14:36 Lingfield

Saturday 18 November 2023

All11:1511:4512:1612:5113:2614:0114:3615:1115:46

BetUK Churchill Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 14:36 | Winning time: 2m 4.05s

(7)

Regal Reality⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: R Kingscote| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 112| D

5/2

Has won a Group 3 every year bar one since 2018, including 6-runner Diomed Stakes at Epsom in June. Narrowly denied by Mutasaabeq in Joel Stakes (16/1) at Newmarket (8f, good to firm) just over 7 weeks ago and hold serious claims making just his second start on all-weather.

Form: 5-41332

(4)

Foxes Tales¹⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 111| D

3/1

Won the Golden Gates Handicap at Ascot in 2021 and added an AW listed race to his tally in April. Didn't handle the track at Chester in May but excuses hard to come by in listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot (10f, good) when last seen 5 months ago.

Form: 49-3160

(1)

Blue Trail²¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 111| D

4/1

Smart gelding who posted a career best when winning 14-runner handicap at Meydan (9.9f, good) in February. Not in same form in Group 3 Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket (9f, soft) 10 weeks later but fancied to make his mark in this after 7 months off.

Form: 820-515

(3)

Forest Of Dean^p²²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 102| BF| CD

12/1

Resumed with cosy Newcastle success in January and not disgraced when sixth of 8 to stablemate Lord North in Winter Derby over C&D in February. Proved a let-down when sent off joint-favourite in Easter Classic on All-Weather Finals Day at Newcastle 7 months ago so needs to hit the ground running.

Form: 0/45-164

(2)

Sir Busker^v³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Knight| OR: 107| D

16/1

Useful gelding who performed respectably after 6 months off when close seventh of 8 to Chindit in listed race at Sandown (8f, heavy) in September. Possibly amiss when well-beaten last in Darley Stakes at Newmarket (9f, good to soft) 5 weeks ago so percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form: 3-29079

(5)

Tyrrhenian Sea⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 103

6/1

Smart gelding who was 3¼ lengths second of 8 to Lord North in Winter Derby at Lingfield over C&D in February. Tailed-off last at Kempton in April (bled) and was well held back on turf on return in Cambridgeshire at Newmarket 7 weeks ago. Now has a bit to prove.

Form: 350-270

(6)

Rousay³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R Hannon| OR: 101| D

12/1

Useful filly. 14/1, creditable 5 lengths third of 11 to Novus in Pride Stakes at Newmarket (10f, soft) just over 5 weeks ago. Likely to find life tougher back against the boys, for all that she does deserve credit for her consistency.

Form: 484433

Forecasts

Regal Reality (5/2), Foxes Tales (3/1), Blue Trail (4/1), Tyrrhenian Sea (6/1), Forest Of Dean (12/1), Rousay (12/1), Sir Busker (16/1)

REGAL REALITY went down by just a head in the Group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket last time and, now dropping into listed company for the first time this year, Sir Michael Stoute's 8-y-o is fancied to double his tally for the year having just his second outing on a synthetic surface. This could well be a pipe-opener for Blue Trail before heading back to Meydan, so he's put forward as the main threat, with Foxes Tales rounding off the shortlist.