17:35 Royal Ascot

Friday 22 June 2018

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

Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap)

Off time: 17:35 | Winning time: 2m 27.76s

(10)

Top Tug²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: M Harley| T: A King| OR: 105| BF| D

8/1

Twice placed off this mark including on his seasonal return he's proved a consistent sort in this type of staying handicap in the past few years. Shaped well on his seasonal return although he'll need to find some progress to win off this rating.

Form: 14020-2

(2)

Clear Skies²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 105| D

14/1

Versatile sort although all her wins have come on the AW but she has been Listed/Group placed on turf. Hasn't had the run of the race in any of her three starts this year (shaped better than bare result) and needs a strong gallop to work with.

Form: 3-10332

(9)

Walton Street^p¹²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 104| D

7/1

Lightly-raced sort who won his first two races last year before performing with credit in Dubai over the winter. Raised 5lb for a win on his last start over 1m4f beating re-opposing stablemate Eynhallow by2L; respected for last year's winning yard.

Form: 114-621

(19)

Appeared³⁰¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 103| BF| CD

8/1

Impressed when he won over C&D on first start last year and ran with credit afterwards (displayed the odd quirk). Looks the sort who needs things to go his way but talented when they do and may well be best fresh; wide draw no hindrance at all.

Form: 93/1258-

(11)

Crowned Eagle³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M Botti| OR: 102

25/1

Likes to lead/be prominent and has already proved himself useful for this yard landing an AW gamble on third start (well-judged ride). Proved to be up to this grade on turf last time but won't find it easy to dominate a big field like this.

Form: 343-412

(20)

Thundering Blue³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: L Dettori| T: D Menuisier| OR: 100

5/1

Progressive last year (won three consecutive handicaps) he's continued on an upward curve this season shaping well at Epsom prior to scoring at York. 7lb higher now but hardly looks to have finished improving yet and a leading chance in this.

Form: 1117-51

(15)

Newlands^p,t1¹⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: C Fellowes| OR: 100

50/1

Starts out life for a new yard with a tongue-tie going on for the first time having previously been rather inconsistent in his native Singapore. Last seen running in Dubai where he ran well in a Group 2 on his last start; given a tough introduction.

Form: 0-70046

(6)

Carbon Dating⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: T P O'Shea| T: R J Osborne| OR: 99| D

50/1

First run for this trainer and it will require a career-best for him to feature here although he has run respectably abroad over the winter (last twice in Group 3). Has won off a 2lb higher mark than this but others are still appealing.

Form: 4-84966

(4)

Saunter^p²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Jim Crowley| T: Ian Williams| OR: 99| D

16/1

Took the November handicap over this trip on just his second start for this talented trainer on soft ground at Doncaster. Made a respectable return after his winter break in France over 1m6f and but for his awkward inside stall would be fancied here.

Form: 74821-4

(7)

Nayel^p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 98

40/1

Hard to ignore having already won two handicaps this year looking an improved model although this mark will require another leap forward. His win last time didn't come in an overly strong contest and 9lb rise in faces here may just rule him out.

Form: 1979-11

(14)

Dash Of Spice²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: S De Sousa| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 98| D

7/2

Could not have been more impressive at Epsom last time out winning a competitive handicap by 6L for all he had the run of the race and other factors going for him. Given an 11lb rise for that romp he should still be competitive and nicely berthed.

Form: 421-221

(22)

Fire Fighting¹¹^{(ex 4)}

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: R Kingscote| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 94| D

25/1

Tough and genuine sort who like any from this stable bounced back from some modest runs to take a Windsor handicap in typically tough style. Wide berth will be no problem but his two runs over C&D have been disappointing.

Form: 533701

(16)

Eynhallow^h,t¹²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: James McDonald| T: C Appleby| OR: 97

7/1

Won two handicaps last year when with Roger Charlton he was consistent in all his other races relishing this trip when he was tried at it. Both his runs in Dubai for this yard over the winter were worthy especially his last outing; sound chance.

Form: 2432-42

(12)

Eddystone Rock²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Josephine Gordon| T: J R Best| OR: 97

33/1

Had plenty of racing last year and for the most part he held his own with his best performance when winning at York over 1m2f off this same mark. Seen to good advantage on his return and forgiven his last run (false-run race) behind Dash Of Spice.

Form: 3-90050

(8)

Sir Chauvelin²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: D Tudhope| T: J S Goldie| OR: 97| D

33/1

Ended his Flat season with a win on the AW (hurdles winner since) and has shown that the old dash is still there in his two Flat starts this season. Ran well off this mark at Redcar last time (nearest finish) and will appreciate this return to 1m4f.

Form: 7001-84

(21)

Manjaam²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Edward Greatrex| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 96| CD

25/1

Produced a career-best last time out when pouncing late on to land a York handicap (his first win since mid-2016) on his most recent run. That was an opportunity taken but he's now 4lb higher and looks vulnerable in this grade.

Form: 080-261

(5)

Count Calabash⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 96| CD

10/1

One of only three C&D winners in the field he failed to win last year but is 2/2 this including that win here over 1m4f last time (Manjaam 5th). This gives him more to do off a 6lb higher mark tough and the inside berth doesn't help his cause.

Form: 6353-11

Non-Runners

(18)

Blakeney Point²⁷

Weight: 9-10| Age: 5

T: H & R Charlton J: K Shoemark

(1)

Grey Britain⁴⁷

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: J Ryan J: G Mosse

(3)

Plutonian²⁵

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: C Hills J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Dash Of Spice (7/2), Thundering Blue (5/1), Walton Street (7/1), Eynhallow (7/1), Appeared (8/1), Top Tug (8/1), Count Calabash (10/1), Blakeney Point (12/1), Clear Skies (14/1), Saunter (16/1), Grey Britain (20/1), Plutonian (20/1), Crowned Eagle (25/1), Fire Fighting (25/1), Manjaam (25/1), Sir Chauvelin (33/1), Eddystone Rock (33/1), Nayel (40/1), Carbon Dating (50/1), Newlands (50/1)

Strange though it seems the wide berths very much hold sway in this tough handicap and that means that from stall 20 the ever-improving THUNDERING BLUE is given the vote after his win at York last time where he showed his usual tenacity. Dash Of Spice will be popular after his Epsom Derby Day romp but he did have that race run to suit and whilst still improving may not have things all his own way here. Eynhallow was beaten by his stablemate Walton Street in Dubai over the winter but didn’t get the run of that race and he’s taken to reverse those placings here. Appeared has his quirks but he may be best caught fresh and he’s one for the shortlist along with topweight Blakeney Point.