14:55 Newmarket

Saturday 3 May 2025

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3516:0516:4017:1517:50

Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Palace House Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 57.72s

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Selected odds by:

(6)

Clarendon House⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: S M Levey| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 109| D

12/1

Temperament isn't all it could be but he's pretty talented on his day and was right back on song after 5 months off when successful in listed company at Southwell in February. That level of form puts him right in the mix here.

Form: 15074-1

(8)

Democracy Dilemma²¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Tom Marquand| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 106| D

20/1

Has had a fine 2024, recording his first success at listed level when making all in the Beverley Bullet (5f, good to firm) in August. Showed very good speed again before fading late on into fourth in soft-ground Newbury Group 3 prior to a tame effort at Ascot. Returns from 7 months off.

Form: 634146-

(10)

No Half Measures²⁰⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: R L Moore| T: R Hughes| OR: 108| D

4/1

Didn't race at 2 but had a great 3-y-o campaign, notching up a sixth win in Newbury Group 3 in September. Pitched in deep and shaped as though in excellent form when fifth in the Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp and she may well have more to offer in 2025.

Form: 311615-

(1)

Rumstar²¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Rob Hornby| T: J G Portman| OR: 107| CD

7/1

Had been shaping up well in good-quality handicaps last summer and recorded first success since 2-y-o days in 6-runner listed race at Ascot in October. That was a career best and while his record fresh isn't overly encouraging, he still needs considering.

Form: 207551-

(2)

Seven Questions²²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: L Morris| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 106| CD

28/1

Took his form to another level in first-time headgear when 33/1 winner of this race a year ago in first-time cheekpieces. Regressive since, albeit there was more to like about fifth-place finish in a change if headgear at Newbury when last seen. Lacks a recent run and has moved yards.

Form: 713005-

(3)

Twilight Calls²³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: J P Spencer| T: R Spencer| OR: 104| CD

14/1

Smart gelding but winless since April 2022 and for one of his ability, he's been seemingly going through the motions in light campaigns last 2 seasons. Sold from Henry Candy 80,000 gns since last seen and will need them to go quick over this 5f.

Form: 0/46554-

(11)

Washington Heights⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 107| C| D

7/2

Successful return in the Abernant here a year ago and largely campaigned in Group 1 company after, running with credit on the whole. Respectable length second of 9 to Rogue Lightning in local Group 3 Dukhan Sprint at Al Uqda (6f, good) 76 days ago and he needs taking seriously back at 5f.

Form: 40657-2

(5)

Beautiful Diamond²¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 104| D

9/2

Gained a second 5f listed success at Ayr when dead heating with Azure Blue in June. Found Group 1 Flying Five too much of an ask at the Curragh but that effort was flanked by excellent runner-up efforts and she's a low-mileage 4-y-o.

Form: 351282-

(4)

Pepsi Cat^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: D Egan| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 88| CD

50/1

Established as a useful mare and she filled the frame in listed company at Bath in April. Isn't really up to this level, however.

Form: 4050-24

(9)

She's Quality^b²³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: J J G Ryan| T: J Davison| OR: 105| D

20/1

Progressed into a smart filly last year, one of 3 wins gained comfortably in 5f Tipperary listed race in first-time blinkers. Set a stiff task but shaped up well for a long way in the Flying Five when last seen in September.

Form: 116610-

(7)

Tropical Storm²³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 103| D

5/1

Got off the mark with a useful effort in 16-runner listed race at York (5f) by neck from Magnum Force in August. Displayed bundles of pace when fourth in the Flying Childers and reasonable to expect more to come for top yard on this just his seventh start. Receives weight all round.

Form: 522814-

Forecasts

Washington Heights (7/2), No Half Measures (4/1), Beautiful Diamond (9/2), Tropical Storm (5/1), Rumstar (7/1), Clarendon House (12/1), Twilight Calls (14/1), She's Quality (20/1), Democracy Dilemma (20/1), Seven Questions (28/1), Pepsi Cat (50/1)

This has a very open look to it, but such was the progress of NO HALF MEASURES last season that she ended the campaign shaping very well in the Abbaye at Longchamp, so she can pick up where she left off. Washington Heights won the Abernant here a year ago and is equally effective over 5f so she's on the shortlist, while Tropical Storm could go on again as a 3-y-o and gets a handy age allowance.