Commonwealth Cup: Runner-by-runner guide

Commonwealth Cup

15:05 Royal Ascot, Friday

1. Cold Case (NON-RUNNER)

2. Little Big Bear (Aidan O'Brien/ Ryan Moore)

Produced an outstanding juvenile performance when a devastating seven-length winner of the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh. Missed the rest of the season due to a foot injury, but, having returned lame in the Guineas, he confirmed sprinting is his game with a taking Group 2 victory at Haydock. The one to beat.

3. Marbaan (Charlie Fellowes/ Jamie Spencer)

Group 2 Vintage Stakes winner as a juvenile (completing the hat-trick in the process) and was just about better than ever when second at Salisbury last month. This looks like a big ask but a well-run six furlongs will at least be right up his street.

4. Mischief Magic (Charlie Appleby/ William Buick)

Could manage only a respectable fourth in the Middle Park but got back on the up with success in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint over five and a half furlongs at Keeneland in November. A heavy defeat in the Pavilion Stakes over this course and distance on his reappearance last month needs casting aside but he's certainly in the right hands. Tongue tied.

5. Noble Style (Charlie Appleny/ James Doyle)

Unbeaten in three outings as a juvenile, including the Gimcrack, and wasn't disgraced in the 2000 Guineas on his return, failing to fully see it out having pulled hard. Failed to land the odds back sprinting at Newbury but this stiff six furlongs looks ideal for him and cheekpieces may sharpen him up a touch.

6. Rumstar (Jonathan Portman/ Rob Hornby)

Progressive two-year-old sprinter who signed off with victory in the Cornwallis Stakes at Newmarket. Wasn't disgraced when trying to concede weight to race-fit rivals on his reappearance but this is an even harder assignment.

7. Sakheer (Roger Varian/ David Egan)

Came a long way in a short space of time at two, quickening clear in impressive fashion in the Mill Reef at Newbury on his final outing of the caampaign. Was a shade too keen and failed to last out in the 2000 Guineas but he remains one to be positive about back in distance.

8. Shaquille (Julie Camacho/ Oisin Murphy)

Well-made colt who has met with defeat just once when far too keen in the Acomb, and he cashed in on a below-par Noble Style when cranking it up another notch at Newbury last month. Issues at the stalls a niggling worry but he's a big form player.

9. Shouldvebeenaring (Richard Hannon/ Sean Levey)

Has been campaigned aggressively and is thriving on racing, recording win number five in listed company at Newmarket last month. Cranked it up again when second to Little Big Bear in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock and, while there's no reason why he'll reverse that form, he can go well.

10. The X O (John Ryan/ Robert Havlin)

Limit looked fairly established on the all-weather but he ran a screamer switched to turf when second in the Pavilion Stakes over course and distance last month. This demands even more.

11. Lezoo (Ralph Beckett/ Frankie Dettori)

Her only defeat as a two-year-old came when edged out by Mawj in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at the July meeting, and she won the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket. Had a tilt at the 1000 Guineas on reappearance, finishing eighth, but sprinting is more her bag.

12. Ocean Quest (Jessica Harrington/ Colin Keane)

Has done nothing but improve in her five-race career, winning a listed race on reappearance at Navan before coming up a head short in the Group 3 Lacken Stakes at Naas last month, emerging with plenty of credit given how that race unfolded. This demands a lot more.

13. Queen Me (Kevin Ryan/ Jim Crowley)

Was second to Swingalong in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York after making a winning debut at Haydock last summer. She's from a speedy family and was too free to last out in the 1000 Guineas on her reappearance so it's no surprise she's quickly back over six furlongs.

14. Swingalong (Karl Burke/ Clifford Lee)

Showed useful form as a juvenile, her two wins including the Lowther Stakes at York. Wasn't discredited in the Cheveley Park Stakes behind Lezoo on her final outing last season but has been unable to continue the good work so far this year.

Timeform's Analyst Verdict

The outstanding juvenile of 2022, LITTLE BIG BEAR returned lame in the 2000 Guineas but he was expertly prepared to land the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock and he's a high-class sprinter who will take all the beating. Several of these revert back to 6f having tackled a Guineas, with Sakheer expected to regain the progressive thread, while Shaquille boasts a slightly different profile in that he's improved by the run and his limit has not yet been established.

1. Little Big Bear
2. Sakheer
3. Shaquille