14:20 Ascot

Saturday 13 July 2024

All13:4514:2014:5715:3216:0716:4217:17

Anne Cowley Memorial Summer Mile Stakes (Group 2) (Rnd)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 1m 41.36s

(9)

Ancient Rome²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: C Hills| OR: 110| D

18/1

Winning yard debut in Goodwood handicap (9.9f) last summer and followed up in Kentucky Grp 3 in September. Respectable fourth in Group 2 at Longchamp on final outing and went off too hard in the Wolverfon Stakes at Royal Ascot. Not completely dismissed.

Form: 43114-0

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(1)

Beshtani^p²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: David Probert| T: H Al Jehani| OR: 104| D

22/1

Fairly useful form for Francis-Henri Graffard in France last year, winning 3 of his 5 starts at up to 9.5f. Changed hands for €340,000 prior to being narrowly denied at Epsom on return. Ground may have been too quick in the Royal Hunt Cup last time and he could get back on track.

Form: 1121-20

(4)

Bolster¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin| T: K R Burke| OR: 106| D

9/1

Scopey sort who has taken his form up a notch this term for new yard, landing handicaps at Pontefract/Epsom in recent months. Not disgraced in International Stakes at the Curragh and return to softer ground is in his favour.

Form: 100-114

(7)

Embesto⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Ray Dawson| T: R Varian| OR: 108| BF| D

9/1

Smart colt. 7/2 and hooded for 1st time, 7¾ lengths fifth of 8 to Royal Scotsman in Diomed Stakes at Epsom (8.5f, good to soft) 42 days ago. Needs to get back to the sort of form he was showing as a 3yo if he's to compete.

Form: 1214-55

(8)

Quddwah⁷³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Callum Shepherd| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 109| CD

5/4

Highly progressive and unbeaten in three outings, taking another big leap forward when grinding down Docklands in a listed contest here 73 days ago. Probably saved for this and looks the one to beat.

Form: 11-1

(3)

Royal Dubai⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: M Botti| OR: 108| D

11/2

Back on the up this year, winning twice at Meydan and offered plenty of encouragement returned to this country when runner-up in the Diomed Stakes at Epsom. This is tougher but he can't be ruled out.

Form: 0-21512

(5)

Sonny Liston²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett| OR: 114| D

7/2

Very smart handicapper who ran a blinder in the Royal Hunt Cup for the second consecutive year when runner-up last month. Sets the standard and looks sure to be involved if the pace is solid.

Form: 5426-12

Non-Runners

(6)

Epictetus⁴²

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: J & T Gosden J: R Havlin

(2)

Sparks Fly⁷⁷

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: D Loughnane J: Laura Pearson

Forecasts

Quddwah (5/4), Sonny Liston (7/2), Royal Dubai (11/2), Epictetus (7/1), Embesto (9/1), Bolster (9/1), Sparks Fly (14/1), Ancient Rome (18/1), Beshtani (22/1)

QUDDWAH is improving fast and is taken to extend his unbeaten record to four at the likely expense of Sonny Liston, who arrives on the back of another excellent performance in the Royal Hunt Cup. Embesto is also respected for all that he has something to find with the first-named pair.