1400m – Turf
1 | Roi De France | Two career wins over further than this but will be fine at a fast-run 1400m. Just below his best here last month. |
2 | Tarkhan | Had winning form in Germany though on slower ground than expected here. Ninth at Chester on UK debut. |
3 | Never So Brave | Made a very good start to 2025 when – despite racing too keenly – he almost won a Chester handicap over this trip. |
4 | Aafoor | Although proven on the expected fast ground, his victories in Qatar this year represent a much lower level than this. |
5 | Witch Hunter | Won this as an outsider back in 2023 and a respectable fourth in a G1 at this meeting last year. But well below that level on recent starts. |
6 | Array | Twice a winner in 2023 and two respectable efforts in 2025, latterly not beaten far in Listed company. |
7 | Two Tempting | Gained his eighth career win at Chester last month and had also won a 1600m handicap here last year but others look better handicapped. |
8 | Watch My Tracer | Down the field at this meeting last year, and well behind twice in Bahrain in January. |
9 | Northern Express | Has finished third and fifth in this race before and led throughout to win a fast-ground handicap here last July. He likes Ascot. |
10 | Holguin | Gelded since last running in Qatar, running a good third at Chester on his first start for this stable. |
11 | Myal | On a career high handicap mark, following his latest victory – a brave effort at Chester last month. Can handle quick ground. |
12 | English Oak | Travelled strongly when justifying favouritism in this last year. No great impact recently but this will have been the aim. |
13 | Jayyash | Has been running prominently in Qatar having been a winner over this trip there in January. |
14 | Oliver Show | Yet to win on turf but, in March, very nearly sprang a surprise when second in a prestigious Doncaster handicap. |
15 | Inside Matters | Has won in France over this trip, though at a much lower level and on slow ground. First start in the UK and since being gelded. |
16 | Yorkshire | Yet to compete at Ascot but a specialist at this trip with a decent winning strike-rate. Has won on fast ground. |
17 | Apiarist | The fast pace found in these big-field handicaps suits him. However best efforts so far are on all-weather surfaces. |
18 | No Retreat | Fast ground and this trip suits as he showed when charging late to win a handicap at Meydan. Made a good debut for this stable last month. |
19 | Thunder Ball | Has moved to this stable since last seen when second in a 1600m Goodwood handicap. A slower surface might be needed. |
20 | Cerulean Bay | Came close to winning on his only previous Ascot start – a good sign. Ran respectably at Chester last time. |
21 | Ramazan | Hasn’t threatened to win this season but his stable going better now. Handicap mark easing and he handles fast ground. |
22 | Spangled Mac | A past winner on fast ground over this trip. Back in January he won a 1200m handicap in Bahrain. |
23 | Run Boy Run | In good shape judging by all starts this year. A past winner over this trip on fast ground, and third on only previous Ascot start. |
24 | Akkadian Thunder | Gained his fourth career win on his latest start when scoring convincingly at Doncaster this month. |
25 | Mirsky | Stable have won this before and Mirsky is on a winning roll landing handicaps on his last two starts. Likely to be ridden prominently. |
26 | Gleneagle Bay | Lightly-raced but ran a cracker when only narrowly failing to win a fast ground handicap over C&D last month. Chances. |
27 | Fifty Nifty | Lightly raced but a proven winner over this trip and on fast ground. A poor run on his latest start needs forgetting. |
28 | Divine Libra | Finished sixth in this last year despite an imperfect trip. However probably best on a slower surface than likely here. |
29 | Billyjoh | Although well held by the winner his second in this last year was an excellent effort. In good shape on his latest two starts. |
Reserves | ||
30 | Gorak | Rallied bravely after leading when a close second at Haydock on his seasonal return. Has finished 12th in the last two runnings of this. |
31 | Treasure Time | First start of the season and first run at Ascot. But he had handicap success on fast ground and over this trip last year. |
32 | Lou Lou’s Gift | Hasn’t been seen for 341 days but plenty of talent last season including a comfortable 1400m fast-ground Newmarket handicap victory. |