14:30 Royal Ascot

Thursday 20 June 2019

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

Norfolk Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 14:32 | Winning time: 1m 1.9s

(9)

A'Ali¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: L Dettori| T: S & E Crisford| BF

5/1

Society Rock colt, cost £135,000 as a Breeze-up purchase. Only narrowly denied when fading late on debut and front two pulled a way clear. Winner that day had benefit of experience and he should improve here, though certain to need to.

Form: 2

(8)

Air Force Jet¹⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J P O'Brien| D

8/1

Only narrowly denied on debut and stayed on well to cause an in-running upset at Navan earlier this month. Still looked green that day and looks sure to improve here. Stiff finish and soft ground could be in his favour.

Form: 21

(7)

Cool Sphere²³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: James McDonald| T: R M H Cowell

80/1

Orb colt, cost 120,000 gns as a Breeze-up purchase. Ran well on debut, despite giving the impression he would improve for the run. Step up in class demands more but yard do well with their sprinters and they won this race in 2016.

Form: 2

(3)

Dubai Station¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Spencer| T: K R Burke| D

14/1

Narrowly denied on debut and that winner has franked the form with two solid efforts in conditions' races. Won better than the winning margin suggested next time out at Haydock (5f, soft) and looks a live player here with ground in his favour.

Form: 21

(6)

Expressionist⁴⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| CD

11/1

Night Of Thunder colt, cost 300,000 gns as a Breeze-up purchase. C&D winner on debut and while the runner-up was beaten at odds-on next time, the third has done the form some good with two wins. Contender for yard in form.

Form: 1

(2)

Firepower³³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| D

33/1

Well backed for his winning debut at Salisbury and too keen when beaten a fair way out in a nice race at Newbury next time. Remains with potential but ground may have gone against him.

Form: 16

(1)

King Neptune²⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| D

20/1

Won a four-runner maiden on debut and runner-up in a pair of Listed events since at the Curragh. More on his plate here against these rivals up in class and Moore prefers Mount Fuji.

Form: 122

(14)

Misty Grey²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston

16/1

Took a big step forward from debut when bolting up at Ripon and did far too much too soon at Epsom last time when left with nothing in the tank. Ridden more conservatively, he may be capable of better here and a stiff 5f should suit.

Form: 313

(13)

Mount Fuji²⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| D

7/1

Dark Angel colt, half-brother to a Group 1 winner. Beat a nice filly on debut at Cork when staying on well. Yard's runner's usually come on markedly for their debut and he makes plenty of appeal here.

Form: 1

(12)

Real Appeal^b1²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: A Hamelin| T: M Palussiere| D

25/1

Arrives here unbeaten in three starts and bought for £265,000 at the sales on Monday. Won a Listed race last time and the fact he stays further will be in his favour here. Live player for a yard that do well with this type.

Form: 111

(4)

Strive For Glory²⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: R Kingscote| T: R M H Cowell| D

50/1

Winner on debut and the form of his Listed third last time was boosted to some extent by the winner running okay in yesterday's Queen Mary. Will need more here and soft ground not certain to suit.

Form: 13

(10)

Sunday Sovereign¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: W J Lee| T: P Twomey| D

13/8

Improved from debut to beat Tuesday's Coventry winner Arizona in a Curragh maiden last month. Made light work of his subsequent start at Tipperary earlier this month and could be a step ahead of these with plenty of experience on his side.

Form: 411

(11)

Ventura Rebel⁵⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| CD

16/1

Unbeaten in two starts and impressive when reeling in a Wesley Ward filly over C&D last month. Shapes like he wants a step up in trip but softer ground could bring his stamina in to play here.

Form: 11

(15)

Emten⁵²

Age: 2| Weight: 8-12| J: Nicola Currie| T: J A Osborne| D

80/1

Bungle Inthejungle filly, cost £36,000 as a yearling. Speedily bred and won well despite a slow start at Windsor on debut. Form has taken several knocks since so she will need to improve a huge chunk to have a say here.

Form: 1

Non-Runners

(5)

Maven⁶²

Weight: 9-1| Age: 2

T: Wesley Ward J: Tyler Gaffalione

Forecasts

Sunday Sovereign (13/8), A'Ali (5/1), Mount Fuji (7/1), Maven (7/1), Air Force Jet (8/1), Expressionist (11/1), Dubai Station (14/1), Ventura Rebel (16/1), Misty Grey (16/1), King Neptune (20/1), Real Appeal (25/1), Firepower (33/1), Strive For Glory (50/1), Emten (80/1), Cool Sphere (80/1)

SUNDAY SOVEREIGN arrives with a pair of wins under his belt and the form of his Curragh maiden success looks all the stronger after Arizona's win in Tuesday's Coventry Stakes. There are several live contenders from the remainder including the well bred Mount Fuji who stuck to his task to win well on debut and Misty Grey who is another with experience and is unlikely to be fazed by the drop back in trip given the speed he showed at Epsom last time.