16:20 Royal Ascot

Tuesday 14 June 2022

All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:3518:10

St James's Palace Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Rnd)

Off time: 16:24 | Winning time: 1m 39.42s

(1)

Aikhal²³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 109

50/1

Smart form when placed over 1m at pattern level on his last 2 outings as a juvenile. This a tough race to reappear in but he's only had 4 starts so it's unlikely he's reached his limit yet.

Form: 2144-

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(11)

Angel Bleu⁵⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett| OR: 115| D

50/1

Winner of a Group 2 and a pair of French Group 1s (7f/1m) in excellent 2-y-o campaign. Showed he's trained on when 1½ lengths third to Perfect Power in Greenham on reappearance but Lusail was ahead of him in second. Likely vulnerable.

Form: 02111-3

(5)

Bayside Boy³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 112

33/1

Won Group 2 Champagne at Doncaster last September and third in Group 1 Dewhurst and Futurity on final 2 outings last year. Difficult draw and can probably be forgiven his reappearance run in French 2000 Guineas but others are still readily preferred.

Form: 12133-0

(10)

Berkshire Shadow⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: A M Balding| OR: 111| C

28/1

Won Coventry at this meeting last year. Best effort yet when 5 lengths fifth of 15 to Coroebus in 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on reappearance but there's no reason why he'll turn that form around.

Form: 11274-5

(2)

Coroebus⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 121| D

10/11

Probably unfortunate not to be unbeaten and he looked a miler out of the top drawer when seeing off stablemate Native Trail in 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in April. Sets a clear standard and can't oppose.

Form: 121-1

(4)

Lusail⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 113

28/1

Dual Group 2 winner over 6f at 2 yrs, including the Gimcrack at York. Returned with a good second (Angel Bleu third) in Greenham but his limiations were seemingly exposed when 5¼ lengths sixth of 15 to Coroebus in 2000 Guineas since.

Form: 1114-26

(8)

Maljoom²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Cieren Fallon| T: W J Haggas| OR: 113| D

8/1

Made it 3-3 when quickening impressively from off the pace to see off 10 rivals in German 2000 Guineas at Cologne (1m, good) 23 days ago. This exciting prospect is one of 2 fascinating contenders for his yard.

Form: 111

(12)

Mighty Ulysses²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 110| BF| D

11/2

Unable to justify favouritsm in Silver Bowl at Haydock (1m, good) last month but he still produced a really smart effort under his big weight and that form has been boosted. Jumps from a handicap to a Group 1 but he certainly shouldn't be underestimated for a yard with a good record in this.

Form: 1-512

(7)

My Prospero²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 114| D

4/1

Iffraaj colt who is improving fast, winning 1m Newbury maiden on return before wearing down Reach For The Moon in listed Heron at Sandown (1m, good to firm) 26 days ago. Definitely more to come and can make his mark at higher level.

Form: 3-11

(6)

New Energy²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Robbie Colgan| T: S Lavery| OR: 113

28/1

Drawn blank since Curragh debut win but he has progressed well, notably finishing an excellent 1¾ lengths second of 9 to Native Trail in Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh (1m, good to soft) last time. It's likely more will be needed again to reach a place here, though.

Form: 18-332

(3)

Wexford Native²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 110| D

33/1

Has come a long way in a short space of time (didn't make debut until late March), finishing 3 lengths fourth to Native Trail in Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh (1m, good to soft) 24 days ago. Another chunk of improvement required but his yard certainly knows what it takes to win this.

Form: 124

Non-Runners

(13)

Checkandchallenge⁴⁵

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: W J Knight J: D Tudhope

(9)

Light Infantry⁴⁵

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: D M Simcock J: J P Spencer

Forecasts

Coroebus (10/11), My Prospero (4/1), Mighty Ulysses (11/2), Maljoom (8/1), Light Infantry (25/1), Lusail (28/1), Berkshire Shadow (28/1), New Energy (28/1), Bayside Boy (33/1), Wexford Native (33/1), Angel Bleu (50/1), Aikhal (50/1), Checkandchallenge (50/1)

A very intriguing renewal, featuring more unknown quantities than is sometimes the case. That said COROEBUS sets a very high standard on his win in what looks a strong renewal of the 2000 Guineas so the likes of William Haggas pair My Prospero and Maljoom and the Gosdens' Mighty Ulysses, who all have the potential to make their mark at the highest level, will need to take another sizeable step forward to trouble Charlie Appleby's charge.