14:30 Royal Ascot
Thursday 22 June 2017
All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:35
Norfolk Stakes (Group 2)
- 2YO only | Class 1 | 5f | Good to Firm (Watered) | 17 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 14:33 | Winning time: 1m 0.88s
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Doesn't look a straightforward sort but overcame greenness to score at Brighton last time. Will need to have learnt plenty from that run if he is to have any chance here and faster ground is an unknown.
Excellent second behind De Bruyne Horse at the Derby meeting earlier in the month and that rival ran well in the Coventry Stakes this week. Followed up with a dominant win at Beverley last time and experience should hold him in good stead in this contest.
Justified odds-on favouritism at Catterick last time, confirming the promise of his debut effort at York and every chance he will go on improving from that run. Trainer's strike-rate unusually low around here though and he's only had one winner from 38 runners when teaming up with this jockey at this course.
Lost his maiden tag in a conditions race over C&D last month and only beaten by a smart prospect at Sandown last time. Fourth from that contest won the Windsor Castle Stakes here on Tuesday so form looks solid enough and yard are in better form now. Interesting contender.
Society Rock colt out of Gift Of Time, and cost £75,000 at the breeze-ups in April despite having fetched just €15,000 as a yearling. Should come on for his debut run at Haydock and this trainer has a 28.89% strike-rate (13-45) when teaming up with this jockey. Should progress but a little light on experience compared to some of these.
Progressing with each start and beat a smart looking field at Sandown last time with Frozen Angel and Windsor Castle Stakes winner Sound And Silence in behind. Ought to give another good account and clearly enjoys fast conditions.
Winner of a conditions race at Musselburgh on second start, breaking the two-year-old course record in the process. Runner-up failed to justify favouritism in a subsequent run but that's probably best over looked and he arrives with solid each-way claims.
Justified favouritism on debut but didn't improve for that on second start in soft ground over 6f. Yard been going very well with their juveniles this campaign so he's interesting dropped back in trip but no doubt has to improve plenty for the return to faster ground.
Trappe Shot colt, easy winner of his debut over 4½f but couldn't justify short-priced favouritism at Churchill Hill downs last month. Yard's two-year-olds have to be respected at this meeting, particularly over 5f and interesting to see whether he's as effective on turf.
Well beaten at York on debut and didn't really improve in a weaker maiden at Sandown last time. Looks up against it here.
Winner of both his starts to date and the way he finishes his races suggests he'll enjoy the stiff finish here. Will need to improve again but every chance he can run into a place at the very least.
Winner at Newcastle on sole start to date and yard's debutantes can take big steps forward from their first outings to their second. Looks the second-string on jockey bookings but no forlorn hope if he proves as good on turf.
Won on debut at Doncaster and beat a decent looking field at York last time, with the runner-up franking the form subsequently. Needs to prove he is effective on faster ground but leading claims if he takes another step forward with the Champion Jockey booked.
Winner of a Cork maiden last month over 6f but couldn't back that effort up last time at the Curragh after missing the break. Return to the minimum trip is an interesting move and he'll enjoy the fast ground but looks a little more exposed than most in here and probably best watched for now.
Won a Dundalk maiden and made it two from two in a Listed contest last time. Form of that race not really working out but if he proves even better on faster ground, he has to be considered with more improvement likely.
Turned over a well-fancied odds-on favourite at Yarmouth on debut but that form likely to be a few levels below what is required here. Jockey booking is a positive.
Piccolo filly bought for just £1,000 earlier in the year and likely to need more of a stamina test than this. Wears first-time blinkers for debut.
Non-Runners
13
(1)
Rock of Estonia52
Weight: 9-1| Age: 2
T: C Hills J: J P Spencer
NR
Forecasts
Santry (13/2), Mcerin (13/2), Havana Grey (7/1), Cardsharp (8/1), It Dont Come Easy (8/1), Frozen Angel (9/1), Koditime (9/1), Nine Below Zero (9/1), Sioux Nation (14/1), True Blue Moon (16/1), Consequences (16/1), Viscount Loftus (20/1), Rock of Estonia (25/1), Gift In Time (40/1), Billy Dylan (50/1), Pilkington (50/1), New Empire (100/1), Poorauldjosephine (200/1)
CARDSHARP's experience could give him an advantage over plenty in this field and he's already shown a high level of form. Wesley Ward's runners have to respected at this meeting with two winners on the board already and the American trainer won this with No Nay Never back in 2013. His runner Mcerin was a beaten favourite last time out but he wasn't disgraced and not impossible he'll prove even better on turf. Nine Below Zero holds each-way claims after winning both his starts to date while Santry and Havana Grey look best of the rest.
- Cardsharp
- Mcerin
- Nine Below Zero
Prize Money
1st: £56,710.002nd: £21,500.003rd: £10,760.004th: £5,360.005th: £2,690.006th: £1,350.00
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