15:05 Ascot
Good To FirmHardwicke Stakes (Group 2)
- First Prize: £141775
- 1m 3f 211y
- Class 1
- 12 runners
ITV
Runners: 12 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
Form: 1124-6 CD
OR: 115
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Unraced on ground slower than good to yielding; disappointing favourite in the Yorkshire Cup on reappearance but that's his only blip in an otherwise progressive career; justified favouritism in the King Edward VII Stakes over C&D at this meeting (good to firm) 12 months ago, taking record at that time to 5-5, then ran well in the Irish St Leger and Breeders' Cup Turf; possibilities, provided his upward trajectory is resumed.
OUR TIP
Form: 311-61 D
OR: 115
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Versatile as regards ground; French colt whose form on British soil comprises a good third at Royal Ascot and success at Glorious Goodwood last term, both in 1m2f handicaps; beat West Wind Blows by 3l in Group 3 at Longchamp most recently, making it four wins from his last six starts and taking record over 1m4f to 2-2; progressive and may well rate higher still, especially at this trip; faces hotter company upped to this big stage but warrants respect the way he's going.
Form: /111-5 CD
OR: 120
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
Ploughed a remarkable path last year, having gone from running well at the Cheltenham Festival to completing a prestigious Flat hat-trick (1m4f/1m6f, firm/good to firm) that comprised wins in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot, Ebor at York and Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar; best to forgive his below-par effort behind two of today's rivals at Meydan in sole run this term (race panned out unfavourably); notable contender, with his excellent 2025 progress still in mind.
Form: 142-33 D
OR: 120
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 7 yo Horse
Has finished in front of Kalpana twice but that rival had excuses both times; far from certain to confirm the placings but he's still one of the main players on the figures back down in grade; his Group 1 form features a success and creditable second in the last two runnings of the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin (1m4f, good); unsuited by the way the race panned out at Meydan latest start.
Form: 103-21 CD
OR: 119
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
Acts on any ground; has shown very smart form in various parts of the world, most recently prevailing in Group 2 contest in France where he is trained; record over C&D comprises a creditable second in this race and easy success (recorded peak RPR) in the King George, both in 2024; gained his other Group 1 win on German soil last season; strong contender on belated return to this venue.
Form: 214-12 D
OR: 123
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
Dual Group 1 winner who has a record of 6-9 overall and had a mitigating factor (set an unsuitably steady pace) in his 2025 King George defeat in sole C&D attempt; played a distant second fiddle last time when bidding for a Coronation Cup double at Epsom but nothing behind the winner showed their form in the rain-soaked conditions; the peak form he showed when beating Calandagan 12 months earlier gives him a big chance in this field.
Form: 154-13 D
OR: 118
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Winner of the 2025 Derby; has worn cheekpieces this season, gamely beating Bay City Roller in the Huxley at Chester (good-ground Group 2) then failing by a long way to confirm the placings in a one-sided Coronation Cup on softer going; behind stablemate Jan Brueghel in that contest and is still a tad inferior to that horse on ratings but it will be interesting to see what he can do in the retained headgear returned to a forecast faster surface.
Form: 1-1916 D
OR: 110
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 7 yo Gelding
Enhanced his good strike-rate in Bahrain with Group 3 success in April; weakened into last of six (well below par) at Newbury since and it's nearly two years since he last prevailed on home soil; doubts are cemented by this difficult assignment back up in grade.
Form: 13-144 D
OR: 111
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Generally consistent performer who wasn't disgraced on bare figures at Chester (1m5f) last time but finished almost 8l behind Jan Brueghel, getting nowhere near to defying a penalty for his Group 2 Saudi handicap win (1m7f); faces a stiff task and needs help from first-time headgear.
Form: -42222
OR: 115
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 7 yo Gelding
Runner-up in a weaker edition of this contest in 2023; benefited from good tactical ride when almost certainly flattered by his proximity to Calandagan in Meydan Group 1 in March and received 4lb when only a neck behind Kalpana at Newbury most recently; worse off with that mare and has never won above Group 3 level but is otherwise a consistent sort who should again give his running.
Form: 2271-1 CD
OR: 120
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 5 yo Filly
Very smart mare who defied a penalty in Group 3 at Newbury (1m4f; beat West Wind Blows by a neck) on seasonal debut, taking record since wearing cheekpieces to 2-3 and running right up to her best; strong record at Ascot features wins in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes for the last two years (soft/good) and an excellent second in the 2025 King George; avoids a Group 1 penalty in this race and has a major chance at the weights.
Form: 112-12 D
OR: 111
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 5 yo Filly
Versatile as regards ground; broadly progressive and versatile mare whose strike-rate is 7-13; last four performances (1m4f-1m7f) were two wins at Group 2 level and second-place finishes in Group 1 races, beaten only narrowly at Longchamp most recently; currently falls short of the standard set by the other female in this field but has a trajectory that bodes well; wears first-time headgear; adds interest.
Terms and conditions
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Betting Forecast
10/1 Amiloc, 10/1 Best Secret, 9/1 Ethical Diamond, 8/1 Giavellotto, 6/1 Goliath, 4/1 Jan Brueghel, 20/1 Lambourn, 66/1 Phantom Flight, 50/1 Sons And Lovers, 16/1 West Wind Blows, 5/2 Kalpana, 12/1 Santorini Star
Verdict
Six Group/Grade 1 winners and a few progressive sorts are among the contestants in a deep Hardwicke. Kalpana (second pick) commands particular respect on favourable terms at a track that suits her well, but a strict line through West Wind Blows makes French colt BEST SECRET a plausible alternative, especially as he’s still improving and remains unbeaten over today’s distance. The selection’s compatriot Goliath holds robust claims, while a peak-form Jan Brueghel would be a big threat and not many of others can be comfortably ruled out either.[Steve Boow]
Selections
LAMBOURN:
Kalpana