16:20 Royal Ascot

Tuesday 19 June 2018

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

St James's Palace Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Off time: 16:23 | Winning time: 1m 38.64s

(1)

Chilean⁵³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: M Meade| OR: 106| D

25/1

Won a Group 3 at Longchamp on return but too keen at Sandown subsequently. Still lightly raced and not one to put a line through back down at a more suitable trip.

Form: 4116-14

(5)

Gabr²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 108| D

20/1

Far from disgraced in the Racing Post Trophy last season and while he has just one win to his name, he ran well in a Listed race at Sandown when last seen. Every chance he will come on for that run given that this will have been the long term aim.

Form: 2215-2

(3)

Gustav Klimt²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 112

8/1

Won a Group 2 at Newmarket towards the end of last season and won on return at Leopardstown. Disappointed a little in the 2,000 Guineas but produced a better effort in the Irish version at the Curragh last time. Moore prefers U S Navy Flag.

Form: 511-163

(4)

Kings Shield¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 107| BF| D

33/1

Won his first two starts on AW but well beaten in the French 2,000 Guineas and failed to justify favouritism in a Listed race at Epsom last time. Tends to sweat up before his races and may do better given more time.

Form: 1-1364

(6)

Romanised^t²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S Foley| T: K J Condon| OR: 119| D

6/1

Produced a career best effort to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas last time but there's a suspicion he was a shade flattered by that run coming from the rear off a strong pace. Can miss the break, as he did that day and others preferred.

Form: 1762-61

(7)

Threeandfourpence²⁴

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

20/1

Couldn't land a blow in either Meydan or Churchill Downs but produced a better effort in the Irish 2,000 Guineas last time. There's a suspicion we are yet to see the best of him so can't be ruled out. Moore prefers U S Navy Flag.

Form: 14-2904

(8)

Tip Two Win⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: David Probert| T: R A Teal| OR: 117| D

11/2

Progressing fast and followed a Group 2 win at Doha with an excellent second in the 2,000 Guineas. That's strong form and with more progress entirely possible, he has leading claims.

Form: 2121-12

(10)

U S Navy Flag^b,t²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 116

5/1

Impressive winner of the Dewhurst in 2017 and returned to form with a good second in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, staying on gamely. Given a slightly more conservative ride, he may be able to reverse that form and should go well. Yard's first-string.

Form: 110-452

(2)

Without Parole²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 109| D

9/4

Arrives here with an unbeaten record to defend after his win in Listed company at Sandown making it three wins from three races. While the winning margin was just ¾L, he should be better suited to the faster ground here.

Form: 1-11

(9)

Wootton³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: M Barzalona| T: H A Pantall| OR: 113| D

8/1

Won a Listed race as a juvenile and improved to win a Longchamp Group 3 on return. Ran a big race in defeat in the French 2,000 Guineas last time and he's still entirely unexposed. Interesting French raider.

Form: 11-14

Forecasts

Without Parole (9/4), U S Navy Flag (5/1), Tip Two Win (11/2), Romanised (6/1), Gustav Klimt (8/1), Wootton (8/1), Gabr (20/1), Threeandfourpence (20/1), Chilean (25/1), Kings Shield (33/1)

There may have been too much use made of U S NAVY FLAG in the Irish 2,000 Guineas last time but he's taken to reverse that form here on ground he's sure to appreciate. There was no fluke about Tip Two Win's effort when runner-up in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket last time and he's not one to underestimate but Without Parole could be the main danger with his unbeaten record to defend here.