15:05 Royal Ascot

Saturday 23 June 2018

All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:35

Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 2m 28.08s

1^st

(4)

Crystal Ocean

49-1

4/7f

T: Sir Michael StouteJ: R L Moore

Tracked leader, led over 2f out, clear over 1f out, stayed on well

2^nd

2 ½

(3)

Red Verdon

59-1

33/1

T: E A L DunlopJ: James Doyle

Slowly into stride, tracked leading trio on inside, closer in 3rd 8f out, switched left over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, went 2nd and edged right inside final furlong, no chance with winner op 25/1

3^rd

1 ¼

(6)

Cliffs Of Moher

49-1

10/1

T: A P O'BrienJ: Seamie Heffernan

Held up last, headway on outside over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, went never dangerous 3rd final 50 yards op 9/1 tchd 11/1

4^th

(1)

Barsanti

69-1

11/2

T: R VarianJ: Andrea Atzeni

Tracked leading pair on outside, settled 4th 8f out, pushed along and went 2nd 2f out, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong, weakened into 4th final 50 yards op 6/1 tchd 5/1

5^th

(2)

Idaho

59-1

4/1

T: A P O'BrienJ: D O'Brien

Sweating, went to post early, led and set decent pace, steadied 8f out, quickened 4f out, pushed along and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, behind and eased inside final furlong op 9/2

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Non-Runners

(5)

Rare Rhythm²⁰

Weight: 9-1| Age: 6

T: C Appleby J: Non Runner

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£1.30Pl:£1.10, £6.60EX:£19.60Trifecta:£69.70SF:£20.43Swingers:£15.20

Forecasts

Crystal Ocean (4/7), Idaho (4/1), Barsanti (11/2), Rare Rhythm (8/1), Cliffs Of Moher (10/1), Red Verdon (33/1)

Idaho won this race last year but he failed to go on from that last season and he was well below form when well beaten at Epsom last time. CRYSTAL OCEAN is the preferred option after his impressive Group 3 win last time out, and having already proved himself at Group 1 level in his Classic season, he's going to be hard to beat here. 1m4f on a stiff track ought to suit Rare Rhythm who wasn't seen to best effect from the front last time out while there's a suspicion we haven't seen the best of Barsanti just yet and he stayed on impressively over course and distance last time.

Crystal Ocean
Rare Rhythm
Barsanti

Previous Winners

2017

Idaho

Weight: 9-1 |Age: 4

J: Seamie Heffernan | T: A P O'Brien

9/2

Prize Money

1st: £127,598.002nd: £48,375.003rd: £24,210.004th: £12,060.005th: £6,052.006th: £3,038.00