15:05 Royal Ascot

Thursday 22 June 2017

All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:35

Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:09 | Winning time: 2m 5.40s

(9)

Bay Of Poets¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 110

10/1

Won his maiden in good style at Kempton but failed to go on from that last season. Much better this time around though and put up a respectable effort in the Derby trial at Epsom before finding only one too good in subsequent Derby runner-up, Cliffs Of Moher, at Chester. Not beaten all that far in the French Derby last time and just about sets the standard on form from those previous efforts. Yard in excellent form.

Form: 888-327

(6)

Benbatl^t¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 113

9/2

Won his maiden in impressive fashion at Doncaster and not disgraced in the Craven where he shaped like he would benefit from a step up in trip. Couldn't justify favouritism in the Dante but ran well in defeat and fifth in the Derby was a fine effort. Should go well.

Form: 1325

(11)

Grey Britain³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: G Mosse| T: J Ryan| OR: 99| D

33/1

Patchy profile and appears best suited to softer conditions than what he's likely to get here. More exposed than most and likely to struggle.

Form: 564241

(4)

Irishcorrespondent²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Shane Foley| T: M Halford| OR: 110

6/1

Won his first couple of starts and while he was beaten 7L by Churchill in the Irish Guineas last time, he stuck to his task well and should appreciate this step up in trip. Leading player on that form with more improvement to come.

Form: 113

(7)

Kings Gift³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 101

66/1

Won a couple of races with cut in the ground as a two-year-old and while he was well beaten in a Group 3 at Newbury on return to action this year, the ones in front of him have franked the form since. Struggled on subsequent run in France and others probably have more improvement in them but he may be capable of running a place.

Form: 1172-49

(3)

Mirage Dancer⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 100

7/1

Justified market support on debut and undone by a bad start at Chester subsequently. Not disgraced on that run behind Derby runner-up Cliffs Of Moher and entitled to progress from that now. Should go well.

Form: 1-4

(12)

Mucho Applause³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: A M Balding| OR: 91| BF

16/1

Only just beaten in a pair of starts this season in handicaps. That form below the level of what is required here but interesting that connections are willing to potentially blow what looks like a feasible handicap mark. Has an each-way chance.

Form: 341-22

(14)

Orderofthegarter^p1,t¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110

10/3

Well beaten in the French Guineas two starts back but fared better in the French Derby last time and the winner of that contest franked the form here on Wednesday. The concern would be that he appears to have been aimed at softer ground and he's unlikely to get much cut in the ground here. First-time cheekpieces applied and not dismissed if the ground and draw doesn't inconvenience him.

Form: 22-1156

(15)

Rodaini^b1²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Spencer| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 102

66/1

Highly progressive last year but not returned in quite the same form this time around. First-time blinkers need to bring about improvement.

Form: 1190-25

(13)

Savile Row^p1³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P Hanagan| T: Frau E Meder

50/1

Unplaced in the German 2,000 Guineas last month and that form probably a little below what's required to mix it at this level. First-time cheekpieces reached for now and they need to bring out significant improvement.

Form: 474-635

(16)

Speedo Boy⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: Ian Williams| OR: 100| D

20/1

Won a Listed affair at Fontainebleau two starts back, coping with the heavy ground better than the rest and probably wants softer conditions to be seen at his best. Not disgraced behind Permian on latest start and jockey booking is a positive; each-way possibilities.

Form: 73-1212

(10)

Taj Mahal^b1¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 105

8/1

Finished in front of stablemate Orderofthegarter in the French Derby last time out but still just has one win from 11 starts to his name and looks like the yard's second string on jockey bookings. First-time blinkers need to bring out plenty of improvement.

Form: 135-224

(1)

Tamleek⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 107| D

9/1

Eye-catching third on debut at Yarmouth and confirmed that promise with an impressive maiden win at Newmarket on reappearance this season. Proved a little disappointing at Chester latest but wasn't far behind subsequent Derby winner Wings Of Eagles so that run perhaps a little better than first viewing. Interesting runner.

Form: 3-14

Non-Runners

(2)

Larchmont Lad³³

Weight: 9-4| Age: 3

T: R Hannon J: P J Dobbs

(5)

Gold Spinner¹⁹

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: G M Lyons J: Colin Keane

(8)

Jake's Hill¹⁴

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: Eve Johnson Houghton J: Charles Bishop

Forecasts

Orderofthegarter (10/3), Benbatl (9/2), Irishcorrespondent (6/1), Mirage Dancer (7/1), Taj Mahal (8/1), Tamleek (9/1), Bay Of Poets (10/1), Mucho Applause (16/1), Gold Spinner (16/1), Larchmont Lad (16/1), Speedo Boy (20/1), Grey Britain (33/1), Savile Row (50/1), Jake's Hill (50/1), Kings Gift (66/1), Rodaini (66/1)

Godolphin have a strong hand in this contest and it's BAY OF POETS who makes most appeal for a yard in flying form. Things didn't pan out for him in the French Derby last time but he should do better back on faster ground and this trainer and jockey won this contest last year. Mirage Dancer is entirely unexposed and ran a little better than the bare result at Chester suggests last time while Irishcorrespondent and Tamleek are interesting each-way prospects who should get back on track here.