can make a bold bid to complete the 4-timer. Qirat returned with a solid second in the Victoria Cup and he's feared in first-time blinkers, along with low-mileage 4-y-o The Liffey. Bullet Point and Fox Legacy complete the shortlist.
- My Cloud3/1
- Qirat10/1
- The Liffey12/1
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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Next Off
11 Runners, 6f 211y
Going: Fast
Surface: Allweather
