15:40 Royal Ascot

Saturday 22 June 2019

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

Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 2m 31.09s

(2)

Communique²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 114| D

14/1

Seen to good effect from the front in a Group 2 at Newmarket two starts back but finished a long way back in the Coronation Cup last time at Epsom. May struggle to turn around the form with Defoe and Salouen from that day.

Form: 125-714

(7)

Defoe²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 118| D

11/4

Stayed on strongly to win the Coronation Cup last time at Epsom and stiff nature of this track should help bring his stamina in to play. Not always consistent over the last 18 months but solid place claims with a repeat of the run last time out.

Form: 202-421

(5)

Masar³⁸⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 121| D

3/1

Bolted up in the Craven before a third in the Guineas and very impressive when winning last year's Derby, putting the race to bed with a useful turn of foot. The absence since is a concern but this trainer is adept at getting one ready off a break.

Form: 36/0131-

(9)

Mirage Dancer²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: P J Dobbs| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 116| D

6/1

Group 3 winner at Goodwood (1m4f) last year and returned with a Listed win over same C&D. Possible we haven't seen the best of him yet given his trainer's propensity to improve older horses and yard have won four of the last five renewals of this.

Form: 52120-1

(8)

Morando²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 117| D

12/1

Has improved for the switch to this yard, landing Group 3 races either side of the winter. Beaten a long way out in the Coronation Cup last time at Epsom but no doubt he's better than that performance; may have more to offer.

Form: 0521-18

(3)

Nagano Gold^t1⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: C Soumillon| T: V Luka Jnr| OR: 105| D

25/1

Dual Listed winner in France but only third in a moderate Group 3 at Longchamp last time out and has plenty to prove on all known form.

Form: 3144-13

(6)

Salouen²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S Kirk| OR: 116| CD

8/1

Bolted up in C&D Listed race on return and while he doesn't win often, he's run some big races in defeat that include a narrow second to Cracksman in last year's Coronation Cup at Epsom. Did too much too soon in that race this year; each-way claims.

Form: 4369-13

(1)

Southern France³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 113| D

9/2

Hasn't won since his Listed success at Navan at the start of last year. Perhaps a bit flattered when runner-up to subsequent Gold Cup winner, Stradivarius, on return and drop back in trip not certain to be ideal.

Form: 2437-32

Non-Runners

(4)

Lah Ti Dar²²

Weight: 8-12| Age: 4

T: J & T Gosden J: L Dettori

Forecasts

Defoe (11/4), Masar (3/1), Southern France (9/2), Mirage Dancer (6/1), Lah Ti Dar (7/1), Salouen (8/1), Morando (12/1), Communique (14/1), Nagano Gold (25/1)

Sir Michael Stoute's recent record in this race is quite remarkable and he saddles Mirage Dancer for this renewal. The five-year-old was improving all the time in 2018 and returned with an encouraging win at Goodwood last time out. However, 2018's Derby winner MASAR must be hard to beat if he's anywhere close to that level of form. While he has an absence of over a year to overcome, trainer Charlie Appleby is a master at getting his horses ready off a break. Defoe will be suited by the stiff nature of the finish here and he's got each-way claims after his success at Epsom last time in Group 1 company.