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17:00 Royal Ascot
Tuesday 17 June 2025
All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:3518:10
Ascot Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)
- 4YO plus | Class 2 | 2m 3f 210y | Good to Firm (Good in places) | 20 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 4m 24.63s
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Selected odds by:
Won the Queen Alexandra at this meeting 2 years ago and first success since when landing Curragh Group 3 last autumn. However, never figured over an inadequate trip on return at Naas and good bit to prove having ran no sort of race in last month's Chester Cup. Tongue strap on.
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Presumably not the easiest to train but he did fare better than he had at Kempton in January when fourth of 10 in handicap at Newmarket (14f) at the start of last month. Rider takes off a handy 7 lb but stamina has to be firmly taken on trust over this marked longer trip.
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Developed into a very likeable mare adding to her tally at Haydock (16.2f) prior to finishing a smashing second in this race 12 months ago. Resumed with in-the-frame efforts in listed/Group 3 company and caught wider than ideal when down the field in last month's Chester Cup. Each-way claims.
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Useful jumps winner and of similar merit in this sphere, winning 5-runner minor event from the front at Killarney (14.2f) last month. Found the going too tough when sixth of 7 in listed race at the Curragh (12f) since and whilst switch to handicaps rates a plus, others appeal more.
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Very progressive in staying handicaps last summer, completing hat-trick at Goodwood (14f) in August. Mostly down the field since, having no excuses when fourth of 6 in handicap at Haydock (16.2f) 24 days ago. Cheekpieces reached for now upped further in trip.
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Two from 2 as a juvenile and very lightly raced since, far from disgraced despite finishing last of 4 in Sagaro Stakes at this course (2m, firm) in April. Appeals as the type who ought to be suited by this sort of test but he may well benefit from a softer surface than he's going to encounter here.
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4-y-o who made a fine start over hurdles for James Owen, winning 3 times prior to a sound third in the Triumph at Cheltenham. Career-best display returned to this sphere when landing Chester Cup (18.6f) in good style 39 days ago and this even longer trip could unlock further improvement. Player.
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5-y-o who boasts a fine strike rate and showed himself better than ever when winning 12-runner handicap at Goodwood (2m, good) 25 days ago, by neck from Mr Hampstead. Return to this longer distance promises to hold no fears (second in last season's Cesarewitch) and he's one to consider.
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Ended a frustrating run of seconds when a wide-margin winner at Dundalk (2m) in November and picked up where he left off following a 5-month break when following up at Cork (12f) 6 weeks ago, battling well. Claims from 2 lb higher mark now stepping back up significantly in trip.
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Fairly useful 3-time winner over hurdles for Paul Nicholls who made a dominant return to the Flat starting out for new yard when making all in 6-runner Newmarket handicap (14f) 30 days ago. Appeals as the type who will have no issues with this much longer trip but dominating this field won't be easy
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Last season's Chester Cup winner who proved hit and miss thereafter but he did return to form when third in corresponding race 39 days ago. Sixth in this race from a 1 lb higher mark 2 years ago and likely he'll have to settle for a minor role again.
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Progressive 2-time winner in 2024 who added to his tally after 9 months off in 6-runner handicap at Navan (14f) in April. Subsequent run when eighth of 9 behind re-opposing Ascending 6 weeks ago has to go down as disappointing but he appeals as the type to bounce back. Significantly up in trip.
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Very useful and versatile performer who ran his best race over fences when fourth in a Cheltenham Festival handicap in March. Left poorly placed and never figured back on Flat when seventeenth of 19 in handicap at the Curragh (10f, good) 24 days ago but better anticipated back up in trip.
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Signed off a highly-productive 2024 with success in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket (18f) and left the impression he'll be a lot sharper for last month's reappearance twelfth of 20 in handicap at the Curragh (14f) 23 days ago. Remains pretty unexposed over marathon trips and he's worth a second look.
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Relished the step up to 1¾m when easily off the mark at Wolverhampton in August. Clearly not himself in Melrose at York next time but resumed for new yard/after 9 months off with a very good second of 14 in handicap at Leopardstown (12f) 32 days ago. Very interesting up in trip for leading outfit.
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Useful sort who justified good support when resuming winning ways in 20-runner handicap at Naas (2m) in October before an excellent third over hurdles at Leopardstown (21f) over Christmas. Not in same form next 2 starts in that sphere but he's not yet fully exposed over marathon trips on the level.
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Lightly-raced sort who made a winning reappearance at the Curragh (12f) in March and more than backed that up when good 3½ lengths fourth behind East India Dock in last month's Chester Cup. Appeals as the type to do better again provided his stamina holds out here.
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Useful performer in France, successful twice during 2024 at up to 2m. Returned in good order this spring, second of 6 in minor event at Angers (14.9f, good, 10/1) 28 days ago, well positioned. Consistency clearly an asset but this demands more on first crack at this sort of trip.
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Improver stepped up to 2m this season, comfortably off the mark at Goodwood before finishing a very good neck second behind Manxman over same C&D 25 days ago, deserving of extra credit having helped force the pace. Well worth his place in this field and respected up 2 lb.
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Acquired by connections for 200,000 gns and produced a remarkable effort when making a winning hurdles debut in the Triumph at Cheltenham in March. Proved that no fluke when runner-up in Punchestown Grade 1 next time and potentially well treated on those efforts returned to the Flat. Player.
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Forecasts
Reaching High (11/4), Poniros (3/1), East India Dock (18/5), Alphonse Le Grande (15/2), Manxman (11/1), Nurburgring (16/1), Ascending (20/1), Leinster (25/1), Mr Hampstead (25/1), Divine Comedy (28/1), Dawn Rising (28/1), Comfort Zone (33/1), Liari (33/1), Woot City (40/1), Zoffee (40/1), Feigning Madness (50/1), Saturn (50/1), Align The Stars (66/1), Artistic Star (66/1), San Salvador (125/1)
No shortage of potential players in a cracking renewal with REACHING HIGH selected to come out on top. He made a very solid start for Willie Mullins when finding only one ridden more prominently too good on return at Leopardstown (12f) 32 days ago and, completely unexposed over marathon trips, he's of firm interest again. Poniros was a remarkable winner of the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and also needs factoring in. Chester Cup winner East India Dock and Manxman are others to consider.
- Reaching High11/4
- Poniros3/1
- East India Dock18/5
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £56,694.002nd: £26,587.003rd: £13,299.004th: £6,644.005th: £3,322.006th: £1,661.00
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