18:10 Royal Ascot

Thursday 17 June 2021

All14:3015:0515:4016:1517:0017:3518:10

Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap)

Off time: 18:13 | Winning time: 1m 25.96s

(2)

Bedouin's Story^p¹¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: L Dettori| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 105| D

16/1

Isn't the easiest of rides but found plenty for pressure when landing big-field Meydan handicap in January. Cracking second in Group 3 company there a month later but big effort needed off this mark.

Form: 126/152

(15)

On The Warpath¹⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 105| D

22/1

Smart performer who made the most of a drop in grade when signing off 2020 with victory at Wolverhampton. Versatile regarding trip but perhaps vulnerable to a rival with handicap scope.

Form: 21/4931-

(10)

Tomfre²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett| OR: 105| D

33/1

Smart handicapper who relished the mud when landing a hat-trick towards the end of last year. Returned at the top of his game with a brace of runner-up efforts and a well-run 7f will suit.

Form: 8111-22

(1)

Documenting⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: T E Whelan| T: K Frost| OR: 104| CD

80/1

Ninth in this a year ago from 7 lb lower but thrived after, winning 3 7f handicaps. Failed to enjoy the rub of the green both AW starts during the spring but the assessor may now have his measure.

Form: 1713-45

(5)

Symbolize⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 102

33/1

Won on debut as a 2-y-o but yet to taste success since. Gelded ahead of an excellent second in a good-quality handicap at Newmarket in April but could manage only mid-field in the Victoria Cup (C&D).

Form: 3288-20

(3)

Raising Sand^p1⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Saffie Osborne⁽⁵⁾| T: J A Osborne| OR: 102| CD

40/1

Course specialist who shaped better than bare result both starts here (only outings) last term. Looked a bit rusty in the Victoria Cup on reappearance but now below last winning mark. Cheekpieces on.

Form: 309/80-0

(19)

Lord Campari³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 102

12/1

Looked a top prospect when a wide-margin winner of a Newbury novice on 3-y-o reappearance a year ago. Too free to unlock true ability in better company since and now down in trip for handicap bow.

Form: 6/165-6

(18)

Danyah^h⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Dane O'Neill| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 101| D

10/1

Progressed well at 3 yrs, winning at Doncaster and Haydock (1m). Shaped well after 6 months off in the Lincoln, going freely before flattening out and subsequent second at Newbury a personal best.

Form: 1331-42

(32)

Volatile Analyst²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 100| D

18/1

Huge career best when making first start over 7f a winning one at York a month ago (from Tomfre) responding well to forceful ride. Up 6 lb and those tactics harder to pull off here.

Form: 4/106-91

(13)

Dubai Mirage^p⁸²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Stefano Cherchi⁽⁵⁾| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 99

16/1

Started 2021 with a pair of very useful efforts on turf at Meydan. In nothing like the same form on dirt last couple of starts but given a break and he's in top hands.

Form: 35-2270

(25)

Bielsa^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: S De Sousa| T: K A Ryan| OR: 99| BF

18/1

Looked a smart prospect as a 4-y-o. Last season was a disappointment but better signs in 2021, although frustratingly he's finished second twice. Up 4 lb and tackles 7f for the first time.

Form: 595-252

(6)

Ropey Guest⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: T P Queally| T: G G Margarson| OR: 98| D

33/1

Presented with soft opening on the AW when finally off the mark in August. Best efforts have come at this venue, running right up to form when sixth in the C&D Victoria Cup on second handicap start.

Form: 43102-6

(7)

Blue Mist^t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 98| CD

22/1

Successful twice at this venue, landing a big pot in International Stakes in July. Unable to reproduce that since, finishing tamely on the back of a wind op at Newbury and tongue tie back on over 7f.

Form: 29190-0

(4)

Jack's Point⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: J Mitchell| T: Tom Clover| OR: 97| D

28/1

Useful 7f winner for William Muir last term, ending campaign with good third in 7f Sandown handicap. Drawn away from the action in the Victoria Cup so that effort was promising.

Form: 05063-0

(28)

Persuasion⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: C Hills| OR: 96| D

11/1

Looked useful when winning Goodwood maiden on debut in 2019. Highly tried after and it failed to click, but well prepared to make a successful reappearance at Haydock in April. 3 lb rise very fair.

Form: 2/0072-1

(21)

Aldaary^t1²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 105| BF| CD

10/3

Impressive winner of both starts at 2 yrs and again when striking on handicap bow over C&D in May. Had unbeaten run ended at Goodwood but it was another excellent effort. Tongue tied and more to come.

Form: 11-13

(12)

Shelir¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 96| D

33/1

Ended 2020 in excellent nick and ran as well as ever when runner-up twice in handicaps of late, albeit no match for smart stablemate at Epsom.

Form: 33-5202

(9)

Boardman¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 96| D

8/1

Massive success story for Tim Easterby in recent weeks, completing the hat-trick at Chester with a bit in hand 3 weeks ago. Up 6 lb in a better race but hard to omit from calculations.

Form: 50-6111

(14)

Dance Fever³²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 95| D

25/1

Unbeaten in 3 starts at 2 yrs and shaped encouragingly (denied a clear run) when fourth in a Windsor handicap (8.1f) on return. Found only a well-treated rival too strong in 1m handicap here latest.

Form: 111/42-

(16)

Whatharm⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: C P Hoban| T: P J Flynn| OR: 95| D

66/1

Superb strike rate in the last couple of years, recording win number 7 at Dundalk in January. Confirmed he's as effective on turf when fifth at Cork last month.

Form: 511-105

(11)

Karibana¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hughes| OR: 95| D

40/1

Had no chance from his position in the Victoria Cup here on reappearance and confirmed he's in top form with success at Chelmsford 117 days ago, edging out the in-form Highfield Princess.

Form: 1142-01

(30)

Total Commitment⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Jason Watson| T: S Hodgson| OR: 95| D

66/1

Mostly seen on the AW and kept busy in recent months, holding his form well. Confirmed he's equally effective on turf when third in a 6f handicap here last month but up 1 lb and looks vulnerable.

Form: 123033

(20)

Magical Wish¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Liam Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 94| D

100/1

Useful handicapper but yet to get going in a handful of starts in 2021. Is below his last winning mark so dangerous to rule out completely.

Form: 2-70406

(26)

Corvair^t³³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Mark Crehan⁽³⁾| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 94| D

33/1

Winner of 3 of his 8 starts on the AW and better than ever from out of the blue on turf with a tongue tie replacing usual visor when a narrow second at Newmarket a month ago. Task is to back that up.

Form: 845-982

(24)

Riot^p³³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 93| D

18/1

Kempton novice win on final 2-y-o start his sole success. Doesn't look totally straightforward (cheekpieces on when hitting the frame the last twice) and others are more convincing.

Form: 1/7-3824

(29)

Lord Rapscallion^t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Marco Ghiani⁽³⁾| T: S C Williams| OR: 93| D

25/1

Useful ex-Irish 7f/1m winner. Consistent without setting the world alight for current connections but a well-run race over this trip looks a good set-up for him.

Form: 457224

(8)

Full Authority^t⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 92

125/1

Juvenile winner for David O'Meara and doubled tally in a 6f AW handicap when trained by Sir Michael Stoute. Failed to convince on first try over 7f in the Victoria Cup, though he may have needed that.

Form: 33215-0

(31)

Highfield Princess¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 92| BF| D

18/1

Easy all-the-way winner at Haydock in May and did very little wrong 3 days later at Chelmsford, edged out on the post by Karibana.

Form: 210-312

Non-Runners

(23)

Teston¹

Weight: 9-0| Age: 6

T: I Furtado J: Non Runner

(22)

Milltown Star¹³

Weight: 8-13| Age: 4

T: M R Channon J: Tom Marquand

Forecasts

Aldaary (10/3), Boardman (8/1), Danyah (10/1), Persuasion (11/1), Lord Campari (12/1), Dubai Mirage (16/1), Bedouin's Story (16/1), Highfield Princess (18/1), Riot (18/1), Bielsa (18/1), Volatile Analyst (18/1), Blue Mist (22/1), On The Warpath (22/1), Lord Rapscallion (25/1), Dance Fever (25/1), Jack's Point (28/1), Symbolize (33/1), Tomfre (33/1), Corvair (33/1), Ropey Guest (33/1), Shelir (33/1), Milltown Star (33/1), Raising Sand (40/1), Karibana (40/1), Teston (50/1), Total Commitment (66/1), Whatharm (66/1), Documenting (80/1), Magical Wish (100/1), Full Authority (125/1)

Any number to consider, but DANYAH advanced his form again when runner-up in a strong early-season handicap at Newbury in April and a 3 lb rise may underestimate him with the drop back to 7f on this straight course looking ideal for this strong traveller. It all clicked for Persuasion on reappearance and he's feared, along with Aldaary.