June 07 / 13.35 Epsom

13.35

Good

Betfred Diomed Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £56710
  • 1m 0f 113y
  • Class 1
  • 8 runners
ITV
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Betfred Diomed Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

Form: 418-B5 D

Last run: 55 days

W: 9st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Campaigned mainly abroad and has inferior form in Britain; gained most recent success in Italian Group 3 last October; below par behind Geography in German contest last time and can be opposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(6)

29th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Brave Emperor

10st 2lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

Did well on the AW in his younger days (112112) including a win over C&D, but not seen on an artificial surface since April 2023; showed a bit more when fifth of eight at Haydock (1m, good to soft) 12 days ago and is an interesting contender back on Polytrack; stable also runs Tempus.

9/1

1

(6)

29th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Brave Emperor

10st 2lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

Did well on the AW in his younger days (112112) including a win over C&D, but not seen on an artificial surface since April 2023; showed a bit more when fifth of eight at Haydock (1m, good to soft) 12 days ago and is an interesting contender back on Polytrack; stable also runs Tempus.

9/1

5th

2

(2)

17th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 212y

Class 3

15:05 Haydock

Brave Emperor

9st 13lb

J: William Cox

T: Archie Watson

Has recorded his biggest wins abroad, mostly at Group level; far from solid on 2025 form, latterly in handicaps; best watched unless the market speaks positively.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1367-1

Last run: 55 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
German gelding who is a triple Group 3 winner on home soil, including a career-best performance at Dusseldorf (1m, good to soft) in sole run this year; interesting contender in this first British assignment.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(6)

7th Jun 2025

Good

1m 0f 113y

Class 1

13:35 Epsom

Geography

9st 11lb

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: P Schiergen

German gelding who is a triple Group 3 winner on home soil, including a career-best performance at Dusseldorf (1m, good to soft) in sole run this year; interesting contender in this first British assignment.

10/1

Form: 18-318 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Mare

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Came up well short in the Group 1 Lockinge last time; generally progressive otherwise and recorded a comfortable success in the 1m2f handicap on this card 12 months ago; bagged Group 3 honours at Newmarket (1m1f, good to soft) in April and warrants respect back at this level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 7560-2 BF

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Versatile as regards ground; particularly well suited by Ascot where his form includes second-place finishes in the 2024 Queen Anne and Listed contest (clear of remainder; ran up to best) on reappearance; has the best chance at the weights in this first Epsom attempt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(2)

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:57 Doncaster

Docklands

9st 2lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Harry Eustace

Won the Group 1 Queen Anne at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm) last June; Ascot brings out the best in him but he's run well in defeat in Group 1s elsewhere since that last win, finishing fourth in the Prix Jacques le Marois in August (good to soft) and the Hong Kong Mile in December when last seen; drops back in grade today and he'll be tough to beat if close to his best.

13/8

4

(12)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:25 Ascot

Docklands

9st 6lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Harry Eustace

Excels over this C&D, finishing second in last year's Queen Anne (good to firm) and going one better in that same Group 1 (good to firm) this June; his close fourth in the Group 1 Jacques Le Marois in August was his best non-Ascot career performance and he could play a leading role back here.

12/1

2

(6)

30th Jul 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:05 Goodwood

Docklands

9st 10lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Harry Eustace

Versatile as regards ground; has produced his top four RPRs at Ascot and reached a new peak in steadily run Queen Anne most recently, taking overall record there to 1132221 and managing to beat Rosallion narrowly despite rider dropping whip; back elsewhere he's no certainty to repeat the form, as sole Goodwood effort (below par) attests.

20/1

8/1

Form: 5149-7

Last run: 43 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Campaigned mostly on ground softer than good; sometimes races too freely but he's very useful on his day and avoids a penalty for Group 2 win at Goodwood (1m) last August; possibilities dropped back in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(4)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

Ice Max

9st 6lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Won the Celebration Mile at Goodwood in 2024; creditable third, faring best of the runners who came off steady pace, in Group 2 at Chester (good) upped to 1m2f last time; unexposed at this distance and enters calculations despite carrying a 3lb penalty for Listed success (1m, soft) last autumn.

7/2

3rd

3

(3)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

14:35 Chester

Ice Max

9st 3lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Ended last season with a pair of 1m victories, the latest in a Nottingham Listed event (soft); not totally disgraced when fifth of eight in a Group 3 at Dusseldorf (1m, heavy) on last month's return, but that does indicate his limitations; races beyond an extended 1m for the first time; stable also runs Royal Rhyme.

20/1

Form: 63-554 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Finished behind Docklands at Ascot last time but, unlike that rival, already has Epsom form having finished second in this race 12 months ago (good to soft; one of his best efforts); still seeking first Group win but has each-way claims back in the Diomed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

(2)

9th Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 100y

Class 1

15:00 Haydock

Royal Dubai

9st 7lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Owen Burrows

Left the Bottis after penultimate start; only second race over as far as 1m2f when straight back to his best in five-runner Listed race at Newbury (good to firm) three weeks ago, asserting in the final 1f; needs to find a bit extra in this company but that was a cracking start for his new stable.

100/30

1st

7

(7)

19th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Newbury

Royal Dubai

9st 8lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Owen Burrows

Peak efforts were in June/July last year, including when second in the 8.5f Group 3 Diomed at Epsom, a race in which he underperformed on latest outing; left the Bottis since; has only once raced over this far (2023, bit below form) and balance of form suggests this will be a tough task.

20/1

7

(4)

7th Jun 2025

Good

1m 0f 113y

Class 1

13:35 Epsom

Royal Dubai

9st 8lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Marco Botti

Finished behind Docklands at Ascot last time but, unlike that rival, already has Epsom form having finished second in this race 12 months ago (good to soft; one of his best efforts); still seeking first Group win but has each-way claims back in the Diomed.

12/1

Form: 332-17 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Better than ever in most recent AW attempt, winning 1m Listed event at Lingfield; finished behind two of today's opponents at Ascot since, taking turf record to 0-6; not the percentage call.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(14)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 2

15:00 Newcastle (AW)

Tyrrhenian Sea

9st 9lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Roger Varian

As reliable as they come on AW, winning five of his 16 starts in this sphere and second or third on a further nine occasions; has a rare handicap run today but he looks held by Chancellor on their Southwell clash in February (3lb better off for a length but the winner had a bit to spare).

7/1

2nd

6

(2)

7th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 1

19:30 Southwell (AW)

Tyrrhenian Sea

9st 2lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Roger Varian

Two Listed wins at Lingfield, including this race 12 months ago; may have needed the run when 3l behind Chancellor at Kempton in December and went desperately close over 1m2f later that month; shouldn't be too far away once more.

5/1

8

(8)

7th Jun 2025

Good

1m 0f 113y

Class 1

13:35 Epsom

Tyrrhenian Sea

9st 8lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Roger Varian

Better than ever in most recent AW attempt, winning 1m Listed event at Lingfield; finished behind two of today's opponents at Ascot since, taking turf record to 0-6; not the percentage call.

20/1

Form: 328-39

Last run: 23 days

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Sole 3yo in this field; ran well in last year's Solario and Royal Lodge; unable to sustain that progress since but took in a Derby trial most recently and this may prove an easier assignment, especially in receipt of the hefty age allowance; not dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

(7)

1st Nov 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

15:25 Newmarket

Royal Playwright

9st 3lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Andrew Balding

Landed a second career win in 1m2f Goodwood conditions race (soft) in October; 0-8 in Listed/Group races prior to that but placed on a few occasions and he should be in the mix here.

6/1

10

(7)

1st Nov 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

15:25 Newmarket

Royal Playwright

9st 3lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Andrew Balding

Landed a second career win in 1m2f Goodwood conditions race (soft) in October; 0-8 in Listed/Group races prior to that but placed on a few occasions and he should be in the mix here.

6/1

Non-runners

Cairo

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Docklands

SPOTLIGHT:

Persica

The Times:

Royal Playwright

Daily Mirror:

Geography

Daily Mail:

Cairo

Telegraph:

Persica

The Star:

Persica

TOPSPEED:

Docklands

POSTDATA:

Docklands

NEWMARKET:

Docklands

The Guardian:

Docklands

D Express:

Docklands

The Sun:

Docklands

Daily Record:

Docklands