15:05 Royal Ascot

Friday 23 June 2023

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

Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 1m 13.15s

(2)

Little Big Bear²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 124| C| D

10/11

Produced outstanding juvenile performance when a devastating 7-length winner of Group 1 Phoenix at the Curragh. Missed the rest of the season due to a foot injury, but having returned lame in the Guineas, he confirmed sprinting is his game with a taking Group 2 victory at Haydock. The one to beat.

Form: 1111-01

(13)

Marbaan²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Spencer| T: C Fellowes| OR: 110| D

25/1

Group 2 Vintage Stakes winner as a juvenile (completing hat-trick in the process) and just about better than ever when second at Salisbury last month. This looks a big ask but a well-run 6f will at least be right up his street.

Form: 1165-42

(1)

Mischief Magic^t1⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 113| D

33/1

Could manage only a respectable fourth in the Middle Park but back on the up with a Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf sprint success at Keeneland (5.5f) in November. Heavy defeat in the C&D Pavilion Stakes on reappearance last month needs casting aside but he's certainly in the right hands. Tongue tied.

Form: 11141-8

(5)

Noble Style^p1³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 114| BF| C| D

12/1

Unbeaten in 3 outings as a juvenile, including the Gimcrack, and not disgraced in the 2000 Guineas on return, failing to fully see it out having pulled hard. Failed to land the odds back sprinting at Newbury but this stiff 6f looks ideal for him and cheekpieces may sharpen him up a touch.

Form: 111-63

(6)

Rumstar³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Rob Hornby| T: J G Portman| OR: 105| D

80/1

Progressive 2-y-o sprinter, signing off with victory in the Cornwallis at Newmarket. Not disgraced trying to concede weight to race-fit rivals on reappearance but this is an even harder assignment.

Form: 34141-6

(10)

Sakheer⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 114| D

17/2

Came a long way in a short space of time at 2, quickening clear in impressive fashion in Mill Reef at Newbury on final outing. Shade too keen and failed to last out in the 2000 Guineas but he remains one to be positive about back in distance.

Form: 211-7

(4)

Shaquille^h³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 111| D

9/1

Well-made colt who has met with defeat just once when far too keen in the Acomb and he cashed in on a below-par Noble Style when cranking it up another notch at Newbury last month. Issues at the stalls a niggling worry but he's a big form player.

Form: 1911-11

(12)

Shouldvebeenaring²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 112| D

20/1

Campaigned aggressively and thriving on racing, recording win number 5 in listed company at Newmarket last month. Cranked it up again when 1¼ lengths second of 7 to Little Big Bear in Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock and while there's no reason why he'll reverse that form, he can go well.

Form: 152312

(9)

The X O⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R Havlin| T: J Ryan| OR: 104| D

80/1

Limit looked fairly established on the AW but he ran a screamer switched to turf when second in the Pavilion Stakes over C&D last month. This demands even more.

Form: 131532

(14)

Lezoo⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: L Dettori| T: R M Beckett| OR: 114| CD

5/1

Only defeat at 2 came when edged out by Mawj in the Duchess of Cambridge at the July meeting, winning the Group 1 Cheveley Park over 6f at Newmarket. Had a tilt at the 1000 Guineas on reappearance, finishing eighth, but sprinting more her bag,

Form: 11211-8

(8)

Ocean Quest³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Colin Keane| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 107| D

25/1

Has done nothing but improve in 5-race career, winning a listed race on reappearance at Navan before coming up a head short in the Group 3 Lacken Stakes at Naas last month, emerging with plenty of credit given how that race unfolded. This demands a lot more.

Form: 132-12

(11)

Queen Me⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Jim Crowley| T: K A Ryan| OR: 104| BF| D

28/1

Second to Swingalong in Group 2 Lowther at York after making a winning debut at Haydock last summer. From a speedy family and too free to last out in the 1000 Guineas on reappearance. No surprise she's quickly back over 6f.

Form: 123-9

(7)

Swingalong⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 105| D

66/1

Useful as a juvenile, her two wins including the Lowther at York. Not discredited in the Cheveley Park Stakes behind Lezoo on her final outing but unable to continue the good work so far this year.

Form: 4114-30

Non-Runners

(3)

Cold Case²⁷

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: K R Burke J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Little Big Bear (10/11), Lezoo (5/1), Sakheer (17/2), Shaquille (9/1), Noble Style (12/1), Shouldvebeenaring (20/1), Ocean Quest (25/1), Marbaan (25/1), Queen Me (28/1), Mischief Magic (33/1), Swingalong (66/1), Rumstar (80/1), The X O (80/1)

The outstanding juvenile of 2022, LITTLE BIG BEAR returned lame in the 2000 Guineas but he was expertly prepared to land the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock and he's a high-class sprinter who will take all the beating. Several of these revert back to 6f having tackled a Guineas, with Sakheer expected to regain the progressive thread, while Shaquille boasts a slightly different profile in that he's improved by the run and his limit has not yet been established.