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2025-06-21 Ascot 15:05
Ascot

Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2)

Going: Good To Firm

Distance: 1m3f211y

Prize: £141,775

Runners: 12

Surface: Turf

Age: 4yo+

Class: Class 1

Type: Flat

NO.

HORSE

FORM

AGE

ODDS

1 (10)

Al Aasy (IRE) G BF CD

J:Jim Crowley T:William Haggas

Form: 123-14

Age: 8

WT: 9st 3lbs

OR: 115

Additional info

Owner: Shadwell Estate Company Ltd

Breeder: Sunderland Holding Inc

Last run: 35 days

Pedigree

Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE)

Dam: Kitcara (GB)

Damsire: Shamardal (USA)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 44 Wins: 9 Percent: 20

Comment: C&D Listed winner who has won seven Group 3s, the latest at Sandown (1m2f, good) in April; only fourth at Newbury last time but he was poorly positioned in rear off a modest gallop; no surprise if this 8yo is in the mix.

9 (11)

Rebel's Romance (IRE) G D

J:William Buick T:Charlie Appleby

Form: 11-141

Age: 7

WT: 9st 3lbs

OR: 123

Additional info

Owner: Godolphin

Breeder: Godolphin

Last run: 36 days

Pedigree

Sire: Dubawi (IRE)

Dam: Minidress (GB)

Damsire: Street Cry (IRE)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 22 Wins: 5 Percent: 23

Comment: Globetrotter who won 1m4f Group/Grade 1 races in Dubai, Hong Kong, Germany and the US last year; not at his very best when beating Epic Poet by a head in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup at York (good to firm) last month but that was 1m6f and he was conceding 5lb to the winner (level weights today); leading contender if at the top of his game now back down to 1m4f.

5 (4)

Candleford (IRE) G CD

J:Tom Marquand T:William Haggas

Form: 25/14-

Age: 7

WT: 9st 3lbs

OR: 110

Additional info

Owner: Barnane Stud

Breeder: Barnane Stud Ltd

Last run: 364 days

Pedigree

Sire: Kingman (GB)

Dam: Dorcas Lane (GB)

Damsire: Norse Dancer (IRE)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 44 Wins: 9 Percent: 20

Comment: Has a fine reappearance record featuring wins at this meeting in 2022 (C&D handicap) and at the Curragh (Listed) last May; fair fourth in this race next time; there's every chance he'll run to form on this first outing since but that's unlikely to be enough for him to come out on top.

6 (3)

Epic Poet (IRE) G

J:Daniel Tudhope T:David O'Meara

Form: -13232

Age: 6

WT: 9st 3lbs

OR: 111

Additional info

Owner: Akela Thoroughbreds Limited

Breeder: George Kent

Last run: 36 days

Pedigree

Sire: Lope De Vega (IRE)

Dam: Sagaciously (IRE)

Damsire: Lawman (FR)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 65 Wins: 6 Percent: 9

Comment: In fine form over 1m6f-2m at Meydan and in Saudi Arabia earlier this year and continued the good work when staying on for a close second to Rebel's Romance in a slowly run Group 2 Yorkshire Cup (1m6f, good to firm); 5lb worse off with the winner here and drops back in trip, but could go well once more.

2 (7)

Al Riffa b1 (FR) H D

J:Dylan Browne McMonagle T:Joseph Patrick O'Brien

Form: 210-34

Age: 5

WT: 9st 3lbs

OR: 117

Additional info

Owner: Al Riffa Syndicate

Breeder: Sarl De Chambure Haras D'Etreham Et Al

Last run: 55 days

Pedigree

Sire: Wootton Bassett (GB)

Dam: Love On My Mind (IRE)

Damsire: Galileo (IRE)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 55 Wins: 6 Percent: 11

Comment: Runner-up in the Group 1 Eclipse (1m2f, soft) last July before 5l win in the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin; not at his very best since and only fourth of six in the Group 1 Prix Ganay (10.5f, good to soft) last time, but the drop back in grade and possibly the first-time blinkers (replacing cheekpieces) will aid his cause today; strong claims if surging back to his best.

4 (8)

Burdett Road (GB) G C D

J:Sean D Bowen T:James Owen

Form: 0416-4

Age: 5

WT: 9st 3lbs

OR: 110

Additional info

Owner: The Gredley Family

Breeder: Stetchworth & Middle Park Studs Ltd

Last run: 23 days

Pedigree

Sire: Muhaarar (GB)

Dam: Diamond Bangle (IRE)

Damsire: Galileo (IRE)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 60 Wins: 12 Percent: 20

Comment: Won the Golden Gates Handicap at this meeting in 2023 (1m2f, good to firm) and was a Listed winner at Newmarket (1m4f, soft) last September; runner-up in the Champion Hurdle in March, albeit fortunate; failed to settle when tailed off back on the Flat at Sandown (2m) last month and this drop back in trip seems a likely plus, but a Flat career best is required.

11 (5)

Sunway tb1 (FR) C

J:Oisin Murphy T:David Menuisier

Form: 430-35

Age: 4

WT: 9st 3lbs

OR: 112

Additional info

Owner: Guy Pariente Holding & Qatar Racing Ltd

Breeder: Guy Pariente Holding Sprl

Last run: 35 days

Pedigree

Sire: Galiway (GB)

Dam: Kensea (FR)

Damsire: Kendargent (FR)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 13 Wins: 0 Percent: 0

Comment: Runner-up in the Irish Derby (1m4f, good) last June and another fine run when third in the St Leger (14.5f, good) in September; not at the same level on either start this term but he may have needed his reappearance, then the steady pace was against him at Newbury; not ruled out in first-time blinkers.

3 (9)

Bellum Justum p (IRE) C D

J:P J McDonald T:Andrew Balding

Form: 21-516

Age: 4

WT: 9st 3lbs

OR: 112

Additional info

Owner: King Power Racing Co Ltd

Breeder: Rabbah Bloodstock Limited

Last run: 15 days

Pedigree

Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE)

Dam: Natural Beauty (GB)

Damsire: Oasis Dream (GB)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 75 Wins: 16 Percent: 21

Comment: Displayed improved form in first-time cheekpieces (retained since) when winning the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket (1m4f, good) last month; flopped in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom subsequently but was reportedly unsuited by the good to soft ground; he could be just the type of older horse his trainer excels with and he's not ruled out.

7 (2)

Ghostwriter (IRE) C C

J:David Egan T:Clive Cox

Form: 335-46

Age: 4

WT: 9st 3lbs

OR: 118

Additional info

Owner: Amo Racing Limited

Breeder: Norelands Bloodstock/Irish National Stud

Last run: 27 days

Pedigree

Sire: Invincible Spirit (IRE)

Dam: Moorside (GB)

Damsire: Champs Elysees (GB)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 25 Wins: 2 Percent: 8

Comment: 3-3 in 2yo season (including Group 2); 0-7 since and below par in Tattersalls Gold Cup last month but all of those were Group 1 races and he's shown some very strong form, including when third in last August's Juddmonte International (10.2f, good to firm); his dam was a 1m4f winner so there can be hope that today's new trip will suit, and he's a major player if he stays; changed hands for £2,000,000 at Goffs London Sale on Monday (remains with Clive Cox).

8 (6)

Palladium (GER) C D

J:Ryan Moore T:John & Thady Gosden

Form: 1416-3

Age: 4

WT: 9st 3lbs

OR: 111

Additional info

Owner: Lady Bamford

Breeder: Stiftung Gestut Fahrhof

Last run: 13 days

Pedigree

Sire: Gleneagles (IRE)

Dam: Path Wind (FR)

Damsire: Anabaa (USA)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 48 Wins: 12 Percent: 25

Comment: Won the German Derby (1m4f, good to soft) last July before 6l last of six to Rebel's Romance in another German Group 1 (1m4f, good to soft); won maiden hurdle for Nicky Henderson in January and close Listed third at Goodwood (1m4f, soft) a fortnight ago on first run for the Gosdens; open to improvement and Ryan Moore rides but others have more substance to their claims.

10 (1)

Space Legend p1 (IRE) G

J:James Doyle T:William Haggas

Form: 2244-5

Age: 4

WT: 9st 3lbs

OR: 111

Additional info

Owner: Wathnan Racing

Breeder: Sunderland Holdings Inc

Last run: 43 days

Pedigree

Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE)

Dam: Newton's Angel (IRE)

Damsire: Dark Angel (IRE)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 44 Wins: 9 Percent: 20

Comment: Ran well in defeat last season in Group 2s at this meeting (1m4f, good to firm) and at York (1m4f, good to firm); gelded in the off-season; this lightly raced 4yo is in top hands and may have needed last month's reappearance run at York, but improvement is required in first-time cheekpieces.

12 (12)

Tabletalk (IRE) C

J:Rossa Ryan T:Tom Clover

Form: 315-22

Age: 4

WT: 9st 3lbs

OR: 110

Additional info

Owner: Abdulla Al Mansoori

Breeder: Cottage Bloodstock

Last run: 35 days

Pedigree

Sire: Camelot (GB)

Dam: Dillydallydo (IRE)

Damsire: Holy Roman Emperor (IRE)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 10 Wins: 0 Percent: 0

Comment: Won the Melrose Handicap at York (1m6f, good to firm) last August and he's been a good second in Group 3 races at Newbury on both outings this season (1m4f, good/good to firm); this is just his ninth start and he could continue to progress, but he's down the pecking order on ratings.