May 11 / 15.15 Chester

15.15

Good To Soft

tote.co.uk Bet £5 Get £20 Ormonde Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £67224
  • 1m 5f 84y
  • Class 1
  • 8 runners
ITV4
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tote.co.uk Bet £5 Get £20 Ormonde Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.75
  • Place: £1.20

Form: /1212- CD BF

Last run: 201 days

W: 9st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced in recent seasons but he was better than ever last term, kicking off with a ready win in this race, followed by an excellent second in the Irish St Leger and smooth win in 1m4f Group 3 at Ascot; kept to softer than good these days when on turf; strong candidate again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(8)

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Hamish

9st 6lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

9yo who's won a hatful of Group 3s at 1m4f-1m6f in his long and distinguished career, one over C&D; beaten a head in this race on heavy going in 2022; produced a rather disappointing show in Ascot Group 3 three weeks ago but had Listed wins over Military Academy and Mount Atlas earlier this term and holds a major chance if returning to form.

7/2

2

(2)

4th Oct 2025

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

14:25 Ascot

Hamish

9st 6lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

9yo who's won a hatful of Group 3s at 1m4f-1m6f in his long and distinguished career, including this race in 2022; also won 1m4f Listed races on last three outings, including in a good scrap involving Military Academy at Goodwood in June and when that rival disappointed at Chester three weeks ago; all of his turf starts in the last six years have been on softer than good; back up to Group 3 but with leading form claims again and a tremendous attitude.

7/4

1

(2)

13th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 1

14:05 Chester

Hamish

9st 8lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

9yo who's won a hatful of Group 3s over 1m4f-1m6f in his long and distinguished career, including two Ormondes over the extended 1m5f here; also won 1m4f Listed races at the Curragh (yielding) last November and Goodwood (soft; by a neck from Military Academy at level weights) this June, which were his last two outings; all of his turf starts in the last six years have been on softer than good, so rain may be needed.

10/11

16/1

  • Place: £4.60

Form: /357-5

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Acts on soft; caught close home in the 2021 Irish Derby; however, he wasn't seen again in 2021 after injuring himself in the King George and was way below form in all three starts last term; took a step back in the right direction when blinkers went on for his reappearance for new yard at Newbury last month but needs much better than that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(2)

3rd Nov 2023

Heavy

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:25 Newmarket

Lone Eagle

9st 6lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Went close in the 2021 Irish Derby; not so good since and soundly beaten in this race last year on his sole run on heavy going; second to Hamish at Chester (1m5f, soft) in May is clearly the best of his five runs for new yard this season; his next two runs were admittedly Group 1s but Chester Listed race last time gives him lots to find.

10/1

3rd

1

(6)

2nd Sep 2023

Good To Soft

1m 6f 87y

Class 1

15:20 Chester

Lone Eagle

9st 7lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Went close in the 2021 Irish Derby for previous yard; not so good since but second of six in the 1m5f Group 3 Ormonde here (soft) in May was clearly his best result this term; tried 2m4f in the Gold Cup at Ascot next time and 2m in the Goodwood Cup on latest; good form chance.

3/1

Form: /1151- C

Last run: 328 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Front-runner; easily made all in Chester Vase (1m4f, soft) 12 months ago; fifth of 17 in the Derby at Epsom (good; sole run in cheekpieces) next time and scraped home in front when 11-10 in the Group 2 King Edward VII at Royal Ascot (good to form) 13 days later; absent since (reportedly due to hairline fracture) but a leading contender if resuming in good form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(1)

24th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Changingoftheguard

9st 3lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Front-running Ballydoyle colt who held on narrowly from wayward Grand Alliance in the King Edward VII Stakes at this meeting last year (1m4f, good to firm; final 3yo start), following his fifth-place finish in the Derby; may still have more to offer and looks interesting back here with Chester reappearance (third in the Ormonde; seemed to need the run) under his belt.

8/1

3rd

3

(4)

11th May 2023

Good To Soft

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:15 Chester

Changingoftheguard

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened gradually inside final furlong

9/4

Form: 572-24

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Has a 1-20 record on Flat (0-2 over hurdles) and runner-up nine times, including in five Listed races and a Group 3; stays 1m6f, but with heavy ground perhaps excusing the scale of his defeat at the trip on latest outing; probably up against it even for a place today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(2)

25th Apr 2026

Yielding

1m 6f 0y

15:05 Navan

Sunchart

9st 5lb

J: Ben Coen

T: Andrew Slattery

Useful dual-purpose sort, 3-34 on Flat (and second on ten occasions); his only two stakes race wins from 28 attempts have been in the 1m2f Naas event in which he was third of eight last month; suited by testing conditions, drying ground against him.

12/1

3rd

2

(7)

22nd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

1m 2f 125y

16:22 Naas

Sunchart

9st 7lb

J: Andrew Slattery

T: Andrew Slattery

Useful dual-purpose sort, 3-33 on Flat (and second on ten occasions), 2-9 over hurdles; has won the last two editions of this race, significantly his only two stakes race wins from 27 attempts; has finished in the first two in five of his six races at this venue; out of his depth in Group 2/3 races on his only other Flat starts in 2026.

9/2

8th

5

(2)

13th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 4f 0y

15:50 Leopardstown

Sunchart

9st 9lb

J: Andrew Slattery

T: Andrew Slattery

Loves soft/heavy ground, dual 1m12f Naas Listed winner from three Flat wins; down the field in Galway Hurdle when last seen (ground too quick) and has had a short break since; ground now in his favour but faces stronger stayers at this trip.

12/1

10/1

Form: 80-128

Last run: 47 days

W: 9st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Substantial advances in his initial starts last season and, after wind surgery, he again hit new heights on his first two outings (Dubai and Saudi Arabia) this year; his form dipped in another Meydan race on latest start but that was in a higher grade; effective at 1m4f-2m; a big contender on his best form, with more to prove if the ground is worse than good to soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

(12)

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 39y

Class 2

13:30 Carlisle

Enemy

9st 11lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Ian Williams

Durable veteran who won twice on the AW early this year; however, he was soundly beaten at Newcastle on Good Friday and faces some unexposed rivals on his return to turf.

25/1

10th

3

(5)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

16:42 Newcastle (AW)

Enemy

9st 10lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ian Williams

Snapped a losing sequence at Southwell (1m4f, Tapeta) in January before close third at Wolverhampton (2m), and returned to winning ways at Lingfield (2m, Polytrack) latest; this 9yo is in a more competitive race today but there remains mileage in his mark judged on his old form; might not be far away.

14/1

1st

4

(1)

27th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 2

15:45 Lingfield (AW)

Enemy

9st 5lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ian Williams

Still very useful at the age of nine, getting his head back in front at Southwell (1m4f) on New Year's Day; split reopposing pair Roaring Legend and Brasil Power when creditable third of six over 2m at Wolverhampton three weeks ago but he has yet to win over this trip.

4/1

14/1

Form: 6071-3

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Unraced here; good record at Newbury, including career-best form when he took Group 3 last October (heavy) by a head from Hamish, who was not at his best; bit below form himself back at Newbury last month, in a race he won the year before, whereas winning this appears to require a new high.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(6)

26th Oct 2024

Heavy

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Max Vega

9st 6lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Ralph Beckett

raced in second

10/1

9th

7

(9)

20th Apr 2024

Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:30 Newbury

Max Vega

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

prominent

20/1

9th

7

(9)

20th Apr 2024

Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:30 Newbury

Max Vega

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

prominent

20/1

Form: 13310- BF

Last run: 187 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Close third at Royal Ascot and off 105 days before winning at Doncaster (1m4f, heavy) last October; flopped when favourite for the November Handicap (back on heavy) but that's not too hard to forgive and he's one to consider despite this move out of handicaps and into a Group race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

(1)

21st Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

15:35 York

Israr

9st 8lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Record of 321 since wearing blinkers, most recently landing the Wolferton at Royal Ascot (1m2f Listed, good to firm) where he won well and looked better than ever; headgear retained; faces a stiffer task on first Group 1 attempt and owner's retained rider Jim Crowley prefers Alflaila.

33/1

1st

9

(8)

18th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

18:40 Ascot

Israr

9st 5lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: John & Thady Gosden

Group 2 winner (1m4f) last term; beaten favourite in two runs in Britain with blinkers added this spring but he ran right up to his best when second to Passenger in 1m2f Chester Group 2 (good to firm; also acts on heavy) last time, with the pair well clear; solid chance.

7/2

2nd

3

(3)

10th May 2024

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

15:05 Chester

Israr

9st 3lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: John & Thady Gosden

took keen hold, prominent, led over 1f out, headed final 110yds

7/2

Form: 7-11

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Well beaten at Newmarket (1m2f, good) in April 2022 on debut; gelded not long afterwards and absent until last month, when he won a 1m4f AW novice event at Lingfield by 4l and another at Wolverhampton by 10l; there's far more strength to today's opposition and they demand improved form, but it's hard to pin down just how good he is.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(13)

18th Apr 2025

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 2

16:07 Newcastle (AW)

Old Harrovian

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

towards rear, good headway over 1f out, pressed winner final strides, did well in the circumstances

7/2

2nd

5

(13)

18th Apr 2025

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 2

16:07 Newcastle (AW)

Old Harrovian

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Cruised into contention and breezed clear for an easy win over C&D in January when last seen, taking AW record to 3-6 and looking a suitable type for this prize; could well defy a 9lb rise.

7/2

1st

6

(5)

17th Jan 2025

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 2

14:45 Newcastle (AW)

Old Harrovian

9st 1lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Andrew Balding

travelled strongly, held up in rear, steady headway when short of room from 2f out, switched right and led final 110yds, soon niggled along briefly and went clear, readily

7/2

Non-runners

Israr, Old Harrovian

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.70
Straight Forecast £17.87
Tricast £23.39
Trifecta £26.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Hamish

RP RATINGS:

Changingoftheguard

POSTDATA:

Enemy

The Times:

Changingoftheguard

D Express:

Changingoftheguard

The Star:

Changingoftheguard

Daily Record:

Changingoftheguard

TOPSPEED:

Hamish

NEWMARKET:

Hamish

Telegraph:

Hamish

The Guardian:

Hamish

Daily Mail:

Hamish

Daily Mirror:

Hamish

The Sun:

Hamish