Royal Hunt Cup 2020 Racecard

Name: ROYAL HUNT CUP (HERITAGE HANDICAP) (2)
Start: 2020-06-17T15:35:00Z
End: 2020-06-17T15:35:00Z
Location: ASCOT

The Royal Hunt Cup is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain, open to horses aged three years or older.

3:35

Wednesday 17 June

Distance: 8f 0y Age: 3yo + Prize: £75000 Going: Good

FORM ENTRY	HORSE JOCKEY & TRAINER	AGE WGT
1	1. ALRAJAA J: Jim Crowley T: John Gosden	4 9-10
Winner of 7f Chepstow novice and 3 all-weather handicaps (all at 1m) in latter stages of last season. Remains with potential given his low-mileage and has to be feared, despite burden of top-weight.
2	2. RAISING SAND J: Nicola Currie T: Jamie Osborne	8 9-9
Fine third in this race last year prior to landing a big pot back here a month later (fourth course win). Yet to strike off a mark this high but will come right into the equation if the ground eases.
3	3. WHAT'S THE STORY J: Callum Rodriguez T: Keith Dalgleish	6 9-9
Progressive in 2019, enjoying finest hour to date when landing a big pot at York's Ebor meeting. However, he was down the field in this race 12 months ago and is 8 lb higher this time round.
4	4. VALE OF KENT (IRE) J: Joe Fanning T: Mark Johnston	5 9-9
Tough front runner who's gone close a couple of times since Bunbury Cup success at Newmarket last summer. Third in listed company on recent reappearance and he's not without each-way hope.
5	5. CARDSHARP J: Adam Kirby T: Mark Johnston	5 9-8
Paid his way with victories in good 7f handicaps at Lingfield and York last term. However, his recent reappearance was low-key and record on this course and over a mile do not augur well.
6	6. LORD TENNYSON J: Frankie Dettori T: John Gosden	4 9-8
Clear-cut winner at Chelmsford on belated debut in February and found just one too good in Newmarket listed event recently. This is a big ask for one so inexperienced but he's clearly very promising.
7	7. FOX CHAMPION (IRE) J: Sean Levey T: Richard Hannon	4 9-8
Posted several respectable efforts in Group 1 company following German 2000 Guineas success last year. Failed to beat a rival home on recent reappearance at Haydock, though, and others preferred.
8	8. QAYSAR (FR) J: Ryan Moore T: Richard Hannon	5 9-8
Hit a real purple patch in August/September, winning 4 times at up to 1m. Close third on return at Newmarket (7f) and, with this step back up in trip a good move, he has to enter calculations.
9	9. INDEED J: Liam Keniry T: Dominic Ffrench Davis	5 9-8
French import who won a couple of quality handicaps for new yard last summer. Held his own in Group 3/listed company on final 2 starts of 2019 but this mark may prove beyond him.
10	10. KYNREN (IRE) J: Ben Curtis T: David Barron	6 9-8
Often thereabouts in big handicaps (fifth in this last year) and deservedly bagged one here (7f) in September. Should be spot-on following recent Haydock run but this mark demands a clear career-best.
11	11. AFAAK J: Cieren Fallon T: Charles Hills	6 9-7
Runner-up in 2018 renewal of this and went one better last year when making his seasonal reappearance. However, 3 lb higher this time round and Jim Crowley prefers Alrajaa.
12	12. POGO (IRE) J: Kieran Shoemark T: Charles Hills	4 9-6
Bagged handicaps at Newmarket and York last season. Strong at the finish when runner-up back on the Rowley Mile 11 days ago (Qaysar third) and it wouldn't be a surprise were he to sneak a place.
13	13. WILLIE JOHN J: Andrea Atzeni T: Roger Varian	5 9-5
Lightly-race type who improved when runner-up in 1¼m Goodwood listed event last May. Disappointing both subsequent starts in 2019 but resumes on a potentially handy mark and by no means ruled out.
14	14. BELL ROCK J: Oisin Murphy T: Andrew Balding	4 9-4
Failed to make an impact in listed/Group company last year but back on track when getting on top close home in 1m Newmarket handicap 10 days ago. Remains unexposed and big player here under a penalty.
15	15. WARGRAVE (IRE) J: Pat Cosgrave T: George Baker	4 9-3
Maiden winner in Ireland last year and successful start for this yard in a Group 2 on the snow at Saint Moritz (9.9f) in February. However, much more on his plate here.
16	16. DARK VISION (IRE) J: William Buick T: Mark Johnston	4 9-1
Winless since landing a Group 2 as a juvenile but posted several respectable efforts last season. Went close on recent reappearance at Newcastle (1m) and he's very much one for the shortlist.
17	17. JAHBATH J: Non Runner T: William Haggas	4 9-1
Looked promising initially, winning 4 of his first 5 starts, but absent since finishing down the field in a Group 2 at Meydan last March (gelded since). NON RUNNER.
18	18. FOX POWER (IRE) J: Pat Dobbs T: Richard Hannon	4 9-0
Looked good when landing 1m listed race at Newcastle last spring. However, failed to build on that in 4 starts since returning from an 8-month absence in December and others look stronger.
19	19. BEATBOXER (USA) J: James Doyle T: John Gosden	4 9-0
Improved when landing valuable 8.2f Haydock handicap in first-time hood/tongue tie last May. Well held both starts since, though, and wellbeing to prove back from a 10-month layoff. Gelded.
20	20. PETRUS (IRE) J: Martin Dwyer T: Brian Meehan	5 8-13
Raised his game when bagging competitive handicaps on first 2 starts last year. However, well held in this race 12 months ago and also ended 2019 campaign on a low-key note.
21	21. BALTIC BARON (IRE) J: Daniel Tudhope T: David O'Meara	5 8-12
Just the one victory to his name, namely a French maiden for Andre Fabre in April 2018. Only seventh in Newmarket handicap won by Bell Rock on recent reappearance and now tried in cheekpieces.
22	22. MONTATHAM J: Dane O'Neill T: William Haggas	4 8-12
Dual winner of novice events last year and took form to a new level when landing a 1m Newmarket handicap in good style on return 11 days ago. Up 8 lb but he's lightly-raced and remains with potential.
23	23. WALHAAN (IRE) J: Richard Kingscote T: Ian Williams	4 8-12
Fairly useful performer in France but faces a very tough assignment on this handicap/stable debut following 15 months off.
24	24. FOX PREMIER (IRE) J: Silvestre De Sousa T: Andrew Balding	4 8-12
Well held upped to 1½m at this meeting last year but otherwise progressive in 2019, second in strong Glorious Goodwood handicap (9.9f) when last seen in August. Each-way chance if fully tuned-up.

Analyst's Verdict

This is one of the very few big handicaps that Mark Johnston has yet to win but DARK VISION is taken to put that right. He pulled clear of a subsequent winner when going close at Newcastle recently and remains on an attractive mark. Unexposed trio Montatham, Bell Rock and Lord Tennyson are all feared greatly, while Alrajaa ended 2019 on the up and is also shortlisted, along with Fox Premier.

It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June on the second day of Royal Ascot (Wednesday).

The race was established in 1843, and was originally contested on a right-handed course over 7 furlongs and 166 yards. The inaugural running was won by Knight of the Whistle, with a triple dead-heat for second between Bourra Tomacha, Epaulette and Garry Owen.

The race's distance was extended to its current distance in 1956. It is now run on a straight course, and it usually features a large field.

The Royal Hunt Cup is currently held on the second day of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting, and is one of three perpetual trophies at the meeting, along with the Gold Cup and the Queen's Vase, which can be kept permanently by the winning owners.

James Jewitt is the leading trainer in the race’s long history with five wins, Sweetbread (1882), Elzevir (1883), Shillelagh (1888), Suspender (1892), Knight of the Thistle (1897). Charles Wood: Thuringian Prince (1875), The Mandarin (1879), Elzevir (1883), Gay Hermit (1887), and the great Lester Piggott: Spaniard's Close (1963), Casabianca (1965), Kamundu (1969), Jumping Hill (1976), share the honour for leading jockey with four wins each.

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Royal Hunt Cup 2020 FAQs

What distance is the Royal Hunt Cup?

1 mile

What day of the Royal Ascot meeting is it on?

Wednesday

What time is the Royal Hunt Cup?

15:35

What weights are carried in the Royal Hunt Cup?

It is a handicap race, with weights ranging from 9 st 10 lb to 8 st

What is the purse for the Royal Hunt Cup?

£75,000 (2020)

Who is the leading jockey in the Royal Hunt Cup*?

Charles Wood (4) & Lester Piggott (4)

Who is the leading trainer in the Royal Hunt Cup*?

James Jewitt, with five wins

Who won the Royal Hunt Cup?

You can check out our Royal Hunt Cup results page here to see a List of previous winners.

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Days Hours Mins Secs

1.15
BUCKINGHAM PALACE HANDICAP

1.50
QUEEN ANNE STAKES

2.25
RIBBLESDALE STAKES

3.00
KING EDWARD VII STAKES

3.35
KING'S STAND

4.10
DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE STAKES

4.40
ASCOT STAKES

1.15
SILVER ROYAL HUNT CUP

1.50
HAMPTON COURT STAKES

2.25
KING GEORGE V STAKES

3.00
PRINCE OF WALES'S STAKES

3.35
ROYAL HUNT CUP

4.10
WINDSOR CASTLE STAKES

4.40
COPPER HORSE HANDICAP

1.15
GOLDEN GATES HANDICAP

1.50
WOLFERTON STAKES

2.25
JERSEY STAKES

3.00
CHESHAM STAKES

3.35
GOLD CUP

4.10
BRITANNIA STAKES

4.40
SANDRINGHAM STAKES

1.15
PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE

1.50
ALBANY STAKES

2.25
NORFOLK STAKES

3.00
HARDWICKE STAKES

3.35
COMMONWEALTH CUP

4.10
QUEEN'S VASE

4.40
DUKE OF EDINBURGH STAKES

12.40
SILVER WOKINGHAM HANDICAP

1.15
QUEEN MARY

1.50
COVENTRY STAKES

2.25
CORONATION STAKES

3.00
ST JAMES'S PALACE STAKES

3.35
DIAMOND JUBILEE STAKES

4.10
WOKINGHAM STAKES

4.40
QUEEN ALEXANDRA STAKES

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