13:10 Ascot

Saturday 26 July 2025

All13:1013:4014:2015:0015:3516:1016:4517:15

British EBF Crocker Bulteel 'Confined' Maiden Stakes

Off time: 13:12 | Winning time: 1m 14.76s

(1)

Dark Shore

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: D Egan| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

4/1

Foaled February 7. 420,000 gns yearling, Dark Angel colt. Half-brother to 2-y-o 7f winner Anna Swan. Dam, winner up to 1¼m (2-y-o 7f winner) who stayed 14.5f, sister to very smart winner up to 1¾m (stayed 2m) Ispolini. Lots to like on paper.

Form:

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(5)

Harbor Lock

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby

12/1

Foaled March 1. Palace Pier gelding. Half-brother to several winners, including 7f-9f winner Dream Castle and winner up to 1¼m With The Moonlight and useful winner up to 7f Inveigle. Dam 2-y-o 5f/6f winner. Seemingly yard's second string on jockey bookings.

Form:

(3)

Havana Smile

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: T P Queally| T: G & J Moore

40/1

Foaled April 25. £18,000 2-y-o, Havana Grey colt. Dam, ran once, out of unraced half-sister to 1¼m-12.5f winner Ideal World and 1m-1¼m winner Romantica (both smart), herself out of high-class winner up to 1¼m (Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and 2-y-o 7f winner) Banks Hill. Outsider in this.

Form:

(4)

King Of Thunder

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: H Crouch| T: H Palmer

9/1

Foaled February 5. £60,000 yearling, Night of Thunder colt. Dam, 1m winner, half-sister to high-class winner up to 1½m Midday. Worth a check in the betting.

Form:

(6)

New Monarch⁴⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding

11/4

Acclamation colt who produced a promising first effort when second of 8 in novice at Newbury (6.5f, good to firm) just over 6 weeks ago, finding only an experienced odds-on favourite too good. Sure to improve.

Form: 2

(7)

Wechaad⁶⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: S De Sousa| T: R Varian

17/2

Oasis Dream colt out of a 1m-11f winner who showed ability when sixth of 13 in maiden at Leicester (6f, good) on debut a couple of months ago, nearest finish under hands-and-heels riding. Represents leading stable and he's sure to progress.

Form: 6

(2)

Words Of Truth⁷¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby

13/8

Proved less clued up than many for this yard first time up when eighth of 18 in maiden at Newbury (6f, firm) 10 weeks ago. Sure to learn from the experience, it would be no surprise should he prove a different proposition here (gelded since).

Form: 8

Forecasts

Words Of Truth (13/8), New Monarch (11/4), Dark Shore (4/1), Wechaad (17/2), King Of Thunder (9/1), Harbor Lock (12/1), Havana Smile (40/1)

A valuable long-standing feature maiden in which preference is for NEW MONARCH, who found only an experienced odds-on favourite too good at Newbury last month and with further progress on the cards, Andrew Balding's colt is taken to go one better. Words of Truth proved less clued up than typical for this yard first time up, but he may prove a different proposition now gelded, while newcomers Dark Shore and Harbor Lock both tick plenty of boxes on paper so round off the shortlist.