13:15 Royal Ascot

Thursday 18 June 2020

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

Golden Gates Handicap

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 2m 11.20s

(16)

Highland Chief^p1²⁶⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Rossa Ryan| T: P & O Cole| OR: 101

20/1

Much his best effort at two when third to Pinatubo in the Chesham Stakes (7f, good) at this meeting. Off for three months before disappointing in Group 2 Royal Lodge on final start; cheekpieces added on return/h'cap bow.

Form: 136-

(17)

Grand Rock²⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Cieren Fallon⁽³⁾| T: W J Haggas| OR: 99

14/1

Both wins last year came on heavy ground at Hamilton and Epsom before a good run in Listed Pontefract race (1m, soft) on final start. Goes up in trip on seasonal return for in-form William Haggas team and may improve if handling quicker ground.

Form: 4113-

(2)

Hypothetical¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 97| BF

11/2

Easy winner on debut at Chelmsford in December over a mile and improved on that despite defeat in Kempton Group 3 (1m2f; 15-8fav) this month. Could be plenty more to come on h'cap bow for Messrs. Gosden and Dettori; respected.

Form: 1-4

(7)

Tritonic²⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A King| OR: 95

9/1

Twice won last season over 7½f/1m on good ground before coming up shy in Newmarket Group 2 (1m2f, soft; 6-1) on final start. In new ownership and ought to stay this trip; should hold sound claims with champion jockey on board again.

Form: 4115-

(15)

Acquitted¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: R L Moore| T: H Palmer| OR: 93

6/1

2-3 last season (fourth behind Tritonic middle run) and confirmed he's fit and well with runner-up finish behind very talented Palace Pier at Newcastle on comeback. Up 4lb in defeat but commands a place on the shortlist.

Form: 141-2

(1)

Ya Hayati¹⁰³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 92

20/1

Dubawi gelding, winner on Kempton's Polytrack in October on second start and scored at Meydan (1m1f, good; 9-4f) in February. Didn't handle dirt in Dubai on most recent start but could well resume progress back on these shores for in-form trainer.

Form: 61-10

(9)

Global Storm¹¹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 87| D

7/2

Winning return at Newmarket (1m2f, good; 8-1) this month, just about holding on from Arthurian Fable. Has to defy a 6lb penalty for that success and couple be capable of a big run again with William Buick taking over. Yard also runs Ya Hayati.

Form: 2231-1

(3)

Gallaside²⁵³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 89

66/1

Won three times last summer, including first two h'caps at Nottingham (1m½f, soft; 4-4f) and Newcastle (1m, AW; 10-11f); though didn't appear to get home over this trip back at the former venue on final start. Stable flying but improvement needed.

Form: 331117-

(12)

Cepheus¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Jim Crowley| T: B J Meehan| OR: 87

20/1

Sea The Stars colt won a Newmarket maiden (7f, good; 25-1) on debut last summer; down the field as a 150-1 chance in the 2,000 Guineas this month on return; up in trip and this much more suitable.

Form: 1-0

(18)

Yoshimi¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R A Fahey| OR: 85

25/1

Consistent if unspectacular last year, winning a Musselburgh novice (7f, good to firm; 8-11f) from five runs; has work to do with Acquitted on their recent Newcastle run however and that rival may hold sway again.

Form: 22123-3

(6)

Tom Collins¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: David Probert| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 84

80/1

Dubawi colt won a Newmarket novice (7f, soft; 9-2) in the autumn; hasn't beat a rival in two Group 3 starts since either side of winter layoff. This is an appreciable lowering of sights but he'll have to improve. Trainer also runs Dogged.

Form: 8210-9

(11)

Bronze River¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Hayley Turner| T: A M Balding| OR: 82

22/1

Reserve; dual winner on artificial surfaces last season and improved on return when 3L third behind Global Storm at Newmarket (1m2f, good; 4-1) this month. Handy pull at the weights with that rival now.

Form: 121-3

(8)

Maori Knight¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: David Egan| T: R Hughes| OR: 83| BF

9/2

Camelot colt, won a Chelmsford maiden in February on third start and just touched off this month on h'cap bow at Haydock stepped up this trip (good to soft; 15-8f); could have a major say from the same rating with more to come.

Form: 34-12

(5)

HMS President¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: M Dwyer| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 82

33/1

Steady improver last year, winning Newcastle maiden over a mile on third start; perhaps did too much early on at Yarmouth when upped to this trip on return and must settle in order to hold claims in this company.

Form: 641-5

Non-Runners

(14)

Laser Show¹⁰³

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: S bin Suroor J: Harry Bentley

(4)

Dogged¹¹

Weight: 8-5| Age: 3

T: D R C Elsworth J: William Carson

Forecasts

Global Storm (7/2), Maori Knight (9/2), Hypothetical (11/2), Acquitted (6/1), Tritonic (9/1), Grand Rock (14/1), Highland Chief (20/1), Cepheus (20/1), Ya Hayati (20/1), Bronze River (22/1), Yoshimi (25/1), Laser Show (25/1), HMS President (33/1), Dogged (33/1), Gallaside (66/1), Tom Collins (80/1)

Acquitted is going to prove popular here after following home the talented Palace Pier at Newcastle, but he's 4lb higher in defeat and facing a deep field now. One that appeals more is MAORI KNIGHT, Richard Hughes' colt having been mugged on the line at Haydock recently. This stiffer track should be ideal and he's greatly respected from an unchanged mark of 83. As with Acquitted, Hypothetical improved in defeat last time and is going the right way; while Tritonic, Grand Rock and Highland Chief all need some consideration.

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