May 20 / 14.25 Newbury

14.25

Good

Al Rayyan Stakes (Registered As The Aston Park Stakes) (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £56710
  • 1m 4f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
ITV
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Al Rayyan Stakes (Registered As The Aston Park Stakes) (Group 3)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £2.15

Form: 114- D

Last run: 251 days

W: 8st 13lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Her race career did not begin until the end of July last year but she made a lightning start; snatched the Listed Galtres at York (1m4f, good) on second outing, having been pushed along in rear entering the straight; contrastingly always prominent in the St Leger at Doncaster (14.5f, good to soft) and went on 3f out, battling on well to finish second but demoted to fourth due to interference; tongue tied first time today; very classy prospect if she builds on those initial achievements.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

(3)

20th May 2023

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:25 Newbury

Haskoy

8st 13lb

J: Frankie Dettori

T: Ralph Beckett

Her race career did not begin until the end of July last year but she made a lightning start; snatched the Listed Galtres at York (1m4f, good) on second outing, having been pushed along in rear entering the straight; contrastingly always prominent in the St Leger at Doncaster (14.5f, good to soft) and went on 3f out, battling on well to finish second but demoted to fourth due to interference; tongue tied first time today; very classy prospect if she builds on those initial achievements.

7/2

4th

8

(3)

11th Sep 2022

Good To Soft

1m 6f 115y

Class 1

15:55 Doncaster

Haskoy

9st 0lb

J: Frankie Dettori

T: Ralph Beckett

raced freely, in touch with leaders, pushed along and led 3f out, ridden over 2f out, edged left and badly hampered rival 2f out, edged right and headed inside final furlong, no extra inside final 110yds, finished 2nd, placed 4th

5/1

8/1

  • Place: £3.85

Form: 13310- C BF

Last run: 196 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: 69/4-3

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Well-beaten favourite in the 2021 Derby; all subsequent runs that year were in USA (won first of them) and Hong Kong; well below form when blinkered on Lingfield AW in November on sole start last season and he was again well held in Listed race at Navan (1m6f, heavy) this April; today's trip/ground looks more suitable but confidence in him has been seriously dented.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(2)

29th Jul 2023

Soft

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:40 Ascot

Bolshoi Ballet

9st 9lb

J: Sean Levey

T: A P O’Brien

One of four runners for Ballydoyle; losing spell goes back to his Belmont Derby success two years ago; retains plenty of ability and finished second in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot (1m2f, good) most recently; still very useful but he's bottom of this elite pack on ratings.

100/1

2nd

5

(1)

20th Jun 2023

Good

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Bolshoi Ballet

9st 5lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

1m2f Grade 1 winner in the US in 2021; lightly raced in the last 18 months but showed he retains his ability when close third in 1m4f Newbury Group 3 (good) one month ago and it's possible he could take another step forward now; in the mix.

7/1

3rd

1

(7)

20th May 2023

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:25 Newbury

Bolshoi Ballet

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Well-beaten favourite in the 2021 Derby; all subsequent runs that year were in USA (won first of them) and Hong Kong; well below form when blinkered on Lingfield AW in November on sole start last season and he was again well held in Listed race at Navan (1m6f, heavy) this April; today's trip/ground looks more suitable but confidence in him has been seriously dented.

9/1

5/4

Form: /2231- C

Last run: 317 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
2021 victories included the Breeders' Cup Turf; while he looked less than straightforward in 2022, two of his placed efforts (Meydan and Belmont Park) last spring were among his best form and he ended that campaign with a Group 2 win over 1m4f at Newmarket in July; not one to trust implicitly but he again brings clearly the best form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

(4)

7th Jul 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

15:05 Sandown

Yibir

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Best on good or firmer; 2021 victories included the Breeders' Cup Turf but there were mixed messages (he looked less than straightforward) in his abbreviated 2022 campaign; 317 days off before below form in his two starts this term but the latest was the 2m4f Gold Cup at Royal Ascot (7f further than he'd gone before) and he showed enough, passing some fading rivals, to suggest he is still very much the one to beat over 2m at this much lower level.

1/2

6th

10

(6)

22nd Jun 2023

Good

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Yibir

9st 4lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Best on good or firmer; 2021 victories included Breeders' Cup Turf but there were mixed messages (he looked less than straightforward) in his abbreviated 2022 campaign; had clearly the best form going into Newbury Group 3 last month when he came only fourth, admittedly after 317 days off; usually stays on well and his dam won at up to 2m, but it's hard to be confident that this test (7f further than he's gone before) will see him back in the best light.

11/1

4th

6

(5)

20th May 2023

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:25 Newbury

Yibir

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

2021 victories included the Breeders' Cup Turf; while he looked less than straightforward in 2022, two of his placed efforts (Meydan and Belmont Park) last spring were among his best form and he ended that campaign with a Group 2 win over 1m4f at Newmarket in July; not one to trust implicitly but he again brings clearly the best form.

5/4

OUR TIP

8/1

Form: 226-42 BF

Last run: 77 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Can front-run; well below form here last September on final 4yo start but ran creditably for minor honours in two Group races at Meydan (1m6f and 1m4f) early this year; form player but it's a little disconcerting that he has not won since 2021 Royal Ascot.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(5)

29th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:50 Newmarket (July)

Kemari

9st 5lb

J: Dougie Costello

T: Charlie Appleby

pressed leader, led over 7f out

7/1

5th

3

(6)

19th Aug 2023

Good

1m 5f 61y

Class 1

13:50 Newbury

Kemari

9st 7lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Raced mostly on good/firmer but ran well on soft once in France; broke a losing sequence when dropping from Group races to a five-runner Listed event at Newmarket (1m4f) seven weeks ago on latest outing; has proven stamina and plenty of form that would see him seriously involved.

4/1

1st

3

(2)

1st Jul 2023

Good To Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:15 Newmarket (July)

Kemari

9st 2lb

J: James Doyle

T: Charlie Appleby

Raced mostly on good/firmer; losing spell goes back to his Queen's Vase success two years ago but he has shown smart form on occasions since, including in Group races at Meydan this year; has the advantage of recent match practice, unlike Al Aasy and stablemate New London; runner-up in this race 12 months ago; can't be dismissed.

6/1

Form: 7-11 D

Last run: 40 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 after and absent until last month, when he won a 1m4f AW novice event at Lingfield by 4l and another at Wolverhampton by 10l; today's opposition demands much 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

10/1

Form: 1/130- D BF

Last run: 273 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Started off last season very well in two 1m4f handicaps, not getting the run of the race on second occasion; last of 20 when favourite for the Ebor at York in August on his only run afterwards, finishing lame; gelded since and needs to resume improvement on this reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(4)

1st Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 4

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Gaassee

10st 2lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Jack Morland

Has proved consistent since reappearing for Jack Morland in January (4243514) with the win coming at Haydock (10.5f, good to firm) in August; record around here (1m3f/1m4f) reads 123 and another big run would be no surprise.

5/1

4th

6

(12)

13th Sep 2025

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 3

16:00 Chester

Gaassee

9st 6lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Jack Morland

Mostly competitive off reduced marks for new yard this season and Haydock (1m2f, good to firm) five weeks ago saw him lead final 1f to break a long losing run, doing it in good style too; back up 5lb but he used to be effective on a range of ground and has returned to serious calculations.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £20.90
Straight Forecast £19.14
Trifecta £126.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Haskoy

RP RATINGS:

Yibir

TOPSPEED:

Israr

Telegraph:

Old Harrovian

The Times:

Haskoy

The Guardian:

Haskoy

Daily Mail:

Haskoy

Daily Mirror:

Haskoy

The Star:

Haskoy

Daily Record:

Haskoy

POSTDATA:

Yibir

NEWMARKET:

Yibir

D Express:

Yibir

The Sun:

Yibir