18:10 Ascot
Good To FirmWindsor Castle Stakes (Listed Race)
- First Prize: £70887.5
- 0m 6f 0y
- Class 1
- 25 runners
ITV4
Runners: 25 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
Form: 137
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Kept on well to win the Brocklesby at Doncaster on debut in March (5f, good to soft); put in his place in a conditions event and the Listed National Stakes since; stepping up to 6f can help but it needs to.
Form: 01 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Never in the hunt at Newmarket on debut (6f, good); his sights were lowered at Windsor eight days later (6f, good to firm) and he ran on well to record a comfortable success, albeit still looking green under pressure; that form is short of the required standard and while he is open to further progress, it may come over 7f+.
Form: 51
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Midfield finish in useful C&D novice on debut; much better when winning a 7f novice (good ground) at Thirsk 17 days ago, looking green and wandering around in front but always holding the runner-up (pair clear); this is a stiffer test of his credentials but he's bred to be smart (by Dubawi out of a Group 1 winner) and could well take another good step forward.
Form: 12 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Odds-on for his Lingfield debut (6f, AW) in April and made all for a convincing success; better form when second in the Woodcote at Epsom (6f, good to soft) 12 days ago, losing his position 2f out but rallying in the final furlong, albeit no match for the impressive winner; remains capable of better and today's stiffer test at the trip should suit.
Form: 1 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Smart pedigree and he overcame evident inexperience (off the bridle a long way out and drifted across the track in the home straight) to win a newcomers' race at Pontefract a fortnight ago (6f, good); well regarded and he is open to significant improvement.
Form: 1 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Refused to enter the stalls on his intended debut at Navan last month; showed himself to be a useful juvenile when comfortably accounting for his 12 rivals at the Curragh a fortnight ago (6f, good to yielding), travelling strongly and finding plenty for pressure; has more to offer but is no banker to confirm those placings with runner-up One Number.
Form: 2 BF
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
450,000gns breeze-up purchase; 2-1 favourite for debut at Haydock (6f, soft) four weeks ago and ran creditably for second, paying the price for chasing an overly strong pace in the conditions; his sire's progeny have a stronger record on fast ground and he could take a step forward today but it is certainly needed.
Form: 22
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Chased home A Bear Affair in the Brocklesby at Doncaster when shaping with serious promise; had that rival nearly 1l behind him when second of three at Ascot in May (5f, good to firm; 3lb worse off today) and the winner has run well in the National Stakes since; should be winning races soon but he will need a good step forward for the sixth furlong if this is to be one of them.
Form: 2
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Showed a fair level of ability when second of seven in a 6f AW maiden at Newcastle four weeks ago but he needs a marked step forward to feature in this field.
Form: 51 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Midfield finish on his Kempton debut last month (6f, AW); outclassed his rivals in a 6f maiden at Pontefract (good to soft) 26 days ago, coming home 6l to the good despite drifting right across the track in the closing stages; good prospect but this is a big step up in class and he has forecast faster ground to contend with too.
Form: 242
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Gelding
In the frame in three maidens (6f-6.3f, good and soft) in Ireland; can win races but he looks to be flying too high today.
Form: 42 BF
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Fourth of eight on Navan debut (6f, good to yielding) in April and showed better form when second of seven at Leopardstown (7f, good) last month; shouldn't be long in shedding his maiden tag but this race is warm and Dylan Browne McMonagle rides One Number today.
OUR TIP
Form: 2
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
$140,000 breeze-up 2yo who is bred for dirt; there was a lot to like about his Curragh debut (6f, good to yielding) two weeks ago, looking badly in need of the experience but recording the fastest sectional for each of the final three furlongs, eventually beaten 2l by the reopposing Celeron; forecast faster ground could suit and he is a potential big improver; respected.
Form: 2
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Gelding
Raced exuberantly on his Roscommon debut last month (7.5f, good) and finished second of the ten runners despite conceding 9lb to the winner and third; that race has yet to throw up a winner, though, and he's likely vulnerable dropped in trip and upped in class.
Form: 1
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Made a winning debut at the Curragh (5f, heavy) in March, ultimately scrambling home having looked set to win comfortably 150 yards from home; has changed ownership and left Jack Foley since; one of three runners for Joseph O'Brien.
Form: 1
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
52,000euros yearling out of a mare who has produced a couple of smart sprinters; strong in the market and created a favourable impression in a 5f maiden (good to firm) at Hamilton three weeks ago when skipping clear of rivals with experience; 6f should suit him well and he is open to plenty of progress; one for the shortlist.
Form: 1 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
4-6 favourite for his Curragh debut (6f, good) 25 days ago and produced a professional, rather than spectacular, display in winning by half a length; his trainer suggested that there could be a lot more to come from the colt and the form has been franked by the second and third since; looks the part on paper and there is plenty to like.
Form: 24 BF
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Strong in the market at 5-2 when runner-up on debut (C&D, good ground) last month, having made the running; failed to build on it when fourth of eight at Leicester three weeks ago (6f, good to firm; 8-13 favourite); the debut promise hasn't evaporated but the first-time hood needs to give him a lift.
Form: 10 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Ready win in a 6f maiden at Hamilton (good ground) last month; 9-2 third favourite for the Woodcote at Epsom (6f, good to soft) at Epsom 12 days ago but he dropped right away in the straight; now tried in blinkers; stable has more obvious claims with Sale Shark.
Form: 2
OR: —
W: 8st 11lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
160,000gns yearling; bred to be smart and she made a cracking debut when second of six in a Group 3 at Naas 31 days ago (6f, good), giving the odds-on favourite a fright in the process; that form puts her well clear on RPRs and she is open to improvement, so she has to be high on the list.
Form: 41 D
OR: —
W: 8st 11lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Confirmed the promise of her Wolverhampton debut (6f, AW) when winning a nine-runner fillies' maiden at Redcar (6f, good to firm) three weeks ago; in deeper waters this time and significant progress is required; now hooded.
Form: 35
OR: —
W: 8st 11lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Shaped well amid inexperience on her Yarmouth debut (5f, good) last month; upped to 7f (Tapeta) for her second run, in which she looked in trouble before badly hampered in the final furlong; not an obvious winner at this level.
Form: 1 D
OR: —
W: 8st 11lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Enjoyed a solo up front on her Kempton debut three weeks ago (6f, AW), coming home unchallenged; while promising, this is a big step up in class and others bring more pressing claims.
Form: 34
OR: —
W: 8st 11lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Unfancied for her two runs in 5f maiden/novice events last month; hinted at ability on both occasions but she needs a transformation for the extra furlong if she's to trouble today's principals.
Form: 3
OR: —
W: 8st 11lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Shaped nicely when third of seven on her Newmarket debut (6f, good) last month and highly likely to come on for that initial experience; on the downside, the fourth and fifth in that race have done little to advertise it since.
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Betting Forecast
40/1 A Bear Affair, 50/1 Agitator, 16/1 Alfred Wallace, 33/1 Alpe dHuez, 25/1 Boleto, 10/1 Celeron, 33/1 Charted Course, 33/1 Dance A Jig, 50/1 Dorigo, 16/1 Green Sovereign, 66/1 Ischgl, 20/1 King Of Cloughan, 12/1 One Number, 33/1 Our Boy Bailey, 9/1 Rulers Control, 10/1 Sale Shark, 9/4 Sergei Diaghilev, 25/1 Victory Gold, 50/1 Wild Terrain, 4/1 Controlla, 50/1 Freedom Flame, 100/1 Harlequin Sky, 25/1 Moonrise, 150/1 On The Queue Tee, 50/1 Troublesome Guest
Verdict
A new-look Windsor Castle Stakes with an additional furlong to negotiate and sire restrictions in place. While it has attracted a different type of horse as a consequence, it is no less competitive for it. Sale Shark created a big impression when winning at Hamilton and looks best of the home-trained contingent, while Alfred Wallace is another lively one, but this prize could be heading across the Irish Sea. Controlla sets a clear standard having run so well in a Group 3 on her debut but there are opponents who have also achieved a good standard while perhaps bringing the potential for greater improvement. Sergei Diaghilev falls into that category and he can feature prominently, while Celeron also looked the part when winning at the Curragh two weeks ago. Flying home for second in that race was ONE NUMBER, who was easy to back and palpably green before the penny finally dropped. With that run behind him, and faced with forecast faster ground, he could take a significant step forward.[Paul Smith]