15:05 Royal Ascot

Saturday 22 June 2024

All14:3015:0515:4516:2517:0517:4018:15

Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 2m 32.19s

(9)

Candleford²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: W J Haggas| OR: 110| CD

14/1

Smart gelding who resumed winning ways under a fine front-running ride after 8 months off in listed event at the Curragh (12f, good) 4 weeks ago. Likely to come up short back up in grade, though.

Form: 33125-1

(7)

Continuous²⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 120| D

13/8

Much improved in second half of 2023, winning Great Voltigeur Stakes at York and St Leger at Doncaster comfortably before an excellent fifth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on final start. Lacks a recent run but sets the form standard.

Form: 382115-

(2)

Crypto Force²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Rossa Ryan| T: A Murray| OR: 106

66/1

Dual winner last year who ran about as well as could be expected in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh (10.5f, good to soft) 27 days ago. Faces another stiff task and not hard to look elsewhere.

Form: 171/673

(4)

Desert Hero³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 113| BF| CD

8/1

Landed King George (Handicap) at this meeting 12 month ago before following up in the Gordon Stakes and finishing third in the St Leger. Excellent reappearance at Sandown and better judged on that form having got warm beforehand when disappointing in race won by Middle Earth at Newbury.

Form: 8113-25

(6)

Elegant Man²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: David Egan| T: A Murray| OR: 113

20/1

Produced a really smart handicap performance when bossing a deep field from a BHA mark of 108 on just his fourth career start at Newcastle on Good Friday. Failed to repeat that pitched into a Group 1 on his first outing on turf at the Curragh but it's too soon to writing him off.

Form: 12-114

(1)

Goliath²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: M Guyon| T: F Graffard| OR: 112| D

18/1

Dictated a slow tempo and came home an easy winner of Longchamp Group 3 in May. Ran at least as well in defeat in Group 2 at Chantilly (11.9f) next time but a jolt of improvement required to play a leading role in this deeper race.

Form: 114-214

(5)

Isle Of Jura²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Callum Shepherd| T: George Scott| OR: 112| D

16/1

Showed smart form when winning 4 of his 5 starts in Bahrain over the winter and continued his good run of form with victory in 6-runner listed event at Goodwood (9.9f) 29 days ago, staying on to lead final 50 yds. Has more on his plate here, though.

Form: 12-1111

(8)

Middle Earth³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 115| C| D

9/4

Well-made colt who signed off a progressive first season with victory in listed company at this course (14.2f) in October. Overcame a pace bias when making a winning return in Group 3 at Newbury (12f) last month and could easily have more to offer.

Form: 21171-1

(3)

Missed The Cut^t1⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: John Sadler| OR: 112| C| D

11/1

Smart performer who landed the Golden Gates Handicap in 2022 for George Boughey, and has been holding his form well of late, winning a brace of Grade 3s at Santa Anita before a good second in Grade 2 at Keenland. More needed to trouble the principals here, however.

Form: 102-112

Forecasts

Continuous (13/8), Middle Earth (9/4), Desert Hero (8/1), Missed The Cut (11/1), Candleford (14/1), Isle Of Jura (16/1), Goliath (18/1), Elegant Man (20/1), Crypto Force (66/1)

CONTINUOUS lacks a recent run but he was much improved in the second half of last year and will prove hard to beat if returning anywhere near that sort of level. Middle Earth did well to overcome a pace bias in a Newbury Group 3 last month and could easily have more to come, while Desert Hero is better judged on his excellent reappearance at Sandown.