THE ROAD TO ROYAL ASCOT 2019 50 important race trials for Royal Ascot (June 2019) © 2019 Gavin Priestley RACE INDEX 1.FEILDEN STAKES – Newmarket (April) 2.ABERNANT STAKES – Newmarket (April) 3.NELL GWYN – Newmarket (April) 4.GREENHAM STAKES – Newbury 5.SPRING CUP – Newbury 6.GORDON RICHARDS – Sandown 7.2yo Conditions Stakes - Ascot 8.SAGARO STAKES – Ascot 9.PALACE HOUSE STAKES – Newmarket 10.JOCKEY CLUB STAKES – Newmarket 11.2000 GUINEAS – Newmarket 12.NEWMARKET STAKES – Newmarket 13.DAHLIA STAKES – Newmarket 14.1000 GUINEAS – Newmarket 15.HUXLEY STAKES – Chester 16.CHESTER VASE – Chester 17.ORMONDE STAKES – Chester 18.OAKS TRIAL – Lingfield 19.DERBY TRIAL – Lingfield 20.BUCKHOUNDS STAKES – Ascot 21.VICTORIA CUP – Ascot 22.CLASS 3 (0-95 ) 7F HANDICAP- York 23.DUKE OF YORK STAKES – York 24.YORKSHIRE CUP – York 25.KING CHARLES II STAKES – Newmarket 26.FAIRWAY STAKES – Newmarket 27.1m CLASS 3 HANDICAP (3YO) - Newmarket 28.LONDON GOLD CUP HANDICAP – Newbury 29.THE LOCKINGE – Newbury 30.NATIONAL STAKES – Sandown 31.HENRY II STAKES – Sandown 32.BRIGADIER GERARD – Sandown 33.1m2f 3yo HANDICAP – Sandown 34.COCKED HAT – Goodwood 35.FESTIVAL STAKES – Goodwood 36.CLASS 2 HANDICAP – Goodwood 37.SILVER BOWL HANDICAP – Haydock 38.TEMPLE STAKES – Haydock 39.Prix D'ISPAHAN - Chantilly 40.MARBLE HILL STAKES – The Curragh 41.IRISH 1000 GUINEAS – The Curragh 42.IRISH 2000 GUINEAS – The Curragh 43.SANDY LANE – Haydock 44.2YO TROPHY – Beverley 45.ZETLAND GOLD CUP – Redcar 46.SAVAL BEG STAKES – Leopardstown 47.THE DERBY – Epsom 48.CORONATION CUP – Epsom 49.WOODCOTE STAKES – Epsom 50.SILVER STAKES – Curragh RACE 30: NATIONAL STAKES (SANDOWN) THURSDAY 23rd MAY – 5F (2yo Only) RESULTS: 2006 – 2018 YEAR FORM WINNER FLAT RUNS ODDS TRAINER AGE WEIGHT RATING 2018 1 Vintage Brut 1 7/2 Easterby, T 2 9-3 0 2017 21 Havanna Grey 2 5/1 Burke, K 2 9-3 0 2016 12 Global Applause 2 9/2 Dunlop, E 2 9-0 0 2015 31 King Of Rooks 2 11/4 Hannon (Jnr), R 2 9-0 0 2014 1121 Tiggy Wiggy (IRE) 4 3/1 Hannon (Jnr), R 2 8-9 0 2013 51 Rizeena (IRE) 2 9/4 Brittain, C E 2 8-9 0 2012 1 Sir Prancealot (IRE) 1 15/8 Hannon, R 2 9-0 0 2011 315 Pymans Theory (IRE) 3 12/1 Dascombe, Tom 2 8-9 0 2010 1 Dinkum Diamond (IRE) 1 9/4 Candy, H 2 9-0 0 2009 111 Monsieur Chevalier (IRE) 3 5/4 Hannon, R 2 9-0 0 2008 911 Icesolator (IRE) 3 11/2 Hannon, R 2 9-5 0 2007 1 Sweepstake (IRE) 1 11/4 Hannon, R 2 8-9 0 2006 1 Excellent Art 1 8/13 Callaghan, N A 2 9-0 0 TRENDS: • All of the last 13 winners had won at least 1 of their last 2 races • 12 of the last 13 winners had run 1-3 times in their career • 12 of the last 13 winners had finished top 5 on their debut • 12 of the last 13 winners returned under 6/1 • 12 of the last 13 winners finished top 2 last time out (9/12 won) • 11 of the last 13 winners had run in the previous 6-25 day period • 10 of the last 13 winners had their last run over 5f • 4 of the last 13 winners have been fillies TOP 5 TRAINERS: Runs/Wins/Places/Profit-Loss R. HANNON 13 6 1 +10.13 M. JOHNSTON 6 0 2 -6.00 PD EVANS 4 0 1 -4.00 M.CHANNON 5 0 2 -5.00 T. DASCOMBE 4 1 1 +9.00 RACE AS A POINTER TO ROYAL ASCOT The National Stakes is probably more notable for the amount of beaten favourites it sends to the 2yo races at Royal Ascot rather than the number of winners it provides. Any filly that runs well is worth noting for the Queen Mary.... 2018 winner Vintage Brut was another beaten favourite at Royal Ascot to come from this race when he could manage only 9th of 10 in the Norfolk Stakes but the runner up Sabre did manage second in the Windsor Castle. 2017 winner Havanna Grey travelled well until outpaced in the Norfolk Stakes finishing 10th at 7/1 but the runner up here Patriotism was 4th in the same Ascot race at 9/1. 4th home in 2017 Sound and Silence won the Windsor Castle at 16/1. 2016 winner Global Applause was another Royal Ascot beaten favourite when finishing 5th in the Norfolk Stakes. Runner up that year Mehmas was also second in the Coventry Stakes. The 2015 winner King Of Rooks was third in the Norfolk Stakes as the 11/8 favourite, the runner up Buratino won the 6f Coventry Stakes at 6/1 and the third Steady Pace was third in the Windsor Castle with Areen just in front of him having finished 6th here in the National Stakes. In 2014 the winning filly Tiggy Wiggy ran second in the Queen Mary. The 2013 winner Rizeena was another filly but she had gone one better than the 2014 winner by taking the Queen Mary at 6/1. 2012 winner Sir Prancealot was fourth in the Coventry Stakes. In 2009 the 5th home Fratellino ran the race of his life to finish runner up in the Norfolk Stakes at 33/1. In 2006 the runner up Cav Okay finished 3rd in the Norfolk Stakes over 5f at 22/1. RACE 31: HENRY II STAKES (SANDOWN) THURSDAY 23rd MAY – 2M (4yo+) RESULTS: 2006 – 2018 YEAR FORM WINNER FLAT RUNS ODDS TRAINER AGE WEIGHT RATING 2018 150-1 Magic Circle 20 11/2 Williams, I 6 9-2 109 2017 030-4 Big Orange 22 4/5 Bell, M 6 9-2 117 2016 4414- Pallasator 17 11/2 Prescott, Sir M 7 9-6 110 2015 120-2 Vent De Force 10 6/4 Morrison, H 4 9-0 109 2014 158-1 Brown Panther 19 2/1 Dascombe, Tom 6 9-4 115 2013 739-2 Gloomy Sunday (FR) 12 20/1 Ferland, C 4 8-11 98 2012 22-21 Opinion Poll (IRE) 24 5/4 Al Zarooni, M 6 9-4 116 2011 /2-62 Blue Bajan (IRE) 38 4/1 OMeara, D 9 9-2 111 2010 11-07 Akmal 16 4/1 Dunlop, J L 4 9-0 106 2009 /125- Geordieland (FR) 32 5/1 Osborne, J A 8 9-2 117 2008 4335- Finalmente 17 16/1 Callaghan, S A 6 9-2 110 2007 133-5 Allegretto (IRE) 7 12/1 Stoute, Sir M 4 9-0 108 2006 192-2 Tungsten Strike (USA) 17 4/1 Perrett, Mrs A J 5 9-2 106 TRENDS: • All of the last 13 winners had their last run on the turf flat • 12 of the last 13 winners had their last run in a Group 2 or Group 3 or Listed race • 12 of the last 13 winners finished top 5 last time out • 12 of the last 13 winners had raced at least 10 times in their career • 12 of the last 13 winners were rated 106+ • 11 of the last 13 winners had a top 3 finish in at least 1 of their last 2 runs • 9 of the last 13 winners had run in the last month (3 exceptions making Seasonal debut) • 9 of the last 13 winners were aged 4-6yo TOP 5 TRAINERS: Runs/Wins/Places/Profit-Loss S. BIN SUROOR 7 0 2 -7.00 J. GOSDEN 7 0 1 -7.00 Sir M. STOUTE 5 1 2 +8.00 D. ELSWORTH 4 0 2 -4.00 A. BALDING 3 0 2 -3.00 RACE AS A POINTER TO ROYAL ASCOT It wasn't the greatest trial for the Gold Cup but two of the last five winners of that prestigious race finished top 2 here and there have been a number of placed horses to come out of this race. It's also worth noting for any runner dropping down in class to contest the Queen Alexandra Stakes... The 2018 winner missed Ascot for a Melbourne Cup bid but the second Red Vernon ran the race of his life to finish second in the Hardwicke at 33/1. The 6th home Glencadam Glory was 5th in the Queen Alexandra. The 2017 winner Big Orange went on to narrowly win the Ascot Gold Cup at 5/1 on his next start while the third She Is No Lady was 4th at 50/1. The 4 runners from the 2016 renewal finished 12th-8th-10th and 5th in that years Gold Cup. The 2015 runner up Trip To Paris went on to win that Season's Ascot Gold Cup at 12/1. 2014 winner Brown Panther was third in that years Gold Cup while the 8th El Salvador and 5th Tiger Cliff were second and fourth in the Queen Alexandra Stakes. In 2013 the 7th home Colour Vision managed 4th in the Gold Cup. Opinion Poll won in 2012 and was second to stable mate Colour Vision in that years Gold Cup while Zuider Zee managed 4th both here and in the Queen Alexandra. In 2009 Geordieland beat the odds on favourite Patkai but the placings were reversed at Ascot when they finished 2nd and 3rd to Yeats in the Gold Cup. In 2008 last home Allegretto (who had won this race in 2007) came back to form to run 4th in the Gold Cup that year. In 2006 the last home Cover Up and the 5th home Vinando were second and third in that years Queen Alexandra Stakes.