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DIAMOND RAIN (3.45 Royal Ascot, nap)
Looks supreme for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. She was supplemented for this after her blistering Listed victory at Newbury last month. She still looked inexperienced despite winning with plenty in hand. This longer distance should be ideal and she has a lot more improving to do.
WHISTLEJACKET (2.30 Royal Ascot, nb)
American sire No Nay Never won this in 2013 and the Aidan O’Brien flyer looked a chip off the old block when scorching home to win a Curragh Listed contest last month. That impressive effort came on soft ground but his sire and dam both loved it fast so these quicker conditions should bring improvement.
KING’S GAMBIT (5.40 Royal Ascot, treble)
Was impressive when destroying his rivals at Newbury last time on just his fourth run. Harry Charlton’s colt cruised along before pulling right away from his rivals inside the final furlong. He should get similar quick ground and he proved his liking for this 1m2f trip there. You would expect plenty more improvement with so few miles on the clock.
Templegate’s Ascot verdicts
2.30
WHISTLEJACKET’s American sire No Nay Never won this in 2013 and the Aidan O’Brien flyer looked a chip off the old block when scorching home to win a Curragh Listed contest last month.
That impressive effort came on soft ground but his sire and dam both loved it fast so these quicker conditions should bring improvement.
Arizona Blaze was behind the tip in Ireland last time and he franked the form by returing to The Curragh for a game success at Group 3 level where he got back up after being headed.
He can figure again with this trip hopefully helping him to settle better.
Tropical Storm looked a nice prospect when going down in a close finish at Newmarket last time. That was a big improvement from her Newbury debut and there’s a lot more to come.
James Doyle has picked Shareholder over Aesterius and there won’t be a lot between them.
The former looked green when winning on debut at Beverley last time and is proven in quick conditions.
Aesterius is an expensive buy who looked smart when winning at Bath and deserves a crack at this level.
Moving Force gave weight away when chasing home Shareholder in East Yorkshire last time and could sneak into the frame.
3.05
GILDED WATER can give The King another win in this red-hot handicap.
His Desert Hero took this 12 months ago trained by William Haggas with Tom Marquand on board and this year’s hope looked a nice prospect when winning by almost eight lengths at Chepstow last time.
Despite that, the handicapper has been fair with an opening mark of 92 and the step up to this trip is another plus.
Going The Distance was impressive when scoring on the sand at Kempton and has lots of staying power.
He wouldn’t need a lot more to go close. Fouroneohfever steps up in grade after back-to-back wins at Chester but he had plenty in hand on the Roodee last month and looks solid each-way.
Poniros finished a place ahead of Chantilly in good company at Newbury last time and they both come here with every chance.
They both shape like stepping up in distance will bring improvement and the Ralph Beckett runner looks particularly well handicapped.
William Haggas has another chance with French Duke who went down in a photo at Newbury last time. He hasn’t been clobbered for this handicap debut.
Gallantly is a son of Frankel but he looked like a stayer when winning at Chester last time. He has the potential to improve and has an each-way shout.
3.45
DIAMOND RAIN looks supreme for Charlie Appleby and William Buick.
She was supplemented for this after her blistering Listed victory at Newbury last month.
She still looked inexperienced despite winning with plenty in hand.
This longer distance should be ideal and she has a lot more improving to do.
You Got To Me was a good fourth in the Oaks and lots of fillies who ran well in that Classic do well in this.
The soft ground may not have been ideal given it was much quicker when she won the Lingfield Oaks Trial. Today’s quicker surface can help.
Kalpana looked to be crying out for this distance when staying on strongly into second over 1m2f at Newmarket last month.
She faces stiffer opposition here but is on the upgrade for Andrew Balding.
Siyola was four lengths behind the tip at Newbury last time and will need to find a fair bit more to figure.
Forest Fairy won the Cheshire Oaks before showing little at Epsom.
It would be no surprise to see her run a lot better on this conventional track and hitting the frame isn’t out of the question.
Port Fairy was a head behind her at Chester and is bred to improve for this stiffer test of stamina.
4.25
KYPRIOS won this in 2022 during a golden season that saw him win four Group 1 races in a row.
Last year was a write-off as injury kept him off the track until September and he didn’t look right when second on both his runs.
This season has seen him look more like his old self, with a comfortable Listed win at Navan on comeback before coming out on top at Leopardstown last month.
This is his toughest assignment since his brilliant Cadran win 18 months ago but we know this trip and track are ideal plus Aidan O’Brien has had a ninth win in this race carefully targeted for months – and he rarely misses.
John Gosden has a good Gold Cup record and has two chances.
Trawlerman beat a still-recovering Kyprios in the Long Distance Cup here in October before a good run in Dubai.
He could be a threat if his stamina holds, while Gregory shapes as though this marathon will suit and he needed the run in the Yorkshire Cup last time.
Willie Mullins runs Vauban who was a solid second in the Yorkshire Cup but, despite his hurdling exploits, he may not stay this far on the level.
Coltrane looks a big price given he was second in this last year on quick ground. He defended his Sagaro Stakes crown here last month and his liking for the track can take him a long way.
Caius Chorister went close in the Sagaro and was just denied again at Sandown last time by Sweet William who reopposes here.
They both have to find another gear at this level.
5.05
MICKLEY has been in excellent form over seven furlongs and stepping up to a mile looks like it will bring more improvement.
He zipped in at Doncaster on handicap debut last time and a 7lb rise in the weights looks fair enough. Decent ground suits and he can go close.
Qirat took a step forward on his first tilt at handicaps when winning comfortably at Goodwood latest. He’s another who can show more now tackling a mile.
The Camden Colt has been knocking on the door with two good runs at Newmarket this season.
He tanks along so should be able to hold a good position before finishing strongly.
Volterra looked well ahead of the handicapper when winning at HQ earlier this month so even a 9lb rise in the weights may not put the brakes on.
Skukuza chased home Kevin Ryan’s flyer before winning himself last time out to frank the form. They both have live chances again.
Starlore ran well behind Qirat at Goodwood when he was much better than seventh place suggests.
As can happen at that track he got absolutely no luck in running before finishing off well.
He’s back from the same mark and the extra furlong will give him more of a chance to hit top gear.
Air Commander showed some promise when third at Naas and likes this trip. He won’t be far away under Ryan Moore.
5.40
KING’S GAMBIT was impressive when destroying his rivals at Newbury last time on just his fourth run.
Harry Charlton’s colt cruised along before pulling right away from his rivals inside the final furlong.
He should get similar quick ground and he proved his liking for this 1m2f trip there.
You would expect plenty more improvement with so few miles on the clock.
First Look is a serious threat after his two-length second in the Group 1 Grand Prix De Paris earlier this month.
He is proven over this distance with the only concern being the faster ground he’ll encounter here.
Bracken’s Laugh took a step forward when beaten just half a length in the Dee Stakes at Chester last time.
It’s still early days and you would expect him to build on that.
Portland comes here on the back of a smooth Listed success at Leopardstown 14 days ago.
He drops back from 1m4f but doesn’t look slow and has gone well on any ground.
Jayarebe is another coming from the Dee Stakes where he was a fair third.
He earlier won a Newmarket Listed contest with plenty in hand and likes it fast. Getting back on this conventional track can only boost his chances.
Caviar Heights found the Dante beyond him at York last time after a good Listed win at HQ.
This is his best distance and the ease in class brings him right into the reckoning.
Al Musmak got upset before a poor run in the Dante on comeback and it’s too soon to write him off.
He went close in the Group 2 Royal Lodge as a juvenile so has class and trainer Roger Varian has his horses in good form.
Dermot Weld runners are always respected and his Taraj was only a length away in the Leopardstown Derby Trial last time so can’t be ignored.
6.15
DIVINE LIBRA went down in a photo for a big handicap at Newmarket last time so a 1lb rise in the weights looks pretty lenient.
Charles Hills’ hope is best over this trip on decent ground and the booking of Ryan Moore is a major plus.
English Oak powered away from his rivals to score in style at Haydock last month.
He has won on fast and slow ground and looks a major player even with today’s extra 9lb on his back.
Northern Express ran a cracker when beaten just a neck at York last time.
That was over a mile but he has scored over this trip too and all ground comes the same. He has strong place claims.
Awaal is best when fresh so it’s a plus that he’s been off for 243 days.
He was third in last year’s Royal Hunt Cup over a mile from 3lb higher and the booking of Oisin Murphy takes the eye.
Percy’s Lad came back with a close second over this trip at Newmarket and backed that up with a speedy win at Chester last time.
He likes to lead so, while he may get pestered on the front, he will at least be out of any trouble.
It wouldn’t be a shock if he boxed on into the places.
Mostabshir didn’t show a lot here last time but was much better at Kempton on comeback in March and a repeat of that would bring him into the each-way picture.
Finn’s Charm made all to score at Goodwood 11 days ago and could be competitive again shouldering a 5lb penalty.
Carrythone got the better of Gorak at Newmarket last time and there won’t be a lot between them again.
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