14:30 Royal Ascot

Thursday 16 June 2022

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

Norfolk Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 1m 0.50s

(3)

Bakeel⁵⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: J Mitchell| T: A M Balding| CD

9/1

€77,000 Sioux Nation colt. 15/2, perfect start in 5-runner C&D novice 7 weeks ago, looking a useful prospect as he went clear over 1f out. More to come.

Form: 1

(9)

Brave Nation⁵⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: M L W Bell| D

6/1

57,000 gns Sioux Nation colt. 2/1, made all in good style in 5f Doncaster maiden on debut 7 weeks ago. Should have plenty more to offer.

Form: 1

(4)

Crispy Cat²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: S De Sousa| T: M O'Callaghan| BF| D

7/1

£105,000 gns Ardad colt. Another useful juvenile for owners who made a successful debut at Cork (5f) in April. Edged out by Blackbeard at the Curragh next time and went close in the National Stakes also 3 weeks ago. Others might be open to more improvement now.

Form: 122

(5)

Jungle Fever²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| D

125/1

€85,000 Bungle Inthejungle colt. Much improved from his debut when winning 5.3f Brighton maiden last month, far more professional than most and never looking like getting caught. Open to further progress but this is a big step up in class.

Form: 51

(1)

Redemption Time^t¹³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 83| D

25/1

£220,000 Harry Angel colt. Chased home Walbank here on second start and improved slightly when landing thin 5f Bath contest in first-time tongue tie a fortnight ago. Should have more to offer again.

Form: 331

(10)

The Antarctic³²

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

4/1

750,000 gns Dark Angel colt. Has made the perfect start with victories in 5f events at Tipperary and Naas. More in the locker and big run surely on the way from this full brother to the mighty sprinter Battaash.

Form: 11

(2)

The Ridler¹⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| D

50/1

Progressive Brazen Beau colt who won 5f Ripon novice last month. Good third at Beverley 3 weeks ago, finishing well, but needs another big step forward to feature in this.

Form: 413

(11)

Thunder Moor³⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: D Tudhope| T: K A Ryan| D

28/1

Dandy Man colt. Much improved from debut (well backed, proved far too green) when winning 5f York novice 5 weeks ago with a bit in hand. Should have more to come again.

Form: 61

(6)

Walbank²⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Rossa Ryan| T: D Loughnane| D

7/4

525,000 gns Breeze Up purchase, by Kodiac. Promising start in hot C&D novice before taking a big step forward as he easily won 5f 4-runner York event, storming clear. Smart prospect.

Form: 21

(8)

Pillow Talk³⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: K Shoemark| T: K R Burke| D

7/1

80,000 gns Kodiac filly. Shaped really well on debut at Nottingham before impressively winning 5f York listed fillies' event 5 weeks ago. More to come.

Form: 21

Non-Runners

(7)

My First Rodeo

Weight: 9-3| Age: 2

T: J Ryan J: Darragh Keenan

Forecasts

Walbank (7/4), The Antarctic (4/1), Brave Nation (6/1), Crispy Cat (7/1), Pillow Talk (7/1), Bakeel (9/1), Redemption Time (25/1), Thunder Moor (28/1), The Ridler (50/1), My First Rodeo (100/1), Jungle Fever (125/1)

This looks a red-hot Norfolk, with THE ANTARCTIC taken to remain unbeaten with a third success. A full brother to the mighty sprinter Battaash, he's not been fully extended as he's won his first 2 starts in Ireland and has plenty more in the locker. Walbank stormed clear at York and looks the obvious danger with further improvement to come. Pillow Talk also won well second time up on the Knavesmire and has more to offer.