15:05 Ascot
Good To FirmCoventry Stakes (Group 2)
- First Prize: £113420
- 0m 6f 0y
- Class 1
- 22 runners
ITV
Runners: 22 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
Form: 112 C
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Lost unbeaten record in Listed race at Sandown three weeks ago but only after a good tussle; previous 5f wins included one here, and he shapes as if he'll stay this extra furlong, but he needs to improve for it.
Form: 531
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Has improved with each of his three outings and showed grit to come out on top at Roscommon (7.4f, good to yielding) four weeks ago; however, he's in much deeper here and the drop back in distance is not sure to suit.
Form: 3332
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Well up to winning a race of some sort but he was put firmly in his place by both Great Barrier Reef (at the Curragh) and Confucius (at Naas) in the spring; again likely to come up short.
Form: 2
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Gelding
Chased home The Ginger Kid on debut at Nottingham (6f, good; 25-1) two weeks ago, finishing strongly; has plenty to find on the figures, but so did Rashabar who struck at 80-1 in this race in 2024 for the same connections.
Form: 21 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Superbly bred colt (by No Nay Never out of the Cheveley Park winner Millisle) who cost 1,700,000gns as a yearling; went down narrowly on debut before readily landing the odds in maiden at Naas (6f, good) in a fast time; he's the choice of Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien has won this race in two of the last three years; big chance.
Form: 1
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Created favourable impression when beating five opponents in convincing style at York's Dante meeting (5f, good; 11-4), readily asserting from over 1f out; bred to be at least as effective over this longer trip; the pick of the British-trained runners on form, open to progress and should go well.
Form: 3
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Some promise when third of eight at Yarmouth (6f, good; 11-1) but that form looks nothing special; would need significant improvement to play a part.
Form: 2
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Raced freely on debut at Lingfield (6f, good; 11-1) despite being hooded, but nonetheless rallied to finish second; should improve but it's hard to see him turning the tables with Mrair, the clearcut winner that day.
Form: 1 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
28-1 for debut at Newbury (6f, good) but made a successful start, never far away and leading inside the final 1f; that race has yet to throw up any other winners but he's clearly a promising sort and he could make his presence felt.
OUR TIP
Form: 11 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Hammered six rivals at the Curragh on debut (6f, soft) and overcame residual greenness to follow up in Group 3 over the same C&D (good) three weeks ago, leading inside final 1f; Ryan Moore jumps ship to ride Confucius, but this one tops the pile on ratings and merits serious consideration.
Form: 01 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Green on debut but clearly derived plenty of benefit from the experience and won in clearcut fashion at Fairyhouse (6f, good) later in May; he'll need more progress to make an impact in this higher grade but it's possible.
Form: 322 BF
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Beaten all three times, including when 4-7 at Bath (5f, good to firm) last month; yard landed the Coventry in 2020 with 150-1 shot Nando Parrado, another son of Kodiac; a win for this colt would be similarly surprising.
Form: 5
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Raced freely and faded when fifth to God Given Talent at Newbury (6f, good; 10-1) last month; bred to be useful and could improve markedly, but he's undoubtedly one of the outsiders.
Form: 21 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
£880,000 breeze-up purchase; turned over at short odds on debut but made amends at Lingfield (6f, good) two weeks ago with plenty in hand from Final Objective despite racing freely; hard to pin down and not to be passed over lightly, with Oisin Murphy (3-8 for the stable this year) a good booking.
Form: 11 CD
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Has made the perfect start to his career, winning readily last month over C&D (good) and at Goodwood (good to soft); those performances put him near the top of the pecking order on ratings and his stable landed 2yo events at Royal Ascot in 2021 and 2025; commands major respect.
Form: 1 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Changed hands for 800,000euros at the breeze-ups and was strong in the market when making a winning start at Hamilton (6f, good to soft; 30-100) last Wednesday, readily pulling clear of four opponents; that form is untested and he's in much deeper here, but it's interesting that James Doyle prefers him to Ruler's Pride.
Form: 1
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
550,000gns breeze-up buy; had only two opponents when scooting up at Ayr (5f, good to firm; 30-100) four weeks ago, but could hardly have been more impressive and the runner-up won the Hilary Needler at Beverley next time; speedily bred but ought to be just as effective over this extra furlong; comes from a yard with deep pool of 2yo talent, and he could be anything.
Form: 1 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Bred to be useful and made an impressive winning start at Yarmouth (6f, good to firm; 4-6) in April, soon in front and surging clear from over 1f out; the runner-up is 2-2 since, giving the form a solid look; stable won this race with the top-class Bradsell in 2022; has to be respected.
Form: 01 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
110,000euros purchase as a yearling; could not justify strong support on debut but much more clued up at Nottingham (6f, good) next time, quickening nicely to beat Cilician; further improvement possible but necessary.
Form: 1 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
£260,000 breeze-up buy; overcame adversity (ducked right start, hit on nose by rival jockey's whip inside final 1f) to make winning debut at Goodwood (6f, soft; 5-6) nine days ago; this is a quick turnaround but he clearly has potential.
Form: 421
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Progressing fast and won going away at Listowel (about 6f, good) at the end of May; much more is needed in this higher grade but further improvement seems likely and Wesley Joyce has chosen him ahead of Arizona Raider.
Form: 4
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Shaped better than the bare result suggests when fourth of 11 at Nottingham (6f, good; 11-1; kept on well after meeting trouble) 16 days ago, and that race is already working out well; however, this is much tougher and he's the Amo Racing second string on jockey bookings.
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Betting Forecast
25/1 Adaay Of Scarlett, 80/1 Arizona Raider, 66/1 Bull Shark, 40/1 Cilician, 15/8 Confucius, 11/1 Cut A Dash, 80/1 Easy Answer, 50/1 Final Objective, 22/1 God Given Talent, 9/2 Great Barrier Reef, 40/1 High King, 80/1 Jaan Ki Tukri, 100/1 Kamaal, 14/1 Mrair, 7/1 Night In Vegas, 9/1 Royal Heritage, 8/1 Rulers Pride, 12/1 Siouxperb, 33/1 The Ginger Kid, 33/1 The Harv, 40/1 The Scallionator, 100/1 Treasurer
Verdict
Aidan O’Brien bids for a twelfth Coventry Stakes and holds a strong hand with a pair of promising sons of No Nay Never. Confucius, the choice of Ryan Moore, clocked a fast time when winning at Naas and commands major respect, but as things stand GREAT BARRIER REEF is the pick on form and he may represent a bit of value. British-trained hopefuls include the unbeaten Cut A Dash, Siouxperb, Royal Heritage and Ruler’s Pride, the last two running for the formidable Wathnan operation. Twice-raced Mrair is a little down the pecking order on ratings but has stacks of potential and could go well at a price under Oisin Murphy.[Richard O’Brien]
Selections
SPOTLIGHT:
Great Barrier ReefPOSTDATA:
SiouxperbTOPSPEED:
ConfuciusRP RATINGS:
Great Barrier Reef