18:10 Ascot
Good To FirmPalace Of Holyroodhouse (Handicap)
- First Prize: £61848
- 0m 5f 0y
- Class 2
- 31 runners
ITV4
Runners: 31 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
Form: 2333-1 D
OR: 104
W: 9st 9lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Finished second in the Windsor Castle over C&D at this meeting 12 months ago before third-place finishes in three more Group/Listed races; returned from eight months off to win a 5f Listed event at York five weeks ago, missing the break but avoiding the fierce early pace as a result and sweeping through late on; has a touch of class and stable sent out the topweight to finish second in this race 12 months ago.
Form: 215-53
OR: 102
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Made all in a Group 3 at Chantilly (6f, good to soft) last June; didn't run badly behind two seasoned sprinters in the Group 3 Prix Du Gros-Chene back at Chantilly (5f, good) 19 days ago; fast ground will be a first for him but he still has his best days to come.
Form: 2115-7 D
OR: 102
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 3 yo Filly
Represents the same connections as 2020 winner Art Power; 3-6 as a 2yo, including the Group 2 Flying Childers at Doncaster (5f, good); dropped away to finish seventh of ten behind Dickensian at York (5f, good) on her reappearance having forced a strong pace; should be sharper today but this will be a tough race to dominate; handicap debut.
Form: 133414
OR: 101
W: 9st 6lb
Age: 3 yo Gelding
Made hay on AW over the winter and then found another burst of improvement to win at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) last month; admirable as he is, this looks an extremely stiff task now dropping to 5f for the first time; sold for £200,000 at the Goffs London Sale on Monday.
Form: 432-15
OR: 100
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Won a maiden at Leicester (7f, good to firm) on his second run as a 2yo; creditable efforts in Listed/Group 3 events afterwards (5f-7f); only had to match that form to win a 6f conditions event at Wolverhampton on his return in April and he was put in his place in Listed race at Newbury (6f, good) five weeks ago; Ryan Moore booked but this looks a tough mark and the return to 5f isn't enough to tempt.
Form: 121-1 D
OR: 100
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Front-runner; the winner of three of his four starts, the latest an impressive display at Churchill Downs (5f, firm) in April; trainer typically ebullient about his chance but his blistering early speed and ability to handle a bend like a greyhound, both huge assets in the US, will not be quite so advantageous on this stiff, straight track; that said, he has the stands' rail draw and looks sure to give his supporters a run for their money.
Form: 13-62 D
OR: 99
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Finished third in last season's Norfolk Stakes over C&D (good to firm) and it's easy enough to make a handicapping case for him on that run; two defeats in the USA this spring, finishing second to a useful sort at Churchill Downs six weeks ago; not ruled out.
Form: 12-179
OR: 96
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Useful 2yo and took his form to a new level with an emphatic win at Southwell (6f, AW) in March; a refusal to settle has compromised him in Group 3/Listed events on his last two starts but this mark is surely in range judged on that Southwell win and he is interesting now dropped to 5f for the first time; hooded every time except today.
Form: 43-332 DBF
OR: 96
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Fifth, beaten 4l, in last season's Norfolk Stakes over C&D (good to firm); tongue tied and has turned in three solid efforts in 2026, latterly when second of ten in a 6f handicap at Windsor (good to firm) 18 days ago when headed close home; worth another crack at 5f and likely to go well.
Form: -42410 D
OR: 96
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 3 yo Gelding
Won twice on Tapeta over the winter, notably a runaway defeat of Fortification (who is now 8lb higher) at Wolverhampton in February; down the field in a Listed event at Chantilly (5.5f, heavy) in March; unlikely to dominate this field and others are preferred.
Form: 21-112 D
OR: 96
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 3 yo Filly
Hugely progressive this year, winning 5f handicaps at Wolverhampton and Thirsk before excelling herself when second to Dickensian in a Listed event at York (5f, good) five weeks ago; a 5lb rise isn't ideal but she's on the up and this strong-travelling filly appeals as the type to take well to the demands of this race.
Form: 156-33
OR: 95
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
All six runs have been at 7f, winning an AW novice last summer; had wind and gelding operations prior to his reappearance at Newbury (good) in April and ran well for third; filled the same spot in a handicap here six weeks ago; improvement essential now tackling 5f in a red-hot handicap; tongue-tie enlisted.
OUR TIP
Form: 23-11
OR: 95
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
All runs over 6f on good to firm ground; beaten favourite in both starts as a 2yo, after which he was gelded; he has returned an improved performer in 2026, easily winning a Windsor maiden before producing a dominant display in a Leicester handicap 25 days ago; strong at the finish despite racing freely in the early stages on that latest occasion and he looks plenty quick enough for 5f; a 10lb hike is no gift but the Leicester form looks strong and he could well be a Group horse in the making; stable won this last year; lots to like.
Form: 111 D
OR: 95
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 3 yo Gelding
Brings an unbeaten record into the race, successful on debut at Lingfield (6f, AW) and adding novice wins at Leicester (6f, good) and Hamilton (5f, good); beat three inferior rivals at odds of 1-18 at Hamilton and while his flawless record can't be knocked, this will be a very different test of his credentials.
Form: 6116-0 D
OR: 95
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Won a maiden at Sandown (5f, soft) and a novice at Haydock (6f, good to soft) for Mick Appleby as a 2yo; well-beaten 50-1 shot on stable debut at Chester (7.6f, good) last month; plenty to prove.
Form: 0-9019 D
OR: 94
W: 8st 13lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Well beaten in the Norfolk Stakes here last year; game front-running effort to win at the May meeting at Chester (5f, good) but well beaten in Dickensian's York race one week later; the addition of cheekpieces isn't enough to tempt in this field.
Form: 91-274 D
OR: 94
W: 8st 13lb
Age: 3 yo Filly
Won three sprints for Adrian Murray as a 2yo; back to her best when a close fourth of 12 in a handicap at the Curragh (5f, good to yielding) but even that effort lags short of what will be necessary to win.
Form: 16-1
OR: 94
W: 8st 13lb
Age: 3 yo Filly
All runs over 6f on good to firm; solid form when making a winning debut at Yarmouth (well backed) last May; sixth in a strong Albany Stakes at this meeting the following month; absent for 346 days prior to capitalising on a good opportunity at Windsor 18 days ago; has room for improvement at the start and wouldn't want to concede much early ground now dropped to 5f; she does have the potential to be better than this mark though.
Form: 618-16 D
OR: 93
W: 8st 12lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Proved well suited to a stiff 5f when strong at the finish at Sandown on his return in April; that form has taken some knocks though and he was behind some of today's rivals at York last month.
Form: 311-2
OR: 93
W: 8st 12lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
He has improved his RPR with each of his four starts, bettering 2yo form when chasing home Black Star Boy at Sandown (5f, good) eight weeks ago; unexposed at the trip but that latest form has taken some knocks and he's up 2lb.
Form: 2-1542 D
OR: 91
W: 8st 10lb
Age: 3 yo Filly
Well beaten in last year's Queen Mary when trained by Jack Morland; her best form in Dubai this winter came in her two 5f runs on turf, winning off 5lb lower in January; brings different formlines to most and she isn't a forlorn hope on her first run for Karl Burke.
Form: 715-51 D
OR: 91
W: 8st 10lb
Age: 3 yo Filly
Three wins to her name, all on sharp tracks, the latest when making all at Thirsk (5f, good) 19 days ago; the combination of a 6lb rise, other pace and considerably stiffer opposition could leave her vulnerable.
Form: D13-117
OR: 90
W: 8st 9lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Won 6f events at Wolverhampton (AW) and Newmarket (good) on his first two starts this year; progress stalled behind Ten Carat Harry last time; high in the weights back at 5f.
Form: 74-311 D
OR: 84
W: 8st 9lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Won twice at Chester as a 2yo; on the up this season, running well from a poor draw at Chester (6f, good) on his reappearance before winning at Hamilton (6f, good to firm) three weeks later; took his form to a new level when beating older horses at Chester (5f, good to soft) and the manner of that success offered hope of further progress; 1lb wrong under his penalty but horses arriving on the back of a recent win have fared well in this race (Latin Lover won, Dream Composer and Radio Goo Goo both placed) and Toby Moore takes off 7lb; central draw perhaps not ideal but plenty to like otherwise.
Form: 51-012
OR: 89
W: 8st 8lb
Age: 3 yo Filly
A win and a second at Chester (both 6f, good) in her two handicap runs; going the right way but she has a different set of conditions to negotiate today.
Form: 6415-2 D
OR: 89
W: 8st 8lb
Age: 3 yo Filly
5f win at Ripon (good to soft) as a 2yo; took a good step forward when second of 17 on her seasonal/handicap debut at York (5f, good) five weeks ago, impressing with how she travelled through the race, and a 3lb rise is fair enough; bred to be a Group horse and she's a leading contender.
Form: 321-31 D
OR: 88
W: 8st 7lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Placed in his three turf runs but his wins have come on the two occasions he has tackled the Tapeta at Newcastle; smooth win over 6f seven weeks ago but he is in much deeper today.
Form: 1888- D
OR: 88
W: 8st 7lb
Age: 3 yo Filly
Highly tried after her impressive debut success at Nottingham (5f, good) last June and she came up short; fresh may be the time to catch her but Karl Burke may have stronger candidates elsewhere.
Form: 114-62 BF
OR: 88
W: 8st 7lb
Age: 3 yo Gelding
Reserve; won his first two starts as a 2yo; better form in handicaps this year but he was put in his place by Jazl at Leicester (6f, good to firm); improvement required now dropping to 5f for the first time.
Form: 431-61
OR: 87
W: 8st 6lb
Age: 3 yo Gelding
Reserve; all runs at 6f-6.5f; personal best when getting up late to collar Comical Point at Windsor (6f, good to firm) 18 days ago; still has handicapping scope up 4lb.
Form: 529-34 D
OR: 87
W: 8st 6lb
Age: 3 yo Filly
Reserve; she has built on her 2yo form in two runs this season, finishing third in a handicap and a Listed race (not clear run) at Sandown (both 5f, good); wouldn't be out of this if getting a run; hood tried for the first time.
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Betting Forecast
10/1 Dickensian, 16/1 Moojeed, 25/1 Revival Power, 25/1 Ten Carat Harry, 20/1 Sirius A, 16/1 Bacio, 16/1 Sandals Song, 16/1 Ghost Mode, 20/1 Comical Point, 33/1 Baker Blue, 12/1 Simplify, 14/1 May Angel, 14/1 Jazl, 8/1 Westport, 66/1 Gentle George, 66/1 Exclamation, 25/1 Ipanema Queen, 7/1 Gold Digger, 16/1 Black Star Boy, 16/1 Calico Blue, 20/1 Miss Yechance, 25/1 Dazzling Haze, 20/1 Sovereign Spell, 16/1 Tricky Tel, 20/1 Cherry Baker, 14/1 Stargazed, 33/1 Starmade, 20/1 Zelaina, 25/1 Pilu, 25/1 River Spey, 20/1 Our Cody
Verdict
A spread of pace across the track but the US speedball Bacio being drawn closest to the stands’ rail could lead to a migration in that direction. Only subsequent prolific Group-race winner Art Power (2020) has taken this prize without previously contesting a handicap so Gold Digger and Westport, both leading market fancies, need to buck that trend. Andrew Balding’s erratic but hugely talented Ghost Mode can go well dropped to 5f, while stablemate Simplify has strong claims despite a 5lb rise for her York second. Stargazed (third choice) shaped with considerable promise on her York reappearance and she still has a chance to live up to her illustrious sprinting pedigree but the two against the field are the hat-trick seekers Tricky Tel and JAZL. The former beat older horses in good style at Chester and should appreciate the stiff test at the trip but Jazl oozed quality when thumping 11 rivals at Leicester on his handicap debut. He drops in trip with a 10lb higher mark to contend with but that may underestimate his potential.[Paul Smith]