17:00 Royal Ascot
Wednesday 21 June 2017
All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:35
Royal Hunt Cup (Handicap) (Str)
- 3YO plus | Class 2 | 1m | Good to Firm (Watered) | 29 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 17:04 | Winning time: 1m 37.82s
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Yet to finish out of the first two in seven starts but no doubt his mark reflects that. Can be a bit of a quirky customer but drawn on the side with all the pace and won a Listed contest over C&D last time out, so this represents a drop in class at least. Should go well despite carrying top-weight.
Made into a smart juvenile back in 2015 but only seen once since and that was an uninspiring effort at Sandown last time. Well-being taken on trust for now and Crowley prefers the chances of Tabarrak.
Looked like a smart prospect at one stage but proved very disappointing over in Meydan this winter. Handicapper not cut him enough slack to be of interest here and not won for nearly two years.
Good fifth in the Jersey Stakes at this meeting last year and went very close in a decent looking handicap on Champions Day. Not returned in the same form this time around and sole run on fast ground was a disappointing effort; has a few questions hanging over him for now.
Well-versed in these big field handicap events and he won 2015's renewal of this race. Only win since came over C&D so clearly has a liking for this course, particularly when the ground dries out. Not discounted if he can return to form after a couple of disappointing efforts.
His win on Champions Day over C&D last year was impressive but he hasn't really built on that in two starts this season. Very disappointing favourite in the Lincoln but too early to write off just yet and claims of landing this prize if he can recapture his form from the back end of last year.
Less exposed than most in here and kicked off this season with a bang in a Newbury handicap at the start of the season. Best efforts have come when he has a strong pace to aim at and may be draw a little low for this contest with a lot of the front-runners drawn mid-to-high.
Bounced right back to form in the Lincoln but not been in the same form in two efforts since and this looks like a strong renewal. Will need to find a career best if he is to land this and yard have been a little out of form in recent weeks.
Not won since 2014 and still a fair bit higher than that mark but has run some fair races in defeat at least. Fine effort in Meydan at the start of the year and clearly well suited to a mile on fast ground. 7f probably too short here last time and entitled to do better this time around.
Three-time winner but not got his head in front for a few years now and all his wins have come over 6f. Finished sixth in this contest last year but likely to find a couple too good once again.
In the form of his life of late and won at Nottingham last time but questionable how much more there is to come and could well struggle up in the handicap in a stronger contest.
Doesn't look an entirely straightforward sort (can hang under pressure) but trainer usually gets the best out of these sorts eventually. Jockey booking an obvious positive and he could be on a fair mark if he puts his best foot forward.
Unreliable sort who has been badly out of form since 2015 when he landed a couple of Listed contests. Could bounce back at some stage but looks a little more effective on the AW than turf and of more interest when returned to that sphere.
C&D handicap winner here in August but that did come in the Shergar Cup (a generally unreliable formline). Good runner-up effort at Haydock on return last time and entitled to come on for that effort so he can't be ruled-out here.
Winner of his first two starts early last year but has finished a beaten favourite on four of his six subsequent starts. Well beaten on both starts at a mile and hard to fancy. First-time blinkers reached for.
Useful on his day but those days are coming few and far between in recent times. Well beaten in this last year and will struggle again from a higher mark.
Ran okay at the Meydan Carnival earlier in the year but losing run now stands at an off-putting 32 and he's not won since 2014. Does get the services of a leading Irish claimer, worth the 5lb he takes off, and sure to enjoy conditions here. Could go well off a lenient looking mark.
Landed a South African Group 2 recently and not beaten far in three efforts out in Meydan over the winter. Won this in 2013 but probably not quite the force of old and may struggle from this mark.
Effective front-runner on his day and ran well here behind Fastnet Tempest when last seen but no chance of an easy lead here and back up the handicap for not winning.
Progressive this season and did particularly well to overcome a sluggish start at Chester last time out. Sneaking suspicion he's better over 7f but each-way claims nonetheless.
Highly progressive last season and looked in need of his comeback run at Haydock last time on first start for new yard. May do better here but possibly a little better over 7f.
Only narrowly denied at this meeting last year. Not seen since that effort but yard are capable of readying one off the back of a break and he could be even better on faster ground. First-time tongue-tie applied and leading player if it has the desired effect.
Very talented performer when it all drops right for him and looks capable of running well under a 5lb penalty for a recent success at Nottingham. May get a nice tow into the race off Fastnet Tempest and claims if it all falls right for him.
Gone from strength to strength this campaign and impressive scorer at Epsom last time. Faster ground and slight drop back in trip shouldn't be an issue while yard got on the score sheet here yesterday and could hardly be in better form. Should go close.
Only narrowly denied by Fastnet Tempest last time and 3lb rise for that effort looks fair. Well suited to fast ground and the step back up to a mile could see him in an even better light.
Won at Newbury last time out but he's gone up 4lb for that effort and all his form is in softer ground than what he's likely to get here. Yard first-string but may struggle to land a blow against well-handicapped sorts.
Proved a revelation on the AW this winter but he's never been quite as good on turf and could struggle again from this kind of mark. Should get a strong pace to aim at though so can't be discounted if everything drops right.
Rattled off a four-timer last year but hasn't been quite as consistent since and looks a little up against it from a handicapping perspective. Probably out of his depth in this contest.
Progressive profile and he ran well in an end of season Newbury handicap when last seen. Appears to be the yard's second-string on jockey bookings but not discounted and yard's runners have been ready to go on their first starts of the season.
Non-Runners
2
(33)
Battle Of Marathon81
Weight: 9-7| Age: 5
T: J Ryan J: Jack Osborn
NR
Forecasts
Abe Lincoln (13/2), Fastnet Tempest (15/2), El Vip (9/1), Tabarrak (10/1), Banksea (10/1), G K Chesterton (11/1), George William (12/1), Blair House (16/1), Hors De Combat (16/1), Bossy Guest (16/1), Ballet Concerto (20/1), Gm Hopkins (20/1), Another Touch (20/1), Yuften (20/1), Zhui Feng (25/1), Remarkable (25/1), Von Blucher (33/1), Early Morning (33/1), Battle Of Marathon (33/1), Bravery (40/1), Cote d'Azur (40/1), Castle Harbour (40/1), Master The World (50/1), Tashweeq (66/1), Elleval (66/1), Withernsea (66/1), Belgian Bill (66/1), Boomshackerlacker (100/1), Big Baz (100/1), My Target (100/1)
Godolphin won three races on the opening day of Royal Ascot and they have a fair chance of landing back-to-back renewals of this contest after Portage's impressive win in this last year. GK CHESTERTON has been going from strength to strength this year and he ought to go close if returning in the same form. Fastnet Tempest has been improving with each start but the mile may just stretch him. Abe Lincoln has an absence to overcome but he could prove even better on faster ground this year and he may have been saved for this race by his shrewd trainer.
- G K Chesterton
- Abe Lincoln
- Fastnet Tempest
Prize Money
1st: £108,938.002nd: £32,620.003rd: £16,310.004th: £8,155.005th: £4,078.006th: £2,048.00
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