15:40 Royal Ascot

Tuesday 19 June 2018

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

King's Stand Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Off time: 15:48 | Winning time: 58.14s

(9)

Battaash²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| OR: 123| D

9/4

Ended his three-year-old campaign with a very impressive win in the Prix de l'Abbaye and returned with a narrow win at Haydock last time. Should come on for that run and he's a leading player but temperament can be questionable down at the start.

Form: 11141-1

(10)

Blue Point⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 115| C

6/1

Won a Group 3 here in October and produced just about a career best at Meydan behind a smart 5f sprinter. Well beaten at Sha Tin subsequently and may want a bit further than this to be seen at his best but he's still unexposed at least.

Form: 1341-29

(5)

Bucchero^b,t1⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Jose Ortiz| T: Tim Glyshaw| OR: 110| D

40/1

Won a Grade 2 at Keeneland last year and placed twice in Graded company since but that's a level below the form of his rivals and there's a suspicion he will struggle here.

Form: 145-323

(12)

Finsbury Square¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: O Peslier| T: M Delcher Sanchez| OR: 112| D

16/1

Very impressive when winning at Group 2 at Chantilly last time and could be called the winner a long way from home, travelling well throughout the race. No doubt more is needed here but ran well in the Diamond Jubilee over 6f last year.

Form: 2527-41

(3)

Gifted Master^b²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: James Doyle| T: H Palmer| OR: 112| C| D

33/1

Won a Group 3 here over 6f as a three-year-old but has largely struggled in Group company since. Tries the minimum trip for the first time since his juvenile career but looks vulnerable to speedier types.

Form: 181-614

(6)

Kachy²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 113| BF| D

12/1

Has won three of his last five starts and has run well here before (placed in Commonwealth Cup). Raced alone when third to Battaash last time out at Haydock and may struggle to reverse the form here given that he had race-fitness over his rival.

Form: 2-11213

(13)

Ornate¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Oisin Murphy| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 97| D

100/1

Placed in a Group 3 on return last year but shown nothing in three starts for this yard and it's hard to know why he's being campaigned at this level at present.

Form: 432-840

(14)

Primo Uomo^t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: N G McCullagh| T: G O'Leary| OR: 106| D

100/1

Listed winner at Navan two starts back but well beaten at that level at the Curragh last time and hard to make a case for now taking this huge step up in class.

Form: 38-3214

(2)

Washington Dc^b,t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 111| BF| CD

12/1

Runner-up behind Battaash at in a Group 2 at Haydock last time but largely struggles up at this level and he had race fitness over the winner that day. Hard to see him reversing the form and Moore prefers Different League.

Form: 078-432

(7)

Lady Aurelia⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: John Velazquez| T: Wesley Ward| OR: 122| BF| CD

2/1

US raider and two-time C&D winner who won this race last year, breaking the course record in the process. Beaten odds-on favourite at Keeneland on return but likely to have needed that and she will have been primed for this.

Form: 3/1120-2

(8)

Mabs Cross²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 106| BF| D

20/1

Progressed well last year and won a Group 3 at Newmarket two starts back. Respectable fourth at Haydock behind three of these last time but she's less exposed than most and faster ground here could see her in an even better light.

Form: 111-214

(1)

Battle Of Jericho^t¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 99

50/1

Gained his first success since his maiden win at Fairyhouse last time and while he's unexposed, he needs to take his form to a whole new level to have any say here. Down the order on jockey bookings.

Form: 34127-1

(11)

Declarationofpeace^t³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 106| D

66/1

Ran no sort of race in Listed class at York last month. Kept some smart company last year and impressive when getting up late at Del Mar in a Listed race at the end of the season but would need a career best just to place here.

Form: 77131-0

(4)

Different League^t²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 102| BF| C| D

16/1

Impressive winner of the fillies' Group 3 sprint here last year over 6f. Shaped better than the bare result in a Listed race at Haydock last time but her propensity to miss the kick has to be a worry now dropped down to the minimum trip.

Form: 132-543

Forecasts

Lady Aurelia (2/1), Battaash (9/4), Blue Point (6/1), Washington Dc (12/1), Kachy (12/1), Finsbury Square (16/1), Different League (16/1), Mabs Cross (20/1), Gifted Master (33/1), Bucchero (40/1), Battle Of Jericho (50/1), Declarationofpeace (66/1), Ornate (100/1), Primo Uomo (100/1)

LADY AURELIA broke the track record when winning this race last year and while her reappearance was a shade disappointing last time out, better is expected here. Battaash is an obvious danger with the likelihood he will come on for his comeback run at Haydock but his temperament isn't always the best at the start and that may give the selection the edge. Mabs Cross is an unexposed filly and she may be capable of progressing past some of her rivals who finished ahead of her last time out.