Tomorrow / 17.35 Ascot

17.35

Good To Firm

Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £99242.5
  • 1m 1f 212y
  • Class 1
  • 10 runners
ITV
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Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sunny

OUR TIP

Form: 9131-7

Last run: 55 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Went very close in the Group 3 Solario at Sandown (7f, soft) last August and won the Group 3 Prix des Chenes at Chantilly (1m, soft) in September; his trainer won this two years ago and this 3yo is much better than he showed in the Group 3 Classic Trial at Sandown (1m2f, good) in April on his reappearance, but he's hard to fancy on the back of that heavy defeat (50-1).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

(6)

24th Apr 2026

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

15:35 Sandown

Oceans Four

9st 3lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Brian Meehan

Narrowly bagged Group 3 honours at Chantilly (1m, soft) in September when last seen but still needs to prove he can repeat the clear peak form he appeared to show when going close at 25-1 in an exciting Solario at Sandown; gelding who has no major entries in the future.

20/1

3rd

5

(6)

30th Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Sandown

Oceans Four

9st 3lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Brian Meehan

Similar type to Looka, being a twice-raced individual who scored last time but doesn't scream Group class; indeed, he's bottom of this pack judged on the bare form of his Ffos Las success (7.5f, good).

25/1

Form: 55-160

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won the Group 3 Craven at Newmarket (1m, good) in April in first-time cheekpieces (retained) then kept on for respectable sixth in the 2,000 Guineas there (1m, good to firm); faded when 12th of 16 in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly (10.5f, good) but this trip may well be within range if he settles better; not ruled out back down in grade under 4lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

(10)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Oxagon

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Very useful colt but possibly needs to dominate, having gained both wins from the front, latest when taking well to first-time cheekpieces and comfortably beating Avicenna by 2l in the Craven Stakes over C&D (good; Group 3) on seasonal debut; by no means certain to have his own way in this bigger field and he's held by a couple of today's opponents on Dewhurst running; otherwise may have more to offer in the retained headgear.

10/1

1st

6

(1)

16th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Oxagon

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Unsuited by heavy ground in the Futurity on final 2yo start; steadily progressive otherwise, and ran well in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster and Dewhurst at Newmarket; however, chance of opening his Group account largely depends on the effects of first-time headgear.

10/1

Form: 28-231

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Cheekpieces fitted in last two races; second to subsequent Derby winner Christmas Day in Group 3 Ballysax at Leopardstown (1m2f, good to yielding) in April and again finished close up in Group 3 Derby Trial over same C&D (good) before easy Listed win from the front there (1m4f, soft) a fortnight ago; holds leading form claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(1)

4th Jun 2026

Yielding

1m 4f 0y

18:30 Leopardstown

Endorsement

9st 5lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Second to the current Derby favourite Benvenuto Cellini on debut at Killarney; best display at two when second to Pierre Bonnard in the Zetland Stakes; this year's course form involves links to Derby candidates; stuck to his task to take second when Pierre Bonnard flopped in the Ballysax; pick of these on his close third behind James J Braddock and Pierre Bonnard in the Derby Trial.

2/7

3rd

1

(5)

10th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

15:40 Leopardstown

Endorsement

9st 5lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: A P O’Brien

Chased home the current Derby favourite Benvenuto Cellini on debut at the Curragh; won a maiden at Tipperary before second to Pierre Bonnard in the Zetland Stakes; made the running for Pierre Bonnard at Saint-Cloud before fading; same role in the Ballysax here four weeks ago; proved himself a smart type in his own right, sticking to his task as Pierre Bonnard flopped.

3/1

Form: 212

Last run: 42 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Went close on debut in March (1m, AW) and won by 3l at Yarmouth (1m, good) in April; beaten 7l when second of five in Listed race at Chester (10.3f, good) last month but it's not just the winner Constitution River who has franked that form, and he still looked a work in progress; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 143-

Last run: 250 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Won on debut at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) last August before Listed fourth at Haydock (1m, good), and he rallied for close third in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) last October when last seen; he's the only one of these who hasn't run this year and it's a tough assignment on his comeback, but his latest form reads well and he has potential at 1m2f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(7)

11th Oct 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:25 Newmarket

Glacius

9st 3lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Hugo Palmer

Has shown fairly useful form in winning on the July course here and finishing fourth in Haydock Listed contest, both over 1m; however, needs improvement on bare ratings in this field.

20/1

Form: 2238-4

Last run: 67 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
0-5 since winning on debut at Leopardstown (7f, good) last May and he could do with settling better, while Ryan Moore rides stablemate Endorsement; however, he's run some big races in defeat and could build on April's reappearance fourth in the Group 3 Ballysax at Leopardstown (1m2f, good to yielding; Endorsement second); might have a part to play.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(5)

12th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 0y

16:55 Leopardstown

Italy

9st 5lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: A P O’Brien

Split the ill-fated Gewan and Distant Storm in the Acomb at York; then ran well behind Zavateri and stablemate Gstaad in National Stakes at the Curragh; repeated a hard-pulling tendency in the Dewhurst; needs to settle better to do full justice to his ability; hooded now for seasonal debut.

10/1

8th

5

(4)

11th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Italy

9st 3lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Ties in with several of today's rivals on his consistent Group form since debut win; split Gewan and Distant Storm in the Acomb at York on penultimate start, then ran well behind Zavateri and stablemate Gstaad in National Stakes at the Curragh; took a good hold both times, so there's potential for an even bigger effort if he settles better.

9/1

Form: 1-14 D BF

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Won on debut at Kempton (1m3f, AW) last December and followed up in Newmarket novice (1m2f, good) in April, again with something to spare; unplaced favourite in the Lingfield Derby Trial (11.6f, good to firm) but his top yard was going through a quiet spell and he's not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 21-15

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Won at York (1m, good) last October on second start and reappeared with Listed win at Newmarket (1m1f, good) in April; only fifth in the Group 2 Dante at York (10.2f, good) last month and he needs to raise his game, but he may be capable of better than he showed on that latest start; not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(3)

14th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

16:05 York

Morshdi

9st 2lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Brother to 1m2f and 14.5f (Group 2) winner Nakheel (RPR 110); won here (1m, good) on second start as 2yo and followed up in clearcut style in seven-runner Listed race at Newmarket (1m1f, good) four weeks ago; non-runner in 1m2f Listed race at Chester last week given the problem they had with the track; he has one of the best chances on form in this field and is on his way up.

7/2

Form: 11

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Made debut last month and he's 2-2, with comfortable novice wins at Doncaster (1m, good to firm) and Wolverhampton (8.6f, AW); takes a steep rise in grade but subsequent winners have emerged from both of his races and this Teofilo colt could be suited by the step up in trip; on the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 1-22

Last run: 48 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Won last November on sole 2yo start (7f, AW) and runner-up on both this term (1m2f, good/good to firm), most recently a Listed race at Newmarket; unexposed and his pedigree provides optimism that he will continue to progress for his top stable; not ruled out in first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Betting Forcast

50/1 Oceans Four, 6/1 Oxagon, 2/1 Endorsement, 9/1 Generic, 25/1 Glacius, 5/1 Italy, 9/1 Maho Bay, 7/1 Morshdi, 11/1 Mountain Cat, 8/1 My Love Is King

Verdict

Aidan O'Brien has won three of the last eight runnings and Ryan Moore's mount Endorsement holds leading form claims following his dominant Listed win at Leopardstown a fortnight ago. However, this could go to the unexposed MOUNTAIN CAT who showed serious promise last month when winning his first two starts and looks to have a very bright future. Endorsement is second choice ahead of Generic, whose inexperience was still evident when 7l runner-up to Constitution River in the Dee Stakes at Chester.[Ben Hutton]

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Oxagon

SPOTLIGHT:

Mountain Cat

POSTDATA:

Oxagon