Royal Ascot 2018 Race Cards
Royal Ascot has something for everyone, even if you're a racehorse. There are races at Royal Ascot for two-year-olds, like the Albany Stakes and Coventry Stakes, all the way up to the Ascot Stakes which tends to attract a few hurdlers. Form students at Royal Ascot take particular notice of the handicaps, such as the Royal Hunt Cup, the Britannia Stakes, the Duke of Edinburgh and, the betting highlight for many, the Wokingham Stakes.
ROYAL HUNT CUP (HERITAGE HANDICAP) (2)
With 18 Group races (eight of those at Group 1 level) spread across the five days of Royal Ascot, it is not uncommon to see previous winners come back year after year. Might we see Big Orange and Order of St George lock horns once again in the Gold Cup? Or will The Tin Man, who powered home to win the Golden Jubilee, return to defend his sprinters’ crown in 2018?
| 5:00 |
|
Distance : 8f 0y Age : 3yo + Prize : £175000 Going: Good to Firm (Watered) |
| FORM | SILKS | HORSE | AGE | ODDS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENTRY | JOCKEY & TRAINER | WGT | |||
| 0/480317-2 |
|
ZHUI FENG (IRE)
2
|
5 9-10 | ||
| 1 |
J: Pat Dobbs
T: Amanda Perrett Made all in this event 12 months ago and improved on that when just foiled in Victoria Cup (7f) here on return last month. 2 lb rise fair and likely to make another bold bid. |
||||
| 62102170 |
|
LOVE DREAMS (IRE)
2
|
4 9-8 | ||
| 2 |
J: P. J. McDonald
T: Mark Johnston Back on the scoreboard at Goodwood last month but isn't the most consistent and was well beaten at Chelmsford on latest start. |
||||
| 9/33370-32 |
|
MUBTASIM (IRE) | 4 9-8 | ||
| 3 |
J: Non Runner
T: William Haggas Smart form when third in the Jersey Stakes here last term and back on the up when second in listed race at Haydock (7.2f) 39 days ago. Merits consideration on handicap debut. NON RUNNER. |
||||
| 33137-155 |
|
CIRCUS COUTURE (IRE)
1
|
6 9-8 | ||
| 4 |
J: John Egan
T: Jane Chapple-Hyam Smart performer at best in Italy, successful on return in March. Yet to make an impact in a pair of starts on these shores for new yard, though. |
||||
| 321111-24 |
|
MASTER MERION (USA)
2
|
4 9-7 | ||
| 5 |
J: Ryan Moore
T: Wesley A. Ward, USA Landed 4 on the bounce in native U.S in 2017 and posted good second on return at Keeneland this year. Well held since, though, and tough to assess on handicap/UK debut. Wears tongue strap. |
||||
| 001/19180- |
|
FLAMING SPEAR (IRE)
2
|
6 9-7 | ||
| 6 |
J: Robert Winston
T: Dean Ivory Winner of big-field York handicap last August but failed to fire both subsequent starts in 2017. Looks vulnerable on return/debut for new yard here. |
||||
| 2801-1103 |
|
ARCANADA (IRE)
1
|
5 9-5 | ||
| 7 |
J: Richard Kingscote
T: Tom Dascombe Smart sort who completed an AW hat-trick when scoring at Wolverhampton in February. Respectable third in Haydock listed race latest, but been some time since he tasted victory on turf. |
||||
| 111237-83 |
|
TRICORN (IRE)
2
|
4 9-5 | ||
| 8 |
J: James McDonald
T: John Gosden Landed a hat-trick in early part of last year and posted fine third in Brittania over C&D subsequently. Rather gone backwards since, however, and hopes of a revival may rest on first-time blinkers. |
||||
| 217115-23 |
|
ARCHETYPE (FR)
2
|
4 9-5 | ||
| 9 |
J: Silvestre De Sousa
T: Simon Crisford Progressive bar a blip on heavy ground at Goodwood, notching 4 victories last year. Back to best in listed event over this trip at Longchamp latest but looks on a stiff mark returned to handicapping. |
||||
| 117442-01 |
|
AFAAK
3
|
4 9-5 | ||
| 10 |
J: Jim Crowley
T: Charles Hills Scored twice over this trip last term and showed a good change of pace when taking York handicap (7.9f) on latest start. 6 lb higher now but we may not have seen the best of him yet. |
||||
| 90420-316 |
|
HORS DE COMBAT
1
|
7 9-5 | ||
| 11 |
J: Adam Kirby
T: Denis Coakley Ended long losing run when landing Meydan handicap over this trip in February. Not disgraced in listed company since but others hold more appeal. |
||||
| 23847432 |
|
GABRIAL (IRE)
2
|
9 9-5 | ||
| 12 |
J: Frankie Dettori
T: Richard Fahey Consistent sort who made the frame again when second in Diomed Stakes at Epsom earlier this month. Likely to give another good account but it's hard to envisage his losing run ending here. |
||||
| 216/9-231 |
|
SALTONSTALL
4
|
4 9-5 | ||
| 13 |
J: William Buick
T: M. Halford, Ireland Lightly-raced gelding who produced a career best when winning 13-runner handicap at the Curragh (8f) last month. 5 lb penalty to carry for that victory but further progress can't be ruled out. |
||||
| 5611-1130 |
|
GORING (GER)
1
|
6 9-4 | ||
| 14 |
J: Charles Bishop
T: Eve Johnson Houghton Four-time AW winner during the winter but doesn't seem as effective on turf and looks up against it off present mark. |
||||
| 6241-5501 |
|
REPERCUSSION
2
|
5 9-4 | ||
| 15 |
J: Seamie Heffernan
T: Charlie Fellowes Found improvement when bagging heavy-ground handicap at Nottingham last month, but 5 lb penalty takes him to a career-high mark and this is much tougher. |
||||
| 444/742-80 |
|
TONY CURTIS
1
|
5 9-3 | ||
| 16 |
J: W. M. Lordan
T: Richard Hannon Made the frame twice in top handicaps during light 2017 campaign, but yet to really fire in a couple of outings this term and hasn't scored since 2015. |
||||
| 53588-609 |
|
FIRMAMENT
3
|
6 9-3 | ||
| 17 |
J: Daniel Tudhope
T: David O'Meara Winless last term but plenty of creditable efforts to his name. Handicapper cut him plenty of slack and staying-on ninth in Victoria Cup here last month suggested he retains all his ability. |
||||
| 21/13-94 |
|
CAPE BYRON
3
|
4 9-2 | ||
| 18 |
J: Andrea Atzeni
T: Roger Varian Low-mileage 4-y-o who improved markedly when making a winning return over C&D last term. Shaped well (on return from 4 months off) in York handicap latest and is another to consider. |
||||
| 7/P06143-0 |
|
RAISING SAND
2
|
6 9-2 | ||
| 19 |
J: Jamie Spencer
T: Jamie Osborne Four-time winner in 2016 and back to form when scoring at the Shergar Cup meeting last season. Considerately ridden on reappearance here last month and holds claims if able to build on that. |
||||
| 213515-6 |
|
BLESS HIM (IRE)
2
|
4 9-2 | ||
| 20 |
J: Oisin Murphy
T: David Simcock Successful in the Britannia over C&D 12 months ago but only seen twice since and was well beaten (albeit on heavy ground) on Nottingham return last month. |
||||
| P05111-14 |
|
SETTLE FOR BAY (FR)
3
|
4 9-1 | ||
| 21 |
J: William James Lee
T: David Marnane, Ireland Won 4 on the bounce (all 8f) at Dundalk this winter and posted a creditable fourth on return to turf at Leopardstown last month. More required here but may be capable of better yet. |
||||
| 02210-708 |
|
BURNT SUGAR (IRE)
2
|
6 9-1 | ||
| 22 |
J: Paul Mulrennan
T: Roger Fell Acquitted himself well in big-field handicaps last season, taking competitive event at Leopardstown in September. Back on track when eighth in Victoria Cup latest and likely to be in the mix again. |
||||
| 05079-031 |
|
ESCOBAR (IRE)
3
|
4 9-1 | ||
| 23 |
J: Martin Harley
T: David O'Meara Bordering on smart for Hugo Palmer and didn't take long to click for new yard, having plenty in hand when taking Haydock handicap (8f) last week. Has to enter calculations despite his 5 lb penalty. |
||||
| 020134-54 |
|
MEDAHIM (IRE)
5
|
4 9-0 | ||
| 24 |
J: Tom Marquand
T: Richard Hannon Landed Newmarket handicap over this trip last summer and shaped well both starts this term, finishing with running left when fourth (met trouble in running) at Goodwood latest. One for the shortlist. |
||||
| 2/11-39451 |
|
WHAT'S THE STORY
2
|
4 9-0 | ||
| 25 |
J: Fran Berry
T: Keith Dalgleish Rarely runs a bad race and got back to winning ways in handicap at Newcastle earlier this month. However, in much deeper event now and 5 lb penalty won't aid his cause. Cheekpieces on first time. |
||||
| 2/5112441- |
|
MUKALAL
2
|
4 8-13 | ||
| 26 |
J: Dane O'Neill
T: Marcus Tregoning Had a productive 2017, scoring 3 times, including when narrowly taking handicap at this course (7f) in October. Remains open to improvement but asked a big question on return. Had wind operation. |
||||
| 3111-32 |
|
KYNREN (IRE)
2
|
4 8-12 | ||
| 27 |
J: Ben Curtis
T: David Barron Won 3 times last season and picked up where he left off when third at Doncaster on return. Improved again when runner-up at Sandown last time and will be a player if handling this firmer ground. |
||||
| 762172-61 |
|
MOUNTAIN RESCUE (IRE)
1
|
6 8-12 | ||
| 28 |
J: Gerald Mosse
T: Chris Wall Left reappearance effort behind when winning 8-runner handicap at Newmarket (7f) 32 days ago. Faces a much stiffer assignment here, however. |
||||
| 457/110-30 |
|
KEYSER SOZE (IRE)
3
|
4 8-12 | ||
| 29 |
J: Tom Queally
T: Richard Spencer Dual winner (both 7f) last term who made a highly encouraging return from 10 months off in Spring Cup at Newbury in April. Things never went his way here last time and could well play a part. |
||||
| 2089-1065 |
|
WAHASH (IRE) | 4 8-12 | ||
| 30 |
J: Non Runner
T: Richard Hannon NON RUNNER. |
||||
| 1131-2330 |
|
SURREY HOPE (USA)
1
|
4 8-12 | ||
| 31 |
J: Edward Greatrex
T: Joseph Tuite Creditable efforts in defeat before below-par effort at Chelmsford 7 days ago, but looks rather summed up by his mark at present. |
||||
| 753138-11 |
|
SENIORITY
3
|
4 8-12 | ||
| 32 |
J: James Doyle
T: William Haggas 2 wins from 2 runs this year, upping his game when taking 15-runner handicap at Chelmsford last week. Carries 5 lb penalty for that success but still looks on a workable mark. |
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Analyst's Verdict
MEDAHIM has some strong 3-y-o form to his name and looks poised to run a big race after catching the eye over a shorter trip at Goodwood last time. At likely attractive odds he makes fair appeal. In what looks an ultra-competitive renewal of this contest there are any number of dangers, however, with Saltonstall, Afaak and Firmament particularly feared.
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