17:40 Royal Ascot

Saturday 22 June 2024

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

Golden Gates Stakes (Handicap)

Off time: 17:40 | Winning time: 2m 5.18s

(18)

Cambridge³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 100

17/2

Dubawi colt who won a 1m Salisbury maiden before finishing second in a Group 2 at Leopardstown (9f, heavy) on his final 2-y-o outing. Better effort in Group races this spring when 8¾ lengths fourth to Economics in Dante at York (1¼m) last month. Handicap debut.

Form: 312-44

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(8)

Black Run^t³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: J P Spencer| T: P & O Cole| OR: 98| D

16/1

Won a Goodwood novice last autumn and showed much improved form (also tongue tied first time) when adding to his tally in 1¼m Newmarket handicap in May. Might have found the race coming too soon when well held in the London Gold Cup at Newbury under a fortnight later.

Form: 31-619

(9)

Treasure^p1²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 95

33/1

Made a winning debut in the mud at Nottingham last autumn. Useful effort when fourth of 7 to stablemate You Got To Me in Lingfield Oaks Trial (11.5f, good to firm) on return in May but down the field in the Oaks itself 3 weeks later. Makes handicap debut with cheekpieces added.

Form: 1-40

(10)

Nerano^t²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 92

18/1

Improved in each start thus far, finishing fifth of 13 on 7f Curragh handicap debut 4 weeks ago. Steps up significantly in trip here.

Form: 3-125

(17)

Hand Of God⁵⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: Harry Charlton| OR: 91

9/4

Newmarket maiden winner last autumn who made a successful handicap debut/reappearance in the Esher Cup at Sandown (1m, good to soft) in April. His pedigree suggests 1¼m will suit and he might well have been saved for this. Interesting runner.

Form: 451-1

(2)

Palace Green³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R Hughes| OR: 90| D

17/2

Much improved back from a gelding op when 5-length winner of 1¼m Kempton novice on reappearance. Took another step forward when third of 8 in a 1½m York Dante meeting handicap last month. Won't have any issue with the drop back in trip. Probably capable of better again.

Form: U35-13

(6)

Approval¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 90| D

6/1

Runner-up in a pair of 8.6f Wolverhampton novices this spring before taking his form up a notch back on turf with a smooth win at Windsor (1¼m) 12 days ago. Makes handicap debut. Definitely more to come from him.

Form: 9-221

(14)

Miletus⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: James Doyle| T: C Hills| OR: 89

40/1

Much improved when making it third time lucky in 1m Windsor novice (heavy) 45 days ago. That race has worked out, with the second and third winning next time. Handicap debut.

Form: 5-81

(13)

Old Faithful¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 89| D

7/1

Has improved since stepped up to 1¼m, winning a conditions race at Naas and a Navan handicap in recent weeks. Tends to idle in front and it wouldn't be any surprise to see him progress again.

Form: 325-311

(1)

Grey Cuban²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Hollie Doyle| T: H Palmer| OR: 88

20/1

Came out on top switched to AW in 8.6f Wolverhampton novice in April but held in handicaps at Chester and Epsom since.

Form: 083-165

(19)

Whiskey Pete²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 88

9/1

Useful effort to bag a 1m York nursery on final 2-y-o start. Something can't have been right when pulled up on York reappearance and got his career back on track when 7¾ lengths seventh of 12 to Persica at Epsom (1¼m) 3 weeks ago. Needs to take another step forward now.

Form: 2331-P7

(3)

Portsmouth²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Hayley Turner| T: A M Balding| OR: 87| BF

11/1

Promise in 3 starts on the AW at 2 yrs and, gelded during the winter, he improved switched to turf when scoring in good style on his reappearance/handicap debut at Epsom (8.5f) in April. Good runner-up efforts at Goodwood and back at Epsom (1¼m) since. May do better again.

Form: 454-122

Non-Runners

(15)

Arabic Legend⁴²

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: K R Burke J: C Lee

(5)

Balmacara²²

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: Eve Johnson Houghton J: Charles Bishop

(4)

Primo Lara²⁸

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam J: David Egan

(11)

Dambuster⁵⁸

Weight: 8-13| Age: 3

T: A M Balding J: David Probert

Forecasts

Hand Of God (9/4), Approval (6/1), Old Faithful (7/1), Cambridge (17/2), Palace Green (17/2), Whiskey Pete (9/1), Portsmouth (11/1), Primo Lara (12/1), Dambuster (14/1), Arabic Legend (14/1), Black Run (16/1), Nerano (18/1), Grey Cuban (20/1), Balmacara (25/1), Treasure (33/1), Miletus (40/1)

There was a lot to like about the way PRIMO LARA came clear at York last time and he's selected to defy another rise in the weights. The draw could have been kinder to Hand of God but it looks like he's been saved for this since his Esher Cup success so he's still second choice ahead of Palace Green and Approval.