Wednesday’s Royal Ascot Trials Day presented by Eventmasters once again promises to be an informative afternoon of action with three Pattern races featuring on a quality seven-race card.
Royal Ascent Trials Day Preview
The Royal Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial EBF Conditions Stakes (Sponsored By Naas Racecourse) gets things underway at 1.10pm and three previous winners will line up in the field of 14. Dickensian was perhaps the most visually impressive of the trio despite the market drift on the day, whilst Inca Heights had Chale Chalo and Siren Suit behind when winning at Newbury on 11th April though he must now carry 3lb more than those two rivals. Of the newcomers, any market moves should be good pointers although Wise Approach already has a lofty price tag to live up to, having cost a million Guineas at the sales in October – at the other end of the scale, Eschweiler cost just 1,000 Euros in November. Goldwork represents the Eve Johnson Houghton yard who won this race in 2021 with Chipotle then had the runner-up in 2022, Whistle And Flute.
Click here for free past performances for Royal Ascot Trials Day.
Paradise Stakes
The Listed eventmasters.co.uk Paradise Stakes (A Queen Anne Stakes Trial) follows at 1.40pm with last year’s runner-up Docklands lining up once again – in five runs at Ascot, he’s never finished outside the first three. Unquestionable brings top-level winning form having been victorious in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in 2023 – after two solid runs last year, he has now moved to the Richard Hannon yard which also sends out Witch Hunter, another with strong course form. Sardinian Warrior has racked up the wins on Southwell’s tapeta and will need to show he can translate that form to the turf, but he may not have reached his ceiling. Phantom Flight and Royal Dubai have been kept on the go in Bahrain and Meydan respectively whilst Sir Busker is set for his 55th race at the grand old age of nine.
Coltrane will bid to become the first ever three-time winner of the Longines Sagaro Stakes at 2.15pm. This will be his first run of the season although he tends to go well fresh and won this race first time up in 2023. Divine Comedy has race fitness on his side and makes the step up into Graded company at the age of seven having finished second in a Listed race last time out. Yashin, on his first start for Michael Bell, was a solid operator at this sort of level in Ireland for the past couple of years for Jessie Harrington – he has had a wind operation and wears a first-time tongue tie. The youngster of the quartet is Feigning Madness who is trying this trip for the first time having raced over a mile and a half the last twice.
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Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes
The Group 3 eventmasters.co.uk Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes is the last of the Pattern races at 2.50pm and will showcase plenty of top-class three-year-old sprinters. Electrolyte was just nosed out in the Coventry Stakes over course and distance last June but got his Group win in Chantilly in September. Big Mojo, meanwhile, followed in the hoofprints of the stable’s Big Evs in travelling to the Breeders’ Cup and acquitted himself well after some solid runs on these shores too. Dash Dizzy, Arabie and Ain’t Nobody were also Pattern performers as two-year-olds with the latter-named winning the Windsor Castle Stakes at the Royal Meeting in 2024. Hallasan steps back in distance from a mile having gone for the Dubai 2000 Guineas in March whilst Rebel’s Gamble has done all his running this year on the all-weather, most recently winning the Listed Spring Cup at Lingfield.
Isle Of Lismore
More sprinters in action at 3.23pm in the eventmasters.co.uk 40th Anniversary Handicap as Isle Of Lismore looks to win this race for the second year running. He had a solid comeback run at Newmarket and may be spot-on for this. Good Earth has fallen in the weights but keeps running solidly at this level whilst Duran was largely progressive last year and could resume his improvement. Fletcher’s Flight was also on an upward curve at the end of 2024 so could continue to progress with his seasonal reappearance behind him. Top-weight Zoulu Chief was having his first run in over a year at Newbury last time out so could be of interest if that blew away the cobwebs, although his form even before that break was less than stellar.
EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes
The Darley British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes at 3.55pm sees six go to post with last year’s winning connections – Charlie Appleby, William Buick and Godolphin – represented by Victory Queen. She was victorious on debut and could progress again. Purple Rainbow races in the colours of Their Majesties The King and Queen, and makes her turf debut after a comfortable success at Kempton Park in January. Brekenbrough, Chinkara and Gulya all ran encouraging races on their debuts whilst the only newcomer in the field is Princess Rascal, trained by Paul & Oliver Cole.
Manny Mercer Apprentice Handicap
The day ends with the eventmasters.co.uk Manny Mercer Apprentice Handicap (4.30pm), where ten go to post. In a field of largely exposed horses, it’s interesting to see Roger Varian choosing this as the starting place for My Cloud this year – with just three runs under his belt including a 13-length success at Newcastle last time out, there could be more to come. Richard Hannon is double-handed in this contest with top-weight Talis Evolvere ridden by Tyrese Cameron – his first ride at Ascot – whilst Son will be the mount of Joe Leavy. Great Acclaim rose plenty in the weights for a fruitful August and trainer Eve Johnson Houghton will hope that Jack Nicholls’ 7lb claim will alleviate some of the burden.
