THE ROAD TO ROYAL ASCOT 2019 50 important race trials for Royal Ascot (June 2019) © 2019 Gavin Priestley RACE INDEX 1. SPRING CUP – Newbury (April) 2.GREENHAM STAKES – Newbury (April) 3.FEILDEN STAKES – Newmarket (April) 4.ABERNANT STAKES – Newmarket (April) 5.NELL GWYN – Newmarket (April) 6.GORDON RICHARDS – Sandown 7.SAGARO STAKES – Ascot 8.PALACE HOUSE STAKES – Newmarket 9.NEWMARKET STAKES – Newmarket 10.JOCKEY CLUB STAKES – Newmarket 11.2000 GUINEAS – Newmarket 12.DAHLIA STAKES – Newmarket 13.1000 GUINEAS – Newmarket 14.PRETTY POLLY STAKES – Newmarket 15.QATAR 3YO HANDICAP (Class 3) – Newmarket 16.HUXLEY STAKES – Chester 17.CHESTER VASE – Chester 18.ORMONDE STAKES – Chester 19.OAKS TRIAL – Lingfield 20.DERBY TRIAL – Lingfield 21.VICTORIA CUP – Ascot 22.BUCKHOUNDS STAKES – Ascot 23.DUKE OF YORK STAKES – York 24.YORKSHIRE CUP – York 25.CLASS 3 (0-95 ) 7F HANDICAP- York 26.KING CHARLES II STAKES – Newmarket 27.LONDON GOLD CUP HANDICAP – Newbury 28.THE LOCKINGE – Newbury 29.COCKED HAT – Goodwood 30.FESTIVAL STAKES – Goodwood 31.CLASS 2 HANDICAP – Goodwood 32.SILVER BOWL HANDICAP – Haydock 33.TEMPLE STAKES – Haydock 34.Prix D'ISPAHAN - Chantilly 35.FAIRWAY STAKES – Newmarket 36.MARBLE HILL STAKES – The Curragh 37.IRISH 1000 GUINEAS – The Curragh 38.IRISH 2000 GUINEAS – The Curragh 39.MILE HANDICAP – Sandown 40.HENRY II STAKES – Sandown 41.NATIONAL STAKES – Sandown 42.BRIGADIER GERARD – Sandown 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 4: SPRING CUP – NEWBURY SATURDAY 13th APRIL – 1M H'Cap(4yo+) RESULTS: 2006 – 2018 YEAR FORM WINNER FLAT RUNS ODDS TRAINER AGE WEIGHT RATING 2018 2/11-7 Taqdeer 4 4/1f Gosden, J 5 9-01 95 2017 50220- Banksea 10 9/1 Cumani, L 4 9-04 100 2016* 006-3 Gabrials Kaka ` 33 4/1 R.Fahey 6 8-10 86 2015 4505- Ayaar 22 7/1 L. Cumani 5 8-09 96 2014 252-6 Gabrials Kaka 12 8/1cf R. Fahey 4 8-12 95 2013 3-143 Haaf A Sixpence 8 10/1 R. Beckett 4 8-03 85 2012 7500-4 Captain Bertie 11 7/1 C. Hills 4 8-07 85 2011 6530-8 Life On Mars 26 14/1 D. Nicholls 6 9-07 97 2010 15194- Branston 9 40/1 R. Charlton 4 8-02 86 2009 2-723 Extraterrestial 26 20/1 R.Fahey 5 8-12 95 2008 /126- Lang Shining 4 9/2Jf Sir M. Stoute 4 8-11 89 2007 6138- Pinpoint 11 8/1 W. Swinburn 5 9-08 100 2006 /26-4 Forgery 5 12/1 G. Butler 4 8-06 88 *Run at Chelmsford TRENDS: • All of the last 13 winners were aged 4-6yo • All of the last 13 winners were rated 85-100 • All of the last 13 winners were UK or Irish Bred • 12 of the last 13 winners had their last run in a class 2 or class 3 race • 8 of the last 11 winners carried 8-12 or less • 9 of the last 13 winners finished top 6 last time out • 8 of the last 13 winners had raced in the previous 45 days • 7 of the last 12 Newbury winners were drawn 10-13 (plus two drawn 20+) • 5 of the last 13 winners last ran at Doncaster (from 70 such runners) • All 52 horses that ran 1st or 2nd last time out have been beaten • Only 1 claiming Jockey (5lb) has won from 43 rides since 2006 • Only 1 winner from 44 horses had their last run over 7f TOP 5 TRAINERS: Runs/Wins/Places/Profit-Loss R. FAHEY 20 3 2 +15.00 B. MEEHAN 8 0 1 -8.00 R. HANNON 16 0 4 -16.00 K. RYAN 9 0 0 -9.00 R.CHARLTON 9 1 4 +32.00 RACE AS A POINTER TO ROYAL ASCOT Surprisingly, given the similarities between the two races, not that many runners go on from here to contest the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot but those that do invariably run well... Afaak ran down the field when fancied for this race in 2018 but came back to form to run second in the Hunt Cup at 10/1. Plenty of the 2017 field ran in the Hunt Cup including the first 3 home but it was the 13th home Zhui Feng who did best when winning the race at 25/1. The 2016 renewal was transferred to the AW at Chelmsford where only 7 ran but runner up Azraff did go on to finish second in that Season's Hunt Cup at 20/1. The 2015 winner Ayaar went off the 7/1 fav for the Hunt Cup that year but could only manage 9th while the runner up Spark Plug was challenging for places when falling 100 yards from the line. In 2014 the 7th home Bronze Angel ran fourth in the 7f Buckingham Palace Handicap. Belgian Bill could only finish 15th in 2013 but went on to win the Hunt Cup on his next start at 33/1! Dream Tune ran 5th that year and second in the Buckingham Palace where Es Que Love ran 5th after finishing 11th here. Global Village was 3rd in 2012 then went on to win the Victoria Cup on his next start before finishing 4th in the Buckingham Palace as the 4/1 fav. Manassas had gone a similar route the previous year when finishing 8th-2nd-1st in the same three races, winning at Royal Ascot at 12/1. In 2009 Mias Boy was 6th but finished 3rd in the Hunt Cup at 9/1 Just behind 25/1 shot Huzzah who had run 9th here at Newbury. The runner up in 2007 Royal Oath went on to win that Season's Hunt Cup at 9/1 while the third home Heaven Sent went up in trip for Royal Ascot to finish second in the Wolferton Handicap and the 8th place finisher FaJr ran second in the Buckingham Palace Stakes. Eden Rock managed 5th both here and in the Buckingham Palace in 2006. RACE 5: GREENHAM STAKES – NEWBURY SATURDAY 13th APRIL – 7F (3yo Only) RESULTS: 2006 – 2018 YEAR FORM WINNER FLAT RUNS ODDS TRAINER AGE WEIGHT RATING 2018 331421- James Garfield 6 3/1 Scott, G 3 9-0 112 2017 1- Barney Roy 1 5/2 Hannon, R 3 9-0 91 2016 411212- Tasleet 6 4/7f Haggas, W 3 9-0 110 2015 13313- Muhaarar 5 16/1 Hills, Charles 3 9-0 114 2014 11- Kingman 2 15/8 Gosden, J H M 3 9-0 111 2013 12111- Olympic Glory (IRE) 5 8/11 Hannon, R 3 9-0 117 2012 31158- Caspar Netscher 10 3/1 McCabe, A J 3 9-0 114 2011 1111- Frankel 4 1/4 Cecil, H R A 3 9-0 126 2010 111156- Dick Turpin (IRE) 6 8/1 Hannon, R 3 9-0 112 2009 41-1 Vocalised (USA) 3 2/1 Bolger, J S 3 9-0 0 2008 311-1 Paco Boy (IRE) 4 6/1 Hannon, R 3 9-0 100 2007 12- Major Cadeaux 2 100/30 Hannon, R 3 9-0 106 2006 73224- Red Clubs (IRE) 9 6/4 Hills, B W 3 9-0 117 *Run at Chelmsford TRENDS: • 12 of the last 13 winners had their last run in a Listed or better race • 11 of the last 12 winners with an official rating were rated 100+ • 7 of the last 9 winners won on debut & were making their Seasonal reappearance here • 11 of the last 13 winners had their last run over 6f or 7f (exception 1m Breeders Cup) • 12 of the last 13 winners returned 8/1 or shorter • 10 of the last 12 winners had raced 2-6 times in their career • 11 of the last 13 winners were making their Seasonal debut • 10 of the last 12 winners finished top 3 on their last start (both exceptions beaten in Gr 1) • 6 of the last 13 winners had their last race at Newmarket Rowley course TOP 5 TRAINERS: Runs/Wins/Places/Profit-Loss P. CHAPPLE-HYAM 3 0 1 -3.00 B. MEEHAN 4 0 0 -4.00 R. HANNON 15 5 5 +10.56 M. BOTTI 4 0 1 -4.00 J. GOSDEN 3 1 0 -0.12 RACE AS A POINTER TO ROYAL ASCOT Multiple Royal Ascot winners have come out of the Greenham Stakes with most heading for the St James Palace Stakes but it's also been a pointer for the 7f Jersey Stakes and the 2015 winner dropped down to 6f to take the inaugural running of the Commonwealth Cup (Group 1 3yo 6f).. Expert Eye was beaten when favouirte in 2018 but came back to form at Royal Ascot to win the Jersey Stakes at 8/1The 2017 winner Barney Roy looked a little unlucky when beaten into second in the 2000 Guineas on his next start and reversed form with the winner Churchill when taking the St James Palace Stakes at 5/2. The runner up Dream Castle was 5th in the Jersey Stakes. The 2016 renewal was staged on the All Weather at Chelmsford where only 3 runners lined up. None of the three went on to run at Royal Ascot. The 2015 winner Muhaarar went on to win the new Commonwealth Cup at 10/1. The 2014 winner Kingman got beat in the 2000 Guineas by the runner up from here Night of Thunder but at Royal Ascot reconfirmed the placings when beating that one by 2¼ lengths as the odds on favourite.