15:05 Royal Ascot

Saturday 24 June 2023

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

Jersey Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 1m 26.93s

(13)

Mysterious Night^t1⁶⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 110| BF| D

18/1

Ended juvenile season firmly on the up, landing French Group 3 before signing off with victory in Grade 1 company at Woodbine. Possible soft ground caught him out in the Craven Stakes on return and no surprise to see a better showing here having been gelded. Tongue strap on 1st time.

Form: 13311-7

(14)

The Antarctic³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 112

9/2

Smart colt who tasted success 3 times as a 2-y-o and ended last term with a good second behind stablemate Blackbeard in Group 1 Middle Park. All the better for return when landing Group 3 Lacken Stakes at Naas (6f) 5 weeks ago and he's completely unexposed at this trip.

Form: 2132-31

(8)

Age Of Kings²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 99

22/1

Justified cramped odds in small-field Curragh minor event 12 months ago and not disgraced in defeat tackling group company thereafter. Not beaten far in Irish 2000 Guineas on return to action last month but he needs to find some improvement if he's to figure here.

Form: 21743-0

(6)

Alexander John^t²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: L Comer| OR: 88

100/1

Fair form at best in maidens and seemed to show much-improved form fitted with tongue tie when eighth behind Paddington in Irish 2000 Guineas 4 weeks ago. However, his task is to back that up now.

Form: 336-078

(11)

Covey²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 100| D

11/4

Son of Frankel who is improving in leaps and bounds, building on pair of maiden/novice wins with a commanding victory (well backed) on handicap debut at Haydock (1m) 4 weeks ago, shaken up around 2f out and in command after. Looks a serious player up in class with prospect of more to come.

Form: 2111

(10)

Empty Metaphor^t1⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Hollie Doyle| T: Mohammed Khalifa Al| OR: 87| D

100/1

James Garfield colt who backed up his reappearance effort (fairly useful form) when making all in a Limerick maiden (7f) in April, digging deep under pressure. Subsequently changed hands for 70,000 gns here on Monday but this looks a tall order. Tongue tie goes on.

Form: 46-41

(9)

Enfjaar³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Jim Crowley| T: R Varian| OR: 98| D

13/2

Good winner on sole start as a 2-y-o at Newmarket in the autumn (strong form) and duly built on that when defying a penalty on return at Chelmsford (1m) in May, hitting the line very strongly. Well worth his place at this higher level on that evidence for all his future may lie over further.

Form: 1-1

(4)

Flight Plan⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: D Tudhope| T: K R Burke| OR: 102| D

28/1

Night of Thunder colt who left debut run well behind to win 10-runner novice at Newcastle in November. Improved further when second in AW listed event in April and didn't seem at home on the track in 2000 Guineas at Newmarket thereafter. More needed.

Form: 51-20

(1)

Holguin²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 108| BF

33/1

Likeable sort who ended last term with a good second in Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar and has improved further this campaign, respectable 2½ lengths second of 9 to Olivia Maralda in listed race at Epsom (7f, good to firm, 7/4) 22 days ago. May just be vulnerable at this level, however.

Form: 032-222

(2)

Holloway Boy⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 109| CD

7/1

Became first newcomer to win at this meeting since 1996 when landing last year's Chesham with a decisive turn of foot late on. Held his own in defeat in Group company thereafter and whilst he never figured on return in last month's 2000 Guineas, a better showing isn't ruled out here. Visor off.

Form: 12233-9

(12)

Quar Shamar²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Ronan Whelan| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 104

14/1

Minor promise sole start at 2 yrs and much-improved to make winning return in a Dundalk maiden (1m) in April. Improved further when midfield in Irish 2000 Guineas on latest start 4 weeks ago, no extra inside final 1f. That may not prove his limit and drop back to 7f should hold no fears.

Form: 0-16

(3)

Streets Of Gold²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 105| D

28/1

Won first 5 starts, again showing useful form when landing valuable event at York in October. Lost unbeaten record on reappearance in Greenham (well held) but quickly back on song (following a wind op) when third behind Olivia Maralda in Epsom listed race (7f) 3 weeks ago. More needed here.

Form: 1111-63

(5)

Thunderbear³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: J P Spencer| T: J Davison| OR: 98

50/1

Had plenty of racing as a 2-y-o but found some improvement on heavy ground to land 5-runner Nottingham handicap (6f) in May. Best effort yet when fourth behind The Antarctic in Naas Group 3 since but suspicion he'll find a few too good again here.

Form: 610-414

(7)

Zoology⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J Ferguson| OR: 93| D

22/1

Zoustar colt who has landed 2 of his 4 starts (the only horse to beat Covey) and not disgraced when 9 lengths fourth in Greenham at Newbury when last seen in April. Needs to find some progress to figure here but has a fair bit about him physically and may yet have more to offer.

Form: 17-14

(15)

Olivia Maralda²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: K Stott| T: R Varian| OR: 109| D

5/1

Useful at up to 7f last year for Michael O'Callaghan and showed benefit of return/yard debut effort in 1000 Guineas when running out good winner of listed Surrey Stakes at Epsom (7f) 3 weeks ago. Clearly at the top of her game and not dismissed lightly for all this rates tougher.

Form: 7129-71

Forecasts

Covey (11/4), The Antarctic (9/2), Olivia Maralda (5/1), Enfjaar (13/2), Holloway Boy (7/1), Quar Shamar (14/1), Mysterious Night (18/1), Age Of Kings (22/1), Zoology (22/1), Streets Of Gold (28/1), Flight Plan (28/1), Holguin (33/1), Thunderbear (50/1), Alexander John (100/1), Empty Metaphor (100/1)

COVEY marked himself down as a pattern-class performer in the making when blowing apart a competitive Haydock handicap in a good time 4 weeks ago and interestingly pitched in here by his leading stable, he's expected to make a bold bid to make it 4 wins from 5 starts. The Antarctic ran out a good winner of a Group 3 on his latest outing and is feared, along with the unbeaten Enfjaar. Olivia Maralda and Mysterious Night also make each-way appeal.