15:40 Ascot
Good To FirmDuke Of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)
- First Prize: £61848
- 1m 3f 211y
- Class 2
- 22 runners
ITV
Runners: 22 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
Form: 6-2937 CD
OR: 105
W: 9st 12lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
Won 1m2f handicap at this meeting in 2023 and has also tasted the high life in top hurdle races; attentions were turned back to the Flat for four races (UAE and Saudi Arabia) this January-March and he wasn't in peak form, but edged down the weights as a result and this drop back in trip can help.
Form: 44846- D
OR: 105
W: 9st 12lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
His second in the 2024 Derby is feeling pretty distant now and on latest outing he was second of four in a handicap hurdle at Fakenham; hooded throughout that hurdles campaign and sometimes on Flat, but that is now replaced by cheekpieces; this is also his first ever Flat handicap.
Form: 547/4-
OR: 105
W: 9st 12lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
Free-going sort but the efforts to make a success of him over hurdles finally paid off this year with his front-running win in the Imperial Cup at Sandown in March; smart in Group races on the Flat in 2024 and May 2025, one to consider seriously in this first Flat handicap.
Form: 1231-1 D
OR: 105
W: 9st 12lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Won in good style in a small field at Newcastle (1m4f, AW) last October in his second handicap; gelded and tongue tied when returning over 1m2f in 15-runner handicap at York (good; unraced on firmer) five weeks ago and he won that too, racing freely in mid-division before going on over 1f out to score by 1l; up 5lb and needs to settle better but clear potential still.
Form: 2-4354 D
OR: 104
W: 9st 11lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
His 1m2f Group 3 run here (40-1) was the only blip from him last season; close second in 1m7f French Group 2 last October looks his best form but his handicap mark has fallen and plenty of ability remains; the biggest question may be whether this trip is now on the short side.
OUR TIP
Form: P31-63 D
OR: 102
W: 9st 9lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
10lb higher than when winning a valuable 1m4f handicap at Haydock (good; probably acts on good to firm) last July in great style; that was his final race last season but he put up a bold show when third at York five weeks ago and should be primed for another.
Form: 3824-4 D
OR: 102
W: 9st 9lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Ran creditably last summer in the Derby and two 1m5f Group 3s, while coming up well short; absent 259 days before his fourth of eight on handicap debut at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm; Hopewell Rock third) seven weeks ago, which was actually his best form and the first two also dominated a 1m6f handicap here on Tuesday, but he needs to build on that.
Form: 803-16 D
OR: 102
W: 9st 9lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
Sixth and eighth off lower marks in 1m4f handicaps at the last two Royal Ascots (good to firm) for Roger Varian; won over 1m4f at Meydan in January on debut for new trainer, followed by a lesser show at Abu Dhabi in February; usually a free-going sort, so he's likely to bide his time in rear before trying for a late challenge; most form suggests he won't succeed with it.
Form: 163-98 D
OR: 101
W: 9st 8lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Creditable fifth in the 3yo handicap over 1m4f at this meeting last year, which he followed with a comfortable 1m4f win at Glorious Goodwood (8lb higher today); needs to resume his progress, having been a never-dangerous outsider this spring in 1m2f Group 3 and 1m Listed contest, but he looks far more interesting for this race.
Form: 3229-3
OR: 101
W: 9st 8lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Lightly raced 4yo who's without a handicap win but has mostly progressed in defeat, with the exception on heavy going; came from last to third in eight-runner race at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm) seven weeks ago for a promising reappearance and the two ahead of him filled the same positions over 1m6f here on Tuesday; changed hands since and has a major chance.
Form: 149-31 D
OR: 100
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Off 11 months after tailing off in a Group 2 at this meeting last year; shaped promisingly on handicap debut over C&D on return and firmly in charge through the final 2f at Carlisle (1m3f, again good to firm) three weeks later; trying to avoid trouble in running from stall 1 looks a headache today but zero shock if the 8lb rise underestimates him.
Form: 230557 D
OR: 100
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
1m4f AW Listed winner for the Gosdens but he left that yard under a cloud in the autumn; rediscovered some form at 1m2f on AW last winter but reverted to lesser efforts on his four outings this spring.
Form: /706-0
OR: 99
W: 9st 6lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Lightly raced for three trainers and little seems to have gone right since he went 2-2 as a 2yo; the positives seem to be that he was considered worth a shot at the Dante and Derby last season, moves back up from 1m and away from heavy ground.
Form: 3220-2 CD
OR: 99
W: 9st 6lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
C&D winner who mostly ran well last season and did so again when second at Pontefract (1m2f) on reappearance this April; each-way chance if he can avoid trouble from an inside stall.
Form: 180-17
OR: 99
W: 9st 6lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Exuberant and game front-runner who scored twice over 1m2f at York (good/good to firm) last summer, including at their big meeting, and he also won one of his three races in Bahrain in the winter; absent four months and whether he can stretch his stamina to 1m4f (he didn't at 1m3f on latest start) looks a major doubt.
Form: 11-777
OR: 99
W: 9st 6lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
2-5 in France for Francis Graffard; also scored in December in Bahrain for new connections but managed only seventh in his three subsequent runs there and, after 11 weeks off, has more to prove racing beyond 1m2f for first time.
Form: 73-535 D
OR: 98
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 7 yo Gelding
6th, 15th and 11th in his three 1m4f handicaps at this meeting; 11-week break is not a concern but slow starts have become an unwelcome habit and he's proved far more potent on AW than turf in recent years, so probably won't be able just yet to exploit what should be a favourable mark.
Form: -61647
OR: 98
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Well-beaten seventh in 1m4f Group 2 at this meeting on final run last year; won handicap at Lingfield (1m2f, AW) in February, has held his form and had possible excuses, while also appearing as if he's well worth another go at 1m4f, so he's given a second look despite needing overall improvement.
Form: -45001
OR: 96
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
In his third yard since leaving Aidan O'Brien last autumn; third run for current trainer when upped to 1m2f and tongue tied first time at Windsor (good to firm) last month, starting 50-1 in a six-runner race but leading 1f out and narrowly holding off two challengers; back up just 1lb but this is another new trip and it's a vastly more competitive race.
Form: 00/42- DBF
OR: 95
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Reserve; 5yo who has had just seven races, tailed off in C&D Group 2 here in 2024 on his only run on firmer than good; didn't spark again until gelded and finishing close up in 1m2f handicaps at York and Newbury last September; left the Gosdens for 58,000gns in October and cheekpieces are removed on this first run since; it's not the most solid profile but he's worth another go at 1m4f and isn't entirely ruled out.
Form: 403412 CD
OR: 95
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
Reserve; form figures 121 at 1m4f on good to firm last May-August (not at this meeting) on his only appearances at Ascot; in career-best form over 1m4f at Epsom (good/soft) on his latest two outings, which sees him raised another 4lb today and into a much better race, but he's one to consider.
Form: 8-0451 D
OR: 94
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Reserve; has usually run with credit here, including on good to firm in May, and scored (from Night Breeze) with first-time cheekpieces under Warren Fentiman at Epsom 13 days ago; however, his only two wins from 15 races have both been at Epsom in the mud and he's also now gone back up 6lb.
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Betting Forecast
25/1 Burdett Road, 25/1 Ambiente Friendly, 8/1 Mondo Man, 5/1 Warrant Holder, 7/1 Emit, 10/1 Plage De Havre, 14/1 Nightime Dancer, 12/1 French Duke, 12/1 Omni Man, 9/2 Hopewell Rock, 4/1 Opportunity, 66/1 Military Academy, 33/1 Tuscan Hills, 25/1 Insanity, 50/1 Dain Ma Nut In, 50/1 Nesthorn, 50/1 Teumessias Fox, 16/1 Regal Ulixes, 100/1 Serengeti, 40/1 Theory Of Tides, 33/1 Night Breeze, 33/1 Too Soon
Verdict
Wathnan Racing have glaringly strong candidates in Opportunity and Hopewell Rock but the draw complicates the issue for Opportunity in particular, as he runs the risk of getting boxed in from stall 1. Mondo Man should go well returned to the Flat, having been the Imperial Cup winner over hurdles in March, while Omni Man is clearly one to note for Joseph O’Brien. The top two options, however, from wide draws, may be PLAGE DE HAVRE and Warrant Holder, and while the latter may bring the clearer potential, he also needs to settle better than he did at York last time, so preference is for the more experienced, but also progressive, Plage De Havre who’s the mount of Oisin Murphy.[Richard Austen]