17:00 Ascot
Good To FirmRoyal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap)
- First Prize: £90195
- 1m 0f 0y
- Class 2
- 33 runners
ITV
Runners: 33 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
Form: -53232 CD
OR: 112
W: 10st 0lb
Age: 6 yo Colt
Runner-up in C&D Listed contest last time, maintaining his consistency; Royal Ascot record includes a debut success in the 2022 Chesham and creditable fifth (off 7lb lower) in this race in 2024; Jack Nicholls takes off a useful 5lb; solid contender who again should give his running.
Form: 3-4566 D
OR: 110
W: 9st 12lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
Good second (off 20lb lower) in the Britannia at this meeting two years ago but he was progressive at the time, whereas his form has dipped in last two outings (normally a consistent sort, including at Group level); 2-2 at the Curragh compared to only 1-16 elsewhere; wears first-time headgear.
Form: 3351-1 D
OR: 108
W: 9st 10lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Ended last season with an easy success (good to soft; subsequently gelded) and followed up in the Spring Cup at Newbury (good) in sole start this term, taking record over 1m to 3-5 and overall strike-rate to 4-9; may be capable of further progress at this distance; enters calculations.
Form: 02-115 D
OR: 107
W: 9st 9lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
Useful performer but has done much of his racing in the Middle East, winning three times; 0-5 in British events and suffered a heavy defeat (albeit with something possibly amiss) at Royal Ascot 12 months ago; something to prove off his mark.
Form: 122-33 BF
OR: 106
W: 9st 8lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Successful at Haydock in sole handicap attempt then ran well behind a notable rival in Group 3 at same venue; no further progress in three runs since but he is proving reasonably consistent and returns to handicap level with Toby Moore taking off a useful 7lb; could go well.
Form: 13-531 D
OR: 105
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
In good form at Meydan this year for new yard, most recently scoring readily in first-time hood to take his 1m record to 22111 (all wins on good/firmer); may have even more to offer over this trip in the retained headgear; sound claims.
Form: 103-42 D
OR: 105
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Completed a Goodwood double during his 2025 campaign; good second in notable handicap at the York Dante festival (1m, good) most recently, going down by only a neck; he's paying the price for his consistency, however, with the assessor failing to relent.
Form: 224-04 CD
OR: 104
W: 9st 6lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Dual winner at Ascot; hindered by trouble in the Spring Cup on reappearance and ran creditably kept to Newbury last time; far from disgraced when seventh in this contest last year but has a stiffer mark this time and his ceiling has seemingly been reached already.
Form: 2/90-7
OR: 104
W: 9st 6lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Capable of very useful form in Australia, notably a close second in 1m2f Group 1 contest in 2024; lightly raced since and 40-1 when seventh of 12 in Haydock handicap (7f) on British debut last time; best watched in this deep field.
Form: 640-72 D
OR: 103
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Back to form with second at the York Dante festival (good) in the 1m2f event he'd won 12 months earlier; before racing over longer trips he was a three-time 1m winner and ran creditably in major handicap over C&D once; may remain competitive.
Form: 123-48 D
OR: 103
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Broadly useful when trained in France but may be flattered by his biggest figure, having failed to back it up, latterly in two Meydan starts this year for new yard; something to prove off his mark in this first British attempt.
Form: 309-10 D
OR: 102
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Good fifth in this race last year but was in a progressive vein of form at the time; some inconsistency has crept in and he finished last (admittedly lost a shoe) in the Spring Cup at Newbury most recently, failing to back up the form of his narrow success in the Lincoln on reappearance.
Form: 1010-1 D
OR: 102
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Acts on soft ground; Irish 4yo who landed a major handicap at the Curragh during his time with Dermot Weld; won well at Naas (good) on stable/seasonal debut, taking form figures over 1m to 3111 and strike-rate to 3-6; interesting challenger with further improvement very plausible.
Form: 639-06 D
OR: 102
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 7 yo Gelding
Very useful on his day and has plenty of Listed/Group form; however, needs to improve on his Newbury handicap efforts this season (beaten 4l both times) and remains badly out of the winning habit, with losing spell stretching back to 2023.
Form: 100-02 D
OR: 102
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
A regular in notable handicaps, bagging three (over 1m) during his progressive period last term and proving resurgent when close second to Erzindjan at Newmarket (1m1f) latest start; first home in the unfavoured group in the Britannia at this meeting 12 months ago; looks set to go well.
OUR TIP
Form: 2-4078
OR: 102
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Has failed to build on an eye-catching reappearance effort but seemed to be outstayed over 1m2f most recently; unlucky second in the Britannia at this meeting last year (good to firm; might well have won but for traffic issues) and looks interesting back here, bidding for compensation.
Form: 40-161 D
OR: 97
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Overcame trouble to win by 1l at Epsom (8.5f, good to soft) on Oaks day, taking record since being gelded to 2-3 and overall strike-rate to 4-12; returns to a hotter handicap but he's improving steadily and 1lb well in under a penalty; not dismissed.
Form: 7458-1 D
OR: 101
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 8 yo Gelding
Campaigned over 1m1f/1m2f for current yard; beat Fifth Column by half a length at Newmarket (good to firm) in sole run this season, ending a five-year losing spell and showing he retains plenty of ability aged eight; has form claims but doesn't seem to be crying out for this return to 1m.
Form: 43200-
OR: 101
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Formerly trained by Ger Lyons; placed a few times over 6f/7f in Listed grade but posted duck eggs at Royal Ascot 2025 and in valuable Irish handicap in his last two appearances; sold for 80,000gns since; hood fitted; enough to prove on debut for new yard.
Form: 1500-0 D
OR: 100
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
Got up in the final stride to win last year's Lincoln and followed up in useful AW handicap; not in the same form since and York defeat on stable/seasonal debut spoiled an otherwise good record when fresh; revival is far from guaranteed.
Form: 248-00 D
OR: 100
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Scored four times in France but has come up short in handicaps won by Linwood and Mister Winston since joining new stable, beaten about 7l both times; probably best watched until he's down the weights and his sights are lowered.
Form: 2-1229 D
OR: 100
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Below par in the Newbury contest won by Classic last time but that was out of character for him; otherwise a solid and steadily progressive colt whose form this spring includes good efforts in AW finals event and the Thirsk Hunt Cup; whether he can defy current mark is another matter.
Form: 1-4331 D
OR: 99
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Trained in Norway; consistent in handicaps this year, most recently winning a Swedish event after some good runs at Meydan; not disgraced at Royal Ascot (1m2f) or Glorious Goodwood (1m) last term but is on a much stiffer mark now.
Form: 14-903 CD
OR: 99
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Versatile as regards ground; perhaps didn't take to visor in the Britannia at this meeting 12 months ago; creditable fourth in major handicap last October when bidding for a C&D double; possibilities back in this scenario, especially as latest effort (third at York) represented a return to form.
Form: 128-21 D
OR: 99
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 6 yo Colt
Has less hidden up his sleeve than others, being a 6yo whose record is 4-24, but he arrives having been better than ever in useful handicaps at Newbury (1m, good) this term; finished second to Linwood on reappearance and weaved his way through to beat Indalo by a neck last time.
Form: 587/67 D
OR: 99
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
Has been campaigned only on artificial surfaces, mostly in UAE, for current yard; generally out of form since a hat-trick that was over two years ago (missed the 2025 campaign); enough to prove in first turf attempt since his French days in 2023.
Form: 1412-2 D
OR: 98
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Unraced on softer than good; record is 4-11 (AW/turf); good second in the 2025 Cambridgeshire (would likely have won but for traffic issues) and Newbury event (collared by Classic) in last two appearances; progressive, represents last year's winning yard and has a big prize in him; respected.
Form: 11-257
OR: 98
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Failed to fire in French Listed race last time; broadly progressive in handicaps and went close in the Lincoln when bidding for a five-timer (ran creditably in Spring Cup next time); however, chance partly depends on the weather, as he's ideally suited by ground softer than good.
Form: 1104-8 D
OR: 98
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Commenced his career with a novice double, looking a smart prospect; disappointing in his three races (Group/conditions) since, gelded prior to latest, but is on an attractive mark assuming another physical tweak (wind surgery) prompts a turnaround and fulfilment of the early promise.
Form: 148900 CD
OR: 98
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 7 yo Gelding
Defied a 5lb higher mark in the 7f handicap at this meeting three years ago and scored over 1m on AW in January; has lost his form, most recently finishing last in the Newbury event won by Classic; further Royal Ascot glory looks unlikely.
Form: 25/60- D
OR: 98
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
First reserve; trained in France in 2024 then Qatar in 2025; absent and gelded since being hindered by traffic issues when 18th of 30 in this contest 12 months ago; attracted support that day and will be interesting if the money again comes for him; debut for another new stable.
Form: 283-21 D
OR: 97
W: 8st 13lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Second reserve; has a largely solid record; better than ever this season, going close at the Curragh (1m, soft to heavy) then getting up close home at Leopardstown (1m2f, yielding to soft); may ideally need testing ground back down in trip; otherwise plausibly open to further progress.
Form: -12134
OR: 97
W: 8st 13lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Third reserve; gelded prior to showing improvement and performing solidly (12134) this year, mostly on AW, including a good effort over 1m on finals day; respectable fourth to Erzindjan at Newmarket (1m1f) returned to turf; again likely to give his running.
Terms and conditions
*Odds displayed on this page are sourced directly from online bookmakers. Please check all details before placing your bet(s). 18+ only.
Betting Forecast
16/1 Holloway Boy, 33/1 Skukuza, 10/1 Linwood, 25/1 No Retreat, 20/1 Excellent Believe, 10/1 Archivist, 33/1 Cerulean Bay, 33/1 Ebts Guard, 40/1 Henlein, 16/1 Thunder Run, 40/1 Chibitty, 33/1 Urban Lion, 14/1 Jagged Edge, 20/1 Checkandchallenge, 14/1 Fifth Column, 10/1 La Botte, 12/1 Mister Winston, 14/1 Erzindjan, 50/1 One Smack Mac, 33/1 Godwinson, 66/1 Ozat, 33/1 Blue Rc, 50/1 War Socks, 14/1 Shout, 12/1 Classic, 50/1 Swing Vote, 6/1 Indalo, 20/1 Rogue Diplomat, 11/1 Scoville, 40/1 Witch Hunter, 12/1 Blue Brother, 25/1 Diego El Queso, 25/1 The Lost King
Verdict
Returned to Royal Ascot and back in the big-field handicap scenario that may well be optimal, LA BOTTE is taken to gain compensation for being unlucky in last year’s Britannia. Today looks the time to catch the selection, with circumstances in his favour and a resumption of progress conceivable. Jagged Edge, an Irish raider who looks the type to improve further, is second pick ahead of Linwood and Archivist, two other runners who bring good 1m stats. Indalo has strong credentials, as the early betting reflects, while Scoville is interesting assuming the wind surgery works a treat. It’s difficult to be conclusive as regards the draw, with results changeable on the straight course here.[Steve Boow]