Tomorrow / 14.40 Epsom

14.40

Good To Soft

Betfred Diomed Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £70887.5
  • 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: Light rain

Form: 21-431 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Campaigned mostly on good/firmer ground; rallied gamely for Listed honours at Goodwood (1m2f) most recently and, assuming another gritty display is on the way, should remain competitive; top on his peak figure, achieved when defying top weight in last year's Cambridgeshire (1m1f).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(1)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

Boiling Point

9st 3lb

J: Shane Gray

T: K R Burke

Defied top weight in the 2025 Cambridgeshire (1m1f, good to firm) and holds a leading chance provided that smart handicap form is reproduced; hasn't transferred it back to Group level this term but he's respected on ratings and is a similar type to last year's winner of this race (for same connections).

9/2

3rd

2

(1)

15th Apr 2026

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Boiling Point

9st 2lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Can lead and goes well here, as he showed again when defying top-weight in the Cambridgeshire handicap over C&D (good to firm) in September; left the impression the run was just needed and/or the trip stretched him when close fourth of five in Winter Derby at Lingfield (1m2f, AW) in February; a bold bid is very much on the cards.

11/4

OUR TIP

Form: 12-125 D BF

Last run: 63 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Has taken his form to a new level, notably 1m Listed success, since switched to artificial surfaces; ran creditably in first-time cheekpieces (retained) on finals day at Newcastle most recently; the query is whether his very useful AW form can be transferred back to turf.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(8)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 2

15:00 Newcastle (AW)

Chancellor

9st 12lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

He has improved for gelding/wind operations, winning a 7f handicap at Kempton and a 1m Listed event at Southwell this winter; narrowly denied in the Winter Derby six weeks ago (not a vintage renewal); the demands of this race should be more suitable and he still has Pattern-race aspirations; he'll need to be a Group horse to give the weight away all round but he is an each-way contender at the very least; cheekpieces now added.

11/2

Form: 11-536 D BF

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Very useful performer whose good-ground form includes a close second in this race last year and respectable sixth to stablemate Boiling Point at Goodwood latest start; has registered the majority of wins on softer, notably in Group 2 in 2024 and Listed grade in 2025 (both 1m); major player.
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: 5608-4 CD

Last run: 51 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Versatile as regards ground; gelded prior to below-par effort in sole start this term; smart on his day and is 2-2 at Epsom, namely wins at this meeting for the last two years; beat Ice Max (who received 3lb) by just under 1l in this race 12 months ago and warrants respect back here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 1570-4

Last run: 69 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Not totally solid on his form since 150-1 success when pacemaker in last year's Sussex Stakes (1m, good); below par in Listed grade in sole run this season; however, record of 3-3 at Goodwood bodes well for this first visit to Epsom, which is a fairly similar track; return to best is plausible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(4)

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:57 Doncaster

Qirat

9st 2lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Ralph Beckett

150-1 winner of the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood (1m, good) in July when acting as a pacemaker; that form can't be taken at face value but he was fifth in the Group 1 City Of York Stakes (7f, good to firm) next time and that performance reads well in the context of most of today's opposition; versatile ground-wise; goes well fresh and could be involved on his reappearance.

7/2

5th

5

(3)

23rd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 York

Qirat

9st 8lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Ralph Beckett

Supplemented to act as pacemaker in Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood (1m, good) last month, when he slipped the field and won at 150-1; that took Goodwood record to 3-3; subsequently supplemented for this race at cost of £40,000; there have to be major doubts about whether he can reproduce that latest form, and on his previous exploits he has something to find; first run here.

20/1

Form: 53153-

Last run: 189 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Respectable fourth in this contest last year but showed better form, including success in conditions race and third-place finishes at Listed/Group level, over 1m2f/1m3f later in 2025; doesn't seem to be crying out for this drop back in trip on reappearance.
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

Form: 180-21

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Appears versatile as regards ground; Group 3 winner at last year's Glorious Goodwood and better than ever in two French races this term, making all at Longchamp (1m Listed) latest; reasonably solid in current form returned to home soil, and further progress is possible to boot.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

10

(1)

23rd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 York

Seagulls Eleven

9st 3lb

J: James Doyle

T: Hugo Palmer

3yo who has done well since being gelded, finishing second in a Listed race at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) then beating his three rivals to win the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood (1m, soft); supplemented for this race at a cost of £40,000 but could be vulnerable in this grade.

25/1

1st

5

(2)

1st Aug 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

13:55 Goodwood

Seagulls Eleven

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Hugo Palmer

Much his best effort of this season when chasing home Opera Ballo (King of Cities 1.5l back in third) in a 1m Newmarket Listed race (good to firm) 22 days ago; debut second last year came on soft, as did his respectable fourth of five in the Dewhurst.

11/2

Form: 43-456

Last run: 51 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Form dipped last time, having raced too freely; otherwise a broadly consistent sort who may rebound, provided he settles better; has Group form and can't be dismissed from a ratings perspective but may be more interesting when back at the Curragh where he's 2-2 (only 1-15 elsewhere).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

(2)

15th Apr 2026

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Skukuza

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Ed Dunlop

Won a valuable Curragh handicap last May and impressed in a Listed win there (also 1m, good) the following month; again had Ryan Moore riding when he looked a shade unlucky in York Group 3 (1m1f, good to firm) in August; finished last year with good efforts in Group 2s at Leopardstown and Longchamp; back in that sort of form when close fifth in Saint-Cloud Group 3 (1m, soft) 17 days ago and he's a likely player with Moore retaking the reins.

5/1

4th

5

(7)

13th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 0f 0y

16:55 Leopardstown

Skukuza

9st 10lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: Ed Dunlop

Progressive 4yo won over this trip at the Curragh this term in premier handicap and Listed contest (beating Alakazi); similar level of form unlucky-in-running third in Group 2 Strensall Stakes at York last month; below-par run on soft ground in between raises concerns but big player if handling it.

3/1

Betting Forcast

5/1 Boiling Point, 10/1 Chancellor, 5/1 Ice Max, 9/4 Persica, 6/1 Qirat, 14/1 Royal Playwright, 7/1 Seagulls Eleven, 7/1 Skukuza

Verdict

Although his Sussex win remains something of a fluke, QIRAT is nevertheless very interesting on these terms switched to a track that promises to suit him well. Persica, who remains unbeaten here and bids for a Diomed double, is feared most ahead of last year's runner-up Ice Max.[Steve Boow]

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Persica

SPOTLIGHT:

Qirat

POSTDATA:

Persica