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.SILVER BOWL HANDICAP – Haydock 37.SANDY LANE – 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 43.2YO TROPHY – Beverley 44.ZETLAND GOLD CUP – Redcar 45.SAVAL BEG STAKES – Leopardstown 46.THE DERBY – Epsom 47.CORONATION CUP – Epsom 48.WOODCOTE STAKES – Epsom 49.SILVER STAKES – Curragh RACE 36: SILVER BOWL HANDICAP (HAYDOCK) SATURDAY 25TH MAY – 1M (3yo only) RESULTS: 2006 – 2018 YEAR FORM WINNER FLAT RUNS ODDS TRAINER AGE WEIGHT RATING 2018 552-1 Crack On Crack On 4 7/1 Cox, C 3 8-6 86 2017 0-722 Rusumaat 11 11/2 Johnston, M 3 9-3 97 2016 31-1 Garcia 3 7/2f Fahey, R 3 8-11 89 2015 41-1 Mutarakez (IRE) 3 2/1 Meehan, B J 3 9-1 95 2014 31-12 Chatez (IRE) 5 7/1 King, A 3 9-2 91 2013 17-17 Shebebi (USA) 6 12/1 Johnston, M 3 8-2 88 2012 10-72 Gabrial (IRE) 5 9/2 Fahey, R A 3 9-1 91 2011 212-2 Sagramor 5 15/2 Morrison, H 3 8-2 85 2010 2-312 Balducci 4 4/1 Balding, A M 3 8-3 84 2009 21-1 Desert Creek (IRE) 3 5/4 Stoute, Sir M 3 7-12 87 2008 1-41 Staying On (IRE) 3 6/1 Swinburn, W R 3 9-1 93 2007 26-20 Tobosa 8 100/30 Jarvis, W 3 9-7 104 2006 411-2 Anna Pavlova 6 4/1 Fahey, R A 3 9-5 91 TRENDS: • All of the last 13 winners were 12/1 or shorter (11/12 were 15/2 or shorter) • All of the last 13 winners had run in the last 31 days • All of the last 13 winners had their last run over 7f – 1m½f • 12 of the last 13 winners were rated 84-97 • 12 of the last 13 winners had their last run in a handicap (exception Group 1) • 11 of the last 13 winners had raced 3-6 times in their career • 11 of the last 13 winners finished top 2 last time out • 10 of the last 13 winners had their last run in a class 2 or class 3 race • All of the 10 runners who last raced on the all weather got beat TOP 5 TRAINERS: Runs/Wins/Places/Profit-Loss M. JOHNSTON 23 2 4 -3.50 M. CHANNON 9 0 0 -9.00 R. FAHEY 19 3 3 -4.00 E. DUNLOP 4 0 2 -4.00 A. BALDING 6 1 1 -1.00 RACE AS A POINTER TO ROYAL ASCOT The Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot is run over a mile and is for 3yo's only. It's a very competitive race which attracts 25 odd runners but over the years the Silver Bowl has provided pointers for the Britannia with 3 winners, 3 places and numerous 6th place finishers having run here that Season. It's probably best to ignore any runner that finished worse than 5th though..... The 2018 winner Crack On Crack On disappointed in the Britannia by finishing 13th when sent off favourite. In 2017 the winner Rusamaat ran down the field in the Britannia but the runner up Indian Dandy was 4th at 25/1. It was a similar story in 2016 when the winner flopped in the Britannia but the runner up ran 3rd at 12/1. In 2015 the third home Carry On Deryck finished fourth in the Britannia Handicap at 33/1. In 2014 the beaten favourite (6th) Travel First was beaten again as the favourite in the Britannia when finishing 4th at 7/1 while runner up here Zarwaan was 5th in the Britannia at 8/1. The 2012 winner stepped up to the Group 1 St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot where he managed a respectable 5th. In 2011 Sagramor won here and in the Britannia Handicap while the filly Winters Night was third both here and in the Sandringham Handicap. In 2009 Fareer could only manage 5th here but improved to take the Britannia that June at 20/1. The 2008 winner Staying On stepped up in trip to run second in the Hampton Stakes (now the Tercentenary Stakes). In 2006 Sir Gerard ran an unlucky second here but got the run of the race at Royal Ascot to win the Britannia as the 9/2 fav. RACE 37: SANDY LANE STAKES (HAYDOCK) SATURDAY 25TH MAY – 6F (3yo only) RESULTS: 2006 – 2018 YEAR FORM WINNER FLAT RUNS ODDS TRAINER AGE WEIGHT RATING 2018 7110- Sands Of Mali 5 10/3 Fahey, R 3 9-0 116 2017 21-2 Harry Angel 3 5/6 Cox, C 3 9-0 114 2016 511-1 Quiet Reflection 5 7/1 Burke, K R 3 8-11 109 2015 83-31 Adaay (IRE) 6 6/1 Haggas, W J 3 9-0 109 2014 12-36 Aeolus 6 3/1 McMahon, E S 3 9-0 101 2013 51-41 Professor 6 11/8 Hannon, R 3 9-0 105 2012 21-12 Slade Power (IRE) 4 5/1 Lynam, Edward 3 9-0 99 2011 1-403 Show Rainbow 7 5/2 Channon, M R 3 8-9 98 2010 317-1 Bewitched (IRE) 7 5/1 OBrien, Charles 3 8-9 98 2009 430-3 Danehill Destiny 8 15/8 Haggas, W J 3 8-9 102 2008 21-21 Fat Boy (IRE) 9 10/11 Chapple-Hyam, P 3 9-3 112 2007 1-210 Prime Defender 8 11/8 Hills, B W 3 9-3 109 2006 21-52 Skhilling Spirit 13 3/1 Barron, T D 3 8-11 95 TRENDS: • All of the last 13 winners were 7/1 or shorter • All of the last 13 winners were rated 95+ • 12 of the last 13 winners were GB or Irish Bred • All of the last 12 winners had raced 3 – 9 times in their careers • 11 of the last 13 winners ran in the previous 45 days • 10 of the last 13 winners finished top 3 last time out (13/13 had run top 3 in at least 1 of their last 2 starts) • 4 of the last 13 winners were females TOP 5 TRAINERS: Runs/Wins/Places/Profit-Loss W. HAGGAS 6 2 1 +3.88 R. HANNON 7 1 2 -4.62 R. FAHEY 6 1 2 -1.67 P. CHAPPLE-HYAM 3 1 0 -1.09 M. JOHNSTON 3 0 2 -3.00 RACE AS A POINTER TO ROYAL ASCOT It's long been an excellent race for producing decent sprinters but The Sandy Lane stakes is included in the Highway 50 service as now it's been moved to the end of May meeting it looks likely to be an excellent pointer to the newly created Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. It's a Group 1 sprint over 6f for 3yo's only making this an ideal trial for the race... The 2018 winner Sands Of Mali went on to finish a close second in the Commonwealth Cup but would go on to win the Group 1 Sprint at Ascot on Champions Day. The third home Emblazoned was also third in the Commonwealth. 2017 winner Harry Angel was no match for Caravaggio in the Commonwealth Cup and had to settle for second place but would go on to reverse form with that winner when taking the July Cup later that Season. The 2017 third Mubtasim ran third in the 7f Jersey Stakes on his next start at 20/1. The 2016 winner Quiet Reflection won the Commonwealth Cup on her next start as the 7/4 favourite. La Rioja was 5th and 4th in the same two races. Limato was runner up here in 2015 and also 2nd in the Commonwealth Cup while Salt island was 6th and 4th. Before the Commonwealth Cup was introduced to the meeting there weren't really any suitable Ascot targets for runners from this race although the 2013 runner up Glass Office was 5th in the Wokingham at 20/1. In 2012 both the winner Slade Power and third Lethal Force would go on to win Group 1 sprints at subsequent Royal Ascot meetings but the 2010 runner up Rainfall did manage to win the 7f Jersey stakes at 8/1 on her next start.