17:00 Royal Ascot

Thursday 17 June 2021

All14:3015:0515:4016:1517:0017:3518:10

Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (Str)

Off time: 17:03 | Winning time: 1m 39.19s

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Selected odds by:

(9)

Emporio^t¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: G M Ryan| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 103| BF

66/1

Useful maiden but exposed and couldn't justify odds-on favouritism at Listowel 11 days ago. Hard to make a case for off this mark on handicap debut.

Form: 22-6252

(2)

Horoscope^b,t²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 101

25/1

Still low-mileage and arrives on the back of a solid third at the Curragh on handicap debut, so could make his presence felt if a low draw proves favourable.

Form: 42-1733

(31)

Akmaam^b1⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Dane O'Neill| T: B J Meehan| OR: 100| C

28/1

Impressive winner of 7f novice at this course in September. Not disgraced in Autumn Stakes at Newmarket next time but underwhelming return in Craven there a couple of months ago. Blinkered now.

Form: 15-9

(27)

Royal Scimitar^p1⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 99

80/1

Progressed well in three runs as a juvenile but hasn't continued that upward curve so far this term. Tried in cheekpieces.

Form: 144-54

(24)

Raadobarg²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 99| D

17/2

Unbeaten this season and still looked to have loads in hand of his mark when bolting up at Haydock 26 days ago. More to come, so looks an obvious player.

Form: 6-111

(13)

Legal Attack^p¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: M Crehan⁽³⁾| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 99

66/1

Useful colt who found improvement when narrowly denied in a minor event at Goodwood on penultimate start. Confirmed that progress in listed company at Epsom since but needs more from this mark.

Form: 124-422

(7)

Qaader⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Jim Crowley| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 99| D

18/1

Useful colt who upped his form to strike at Goodwood last time, battling hard to see off Legal Attack. Handicap debut and it obviously demands more.

Form: 4530-21

(19)

Perotto¹¹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 94

18/1

Useful sort who took his form to a new level when getting up on the line at Goodwood 11 days ago. Carries a penalty but he has the right style to be well suited by this sort of handicap up in trip.

Form: 293-241

(15)

Mithras^t²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 98| D

8/1

AW novice winner last year who stepped up again to make a winning return in traditionally strong 7f Newbury handicap on return. Excuses in listed company since, so well worth another chance.

Form: 441-15

(1)

Aerion Power⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: S De Sousa| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 97| D

11/1

Typically progressive sort for this yard who arrives on a four-timer having comfortably completed a hat-trick despite a slow start at Doncaster last time. Has to be taken seriously.

Form: 251-11

(6)

Star Of Orion²³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett| OR: 96

25/1

Made a winning debut at Newmarket and produced admirable efforts subsequently. This is a big ask up in trip returning from 7 months off, though.

Form: 12325-

(23)

Gioia Cieca¹⁰³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 96

100/1

Lightly-raced type who scored at Newcastle in February and upped his game again when fourth in listed contest at Lingfield last time. Opening mark looks rather harsh, though.

Form: 6-14

(29)

Big Narstie^t⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Hayley Turner| T: R Spencer| OR: 95

40/1

Progressive colt who landed 7f Lingfield maiden and has produced a couple of excellent efforts since, runner-up at this course (7f) last time. Suspect he'll do well to make all in this up in trip.

Form: 4-152

(21)

Beautiful Bertie⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Jason Watson| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 95| D

33/1

Ended last year with a pair of 7f/1m AW novice wins and back on track when a creditable third at this course 41 days ago. Others look more progressive, though.

Form: 4311-93

(25)

Liffey River^t²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: S M Crosse| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 95| D

20/1

Hasn't had much racing and made a highly promising start to handicapping when a staying-on second at the Curragh last time. Return to this trip will suit and he's one for the shortlist.

Form: 217-42

(5)

Laelaps¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: John Velazquez| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 93| BF| D

33/1

Fairly useful colt who was runner-up in a minor event at Naas last time. Likeable sort but he's much more exposed than the bulk of his rivals.

Form: 16-0232

(22)

Dinoo²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 93| BF

50/1

Fairly useful form both runs for Richard Hughes last term and encouraging return for new yard when third despite missing the break at Wolverhampton. Interesting handicap debutant.

Form: 25-3

(17)

Summa Peto³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 92| D

20/1

Has improved markedly to land both starts this term and, given how easily he powered away in a Wolverhampton handicap last time, he's more than likely still ahead of the assessor. Respected.

Form: 229-11

(28)

Quintillus⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 92

28/1

Confirmed debut promise when scoring at Kempton in October. Hasn't progressed this year, looking awkward on both starts, so needs to see the benefit of a gelding operation.

Form: 41-48

(16)

Grid²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: J A Heffernan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 92| D

28/1

Promising individual who improved to open his account at Cork last month. Well on top at the finish and form is working out well, so he's a definite player on British debut.

Form: 434-31

(32)

Siam Fox⁴^{(ex 5)}

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: David Probert| T: R Hannon| OR: 87| D

20/1

Firmly on the up and completed a double when scoring in hard-fought style at Doncaster 4 days ago. Not discounted under a penalty.

Form: 239-611

(10)

Dubai Honour^t1²⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 91| D

28/1

Well-bred colt who got off the mark in novice at Haydock last September, then shaped well when fourth in 1m nursery at York 8 months ago. Type to make a better 3-y-o and been gelded. Not discounted.

Form: 4214-

(18)

Longlai¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 90| BF| D

80/1

Back on the up to score on return at Beverley on reappearance and at least respectable efforts since. He's vulnerable in a race of this nature, though.

Form: 416-125

(3)

Royal Pleasure¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 90| BF

12/1

Already a dual winner and simply found the steady pace against him when second at Kempton 15 days ago. Up in trip for turf debut and well-run race should play to his strengths. Player.

Form: 12-12

(11)

Ataser²⁸¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Ray Dawson⁽³⁾| T: T Kent| OR: 90

40/1

Promising sort who found further improvement to take career record to 3-5 at Doncaster when last seen in September. Yet to run a bad race, he's worth a market check on reappearance.

Form: 41211-

(30)

Tawleed^b²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 90

20/1

Pretty useful form at 2 yrs and stepped up on his rather subdued reappearance effort when landing a 7f Newmarket handicap in first-time blinkers. Latest effort best excused, so not without a chance.

Form: 221-417

(14)

George Peabody⁶¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Callum Shepherd| T: George Scott| OR: 89| D

20/1

Promising debut last year and unbeaten in 2 this term, having something to spare when landing a novice at Thirsk a couple of months ago. Presumably saved for this, so expect a big run.

Form: 4-11

(8)

Air To Air¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: J P Spencer| T: G Boughey| OR: 89| D

11/2

Arrives on a roll having completed a double with something to spare in a handicap at Doncaster 12 days ago, well on top at the finish having been confidently ridden. Likely to arrive late.

Form: 42-2411

(12)

Emperor Spirit⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 89| BF

16/1

Signed off with comfortable success in Wolverhampton novice. Still learning when encouraging second at Ripon on handicap/seasonal debut 63 days ago and may have been primed for this.

Form: 321-2

Non-Runners

(20)

Royal Air Force⁴⁰

Weight: 8-11| Age: 3

T: S & E Crisford J: James Doyle

Forecasts

Air To Air (11/2), Mithras (8/1), Raadobarg (17/2), Aerion Power (11/1), Royal Pleasure (12/1), Emperor Spirit (16/1), Perotto (18/1), Qaader (18/1), Liffey River (20/1), Siam Fox (20/1), George Peabody (20/1), Tawleed (20/1), Summa Peto (20/1), Horoscope (25/1), Star Of Orion (25/1), Royal Air Force (25/1), Quintillus (28/1), Dubai Honour (28/1), Akmaam (28/1), Grid (28/1), Beautiful Bertie (33/1), Laelaps (33/1), Big Narstie (40/1), Ataser (40/1), Dinoo (50/1), Emporio (66/1), Legal Attack (66/1), Royal Scimitar (80/1), Longlai (80/1), Gioia Cieca (100/1)

MITHRAS had excuses last time and it's worth remembering the good impression he made when taking a big-field 7f Newbury handicap on his return. He's worth a chance to resume winning ways in what should be a typically competitive Britannia. A case can be made for a number of his rivals, but Aerion Power and Raadobarg, both bidding for a four-timer, look the most dangerous.