15:05 Royal Ascot

Wednesday 19 June 2019

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

Queen's Vase (Group 2)

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 3m 7.86s

(13)

Almost Midnight³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: James McDonald| T: D M Simcock| OR: 89

50/1

Has won two of his three starts, winning at Thirsk last time out having to give weight to most of the field. That's not the strongest form though and others have achieved more. Steps up in trip.

Form: 121

(12)

Barbados¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 98

20/1

Impressive when winning a maiden at Navan on fourth start and only narrowly denied in a three-runner Listed race at Navan last time. Step up in trip should suit.

Form: 6-2412

(6)

Dashing Willoughby⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 102

6/1

Won his maiden on debut at Wolverhampton as a juvenile and while he hasn't won since, he posted a respectable effort in a Chester Group 3 last time, doing too much too soon. Step up in trip not sure to suit.

Form: 128-23

(3)

Eminent Authority^t¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Spencer| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 97

11/1

Killarney maiden winner on debut but last of three in a Listed race (Barbados second) earlier this month. Plenty of stamina in his pedigree and should relish this step up in trip.

Form: 13

(10)

Harpo Marx^b1¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 86

25/1

Runner-up in what looks a decent maiden at Leopardstown last month and off the mark at the fourth attempt when winning a Tipperary maiden. Shapes like he will appreciate this step up in trip. Wears first-time blinkers.

Form: 8-021

(9)

Jalmoud⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 103

7/1

Green on debut when runner-up at Wolverhampton but impressive in novice company at Newmarket before a Listed success up in trip at Longchamp last time. Form franked when runner-up from that went close in a Group 2 subsequently. Interesting runner.

Form: 2-11

(7)

Moonlight Spirit²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Kerrin McEvoy| T: C Appleby| OR: 99

17/2

Beat stablemate Jalmoud on debut before winning his next two starts, bolting up by 9L in a four-runner event at Leicester in April. Disappointed in a Group 3 in France last time when favourite and not guaranteed to appreciate this new trip.

Form: 1-113

(11)

Nate The Great³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 101

9/1

Won twice as a juvenile and posted some respectable efforts in defeat in Listed company and his third behind the subsequent Derby winner at Lingfield now looks like strong form. Yard in form and shapes like a step up in trip will be fine.

Form: 23513-3

(8)

Nayef Road¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 104

16/1

Won twice as a juvenile and bolted up on his return at Newmarket last month. Struggled in the Dante and never going at Epsom when last seen though so has questions to answer now. Steps up markedly in trip.

Form: 173-165

(4)

Norway¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 107

11/4

Listed winner at Newmarket as a juvenile and placed in a Derby trial at Chester on return. Only eighth in the main event earlier this month but a proper stamina test has looked as if it would suit in the past.

Form: 3114-28

(1)

Pythion³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 100

33/1

A winner on debut at Leopardstown and produced a much improved effort when stepped up in trip, finishing runner-up behind Western Australia at Navan last time out. May struggle to reverse that form but holds place claims.

Form: 16-372

(2)

Themaxwecan¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 94

20/1

Won his first two starts and while he failed to show up in Lingfield's Derby trial, it was a much better effort behind a subsequent winner at Doncaster earlier this month. Still has a fair bit to find on form though.

Form: 1-1292

(5)

Western Australia³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 107

6/1

Maiden winner at Gowran as a juvenile and back in the winners' enclosure when stepped up markedly in trip at Navan last time in Listed class. Looks sure to kick on from that effort now.

Form: 443-251

Forecasts

Norway (11/4), Dashing Willoughby (6/1), Western Australia (6/1), Jalmoud (7/1), Moonlight Spirit (17/2), Nate The Great (9/1), Eminent Authority (11/1), Nayef Road (16/1), Barbados (20/1), Themaxwecan (20/1), Harpo Marx (25/1), Pythion (33/1), Almost Midnight (50/1)

NATE THE GREAT kept on well for third in Lingfield's Derby trial, shaping like this step up in trip could suit and while he was no match for the winner that day, finishing four lengths off Anthony Van Dyck, that rival has come out and won the Derby since. Aidan O'Brien has won four of the last six renewals of this and both Norway and Western Australia make some appeal with preference for the former having long shaped like a stamina test would suit. Jalmoud is clearly going the right way and can't be ruled out after his Listed success in France last time.