June 20 / 14.30 Ascot

14.30

Good To Firm

Norfolk Stakes (Group 2)

  • Prize money: £85065
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 13 runners
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Norfolk Stakes (Group 2)

Runners: 13 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £13.00
  • Place: £3.25

Form: 1 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
460,000euros breeze-up 2yo; 6-4 favourite for his debut in a Beverley conditions event (5f, good to firm) 12 days ago and had to dig deep to get the better of Moving Force by a short head; now 7lb worse off with that rival, but he did show signs of greenness so is likely to improve with the experience under his belt; holds a Phoenix Stakes entry.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

10

(4)

20th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Ascot

Shareholder

9st 3lb

J: James Doyle

T: K R Burke

travelled strongly, prominent towards far side, ridden to lead over 1f out, hung left inside final furlong, kept on, 1st of 5 in group

11/2

1st

6

(5)

8th Jun 2024

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

14:40 Beverley

Shareholder

8st 13lb

J: James Doyle

T: K R Burke

dwelt start, ran green soon after start, in rear, smooth headway on outer 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, faced challenge final 110yds, kept on towards finish, just did enough

6/4

20/1

  • Place: £3.40

Form: 52

Last run: 46 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Some promise when fifth of eight on his debut in a Newbury maiden (5f, good to soft) in April and improved when going down by a neck in a novice at Newmarket (5f, good) last month; the only one in this field yet to win, but this race went to a maiden in 2019 and 2023 and the form of the Newmarket contest has worked out spectacularly well; entered in the Phoenix Stakes.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

(3)

13th Sep 2024

Good

0m 5f 3y

Class 1

15:00 Doncaster

Tropical Storm

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Second in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot (good to firm) before stopping quickly tried over 6f at Goodwood; bounced back from that with a 5f Listed win at York but from a good draw he got first run on the unfortunate Magnum Force and was all out to prevail; could struggle to confirm those placings with the second.

15/2

1st

11

(1)

24th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

16:45 York

Tropical Storm

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Failed to get home over 6f in the Richmond last time; progressive form over 5f otherwise, peaking with second in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot (good to firm); one of his siblings finished second in this race last year; big player.

7/2

8th

9

(4)

1st Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:25 Goodwood

Tropical Storm

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Thrice-raced colt who remains a maiden but is heading appreciably in the right direction, solid second in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot (5f, good to firm) most recently; that form has received two notable boosts since; should have no problem with this easy 6f; strong contender.

9/2

8/1

  • Place: £2.90

Form: 121 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
All three runs at the Curragh, making just about all on his debut in a maiden in mid-March (5f, heavy) and although no match for Whistlejacket in a Listed contest (5f, soft) in May, he narrowly resumed winning ways in the Group 3 Marble Hill (6f, good) later in the month; this stiff 5f should suit him well and connections won this with a 150-1 shot last year; holds an entry in the Phoenix Stakes.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(9)

4th Oct 2024

Standard

0m 5f 0y

18:15 Dundalk (AW)

Arizona Blaze

9st 10lb

J: David Egan

T: Adrian Murray

midfield, headway up the centre 1f out, kept on well final 110yds

6/1

2nd

1

(4)

22nd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:25 York

Arizona Blaze

9st 9lb

J: David Egan

T: Adrian Murray

Carries top weight but has strong claims nevertheless having won the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh (6f, good) in May and finished third of five in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes there (6f, good to firm) latest.

5/2

6/5

Form: 21 D

Last run: 45 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
500,000gns yearling; brother to the stable's Little Big Bear (2yo Group 1 winner; RPR 121); second of 11 when evens for his Curragh debut (6f, soft to heavy) in April, but made no mistake when beating Arizona Blaze by nearly 4l in a Listed contest there (5f, soft) last month; high on the list for stable that has won this race three times since 2001, provided he copes with the likely quicker conditions; holds a Phoenix Stakes entry.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

(5)

28th Sep 2024

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Whistlejacket

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Versatile ground-wise; proving as precocious as his brother Little Big Bear and has followed a similar path to two of his trainer's seven Middle Park winners, having landed the Prix Morny (6f Group 1) at Deauville most recently; record is now 3-6; top rated and has excellent credentials.

4/5

2nd

4

(2)

10th Aug 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Whistlejacket

9st 5lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

started quickly, led, joined after 1f, led again under 2f out, headed 1f out, keeping on when bit short of room towards finish, no match for winner

5/6

1st

6

(1)

11th Jul 2024

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:25 Newmarket (July)

Whistlejacket

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

500,000gns yearling; failed to justify a shade of odds-on in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot but he still ran a big race on much faster ground than when hammering the third-placed Arizona Blaze the time before in a Listed race at the Curragh (5f, soft); this extra furlong looks a better fit (he made his debut at 6f and was running on strongly last time) and it would perhaps be unwise to ignore the apparent level of confidence behind him at Ascot.

6/4

10/1

Form: 1 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
£380,000 breeze-up 2yo; justified odds of 10-11 when making a successful debut in a Bath novice (5f, good) last month; well on top at the finish there, but he needs to improve plenty in order to be competitive in this field; holds a Phoenix Stakes entry.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(11)

13th Sep 2024

Good

0m 5f 3y

Class 1

15:00 Doncaster

Aesterius

9st 3lb

J: James Doyle

T: Archie Watson

towards near side, made virtually all, ridden and faced challenges over 1f out, edged left final 110yds, gamely

5/1

2nd

1

(10)

31st Jul 2024

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Goodwood

Aesterius

9st 3lb

J: James Doyle

T: Archie Watson

taken down early

9/4

1st

1

(6)

5th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 10y

Class 1

14:30 Sandown

Aesterius

9st 4lb

J: James Doyle

T: Archie Watson

£380,000 breeze-up buy who won readily on debut at Bath (5f, good) in May before close fifth of 13 in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot (5f, good to firm) 15 days ago; leading claims judged on that latest form.

10/11

OUR TIP

Form: 1 D

Last run: 58 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
6-1 when comfortably making a winning debut in a maiden at Yarmouth (5f, good to firm) in April, despite taking a keen hold; open to improvement but those behind him at Yarmouth haven't advertised the form since, so he needs to step up a good deal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(6)

14th Oct 2024

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 3

17:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Binadham

9st 11lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Winless since his debut at Yarmouth (5f) in April but he has kept good company, 13th in York Listed contest (5f) in August; holds very good form claims in these calmer waters after a break.

3/1

13th

2

(17)

24th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

16:45 York

Binadham

9st 2lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Ran well in the Norfolk but looks held by Tropical Storm on that bare form and failed to back it up in the Molecomb, when 50-1 again, most recently; not particularly solid.

20/1

13th

4

(12)

31st Jul 2024

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Goodwood

Binadham

9st 3lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Yarmouth winner on debut (5f, good to firm); has since performed creditably in the Norfolk (behind Aesterius) and a 5f soft-ground Listed race in France without suggesting he's a Group winner in waiting; others appeal more.

20/1

16/1

Form: 71 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
May have done a bit too much early when seventh of 11 on his debut in a York novice (6f, good) last month, and despite still looking inexperienced he had no problem with the drop in trip when successful in a Ripon novice (5f, good) 15 days ago; needs more again, but the stable won this in 2021 and with a 50-1 shot in 2022.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(8)

20th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Ascot

Loom

9st 3lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Richard Fahey

May have done a bit too much early when seventh of 11 on his debut in a York novice (6f, good) last month, and despite still looking inexperienced he had no problem with the drop in trip when successful in a Ripon novice (5f, good) 15 days ago; needs more again, but the stable won this in 2021 and with a 50-1 shot in 2022.

16/1

1st

5

(9)

5th Jun 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

18:20 Ripon

Loom

9st 4lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Richard Fahey

dwelt start, took keen hold, soon midfield, headway and led narrowly over 1f out, ridden and edged right final 110yds, won going away

7/2

7th

6

(11)

16th May 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

16:45 York

Loom

9st 7lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

85,000gns yearling; third foal; brother to Qatar 6f winner Desert Games (RPR 87); dam unraced half-sister to Listed-placed winners Busker (7f-1m2f) and Bergamask (1m) out of 1m2f Listed winner; from top northern yard and this Kodiac colt could go well on debut.

11/1

25/1

Form: 12 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Both starts over 5f on good to firm ground at Beverley, making a winning debut in a novice last month and going down by a short head to Shareholder under a penalty in a conditions event 12 days ago; now 7lb better off with that rival and no problem with the likely ground conditions; one of two runners for stable that has won two of the last three runnings; frame material.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

6

(20)

12th Sep 2024

Good

0m 6f 111y

Class 2

14:25 Doncaster

Moving Force

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

raced centre

20/1

5th

2

(4)

21st Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

17:20 York

Moving Force

9st 7lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

Won on debut at Beverley (5f, good to firm) in May and went very close there next time (5f, good to firm); no threat in Group 2 races the next twice but has more realistic claims now tackling a nursery; not ruled out.

10/1

8th

8

(10)

20th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Ascot

Moving Force

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

Both starts over 5f on good to firm ground at Beverley, making a winning debut in a novice last month and going down by a short head to Shareholder under a penalty in a conditions event 12 days ago; now 7lb better off with that rival and no problem with the likely ground conditions; one of two runners for stable that has won two of the last three runnings; frame material.

25/1

9th
4 (9)
Blinky

40/1

Form: 51 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
120,000gns yearling; pulled hard when fifth of six on his debut in a Salisbury novice (5f, soft) last month, but improved for the experience (as many from the stable do) and settled better when winning narrowly (first two clear) in another novice at Leicester (5f, good to soft) 12 days later; open to further improvement, but will need a good deal to be a contender in this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(5)

13th Sep 2024

Good

0m 6f 2y

Class 4

17:20 Doncaster

Blinky

9st 1lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Ed Walker

awkward start, in touch with leaders up the centre, switched to near side over 3f out, headway and switched left over 1f out, went fourth inside final 110yds

14/1

3rd

1

(5)

30th Aug 2024

Good

0m 5f 10y

Class 4

13:50 Sandown

Blinky

9st 9lb

J: William Buick

T: Ed Walker

Narrow winner of a 5f novice at Leicester in May (5f, good to soft); highly tried at Royal Ascot and came up short, as he has in two nurseries since; even best form might not be enough here.

8/1

5th

2

(1)

31st Jul 2024

Good

0m 5f 10y

Class 4

18:20 Sandown

Blinky

9st 6lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Ed Walker

Big improvement when winning a 5f Leicester novice on his second start; thrown in at the deep end at Royal Ascot (Group 2 Norfolk) next time but he was well held again on nursery debut at Windsor (5f, good to firm) two weeks ago; still unexposed but he has a bit to prove and his best form came on good to soft.

14/1

Form: 1

Last run: 55 days

W: 9st 0lb

2 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Justified favouritism when coming from off the pace to make a winning debut in a fillies' maiden special weight at Keeneland (5.5f, firm) in April; her performance can be marked up as she had to come very wide in order to gain a clear run turning into the stretch, but it looked as though she needed every yard of the trip that day so can't afford to find herself so far out of her ground here; trainer won this in 2013 and 2018.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

14

(6)

20th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Ascot

Saturday Flirt

9st 0lb

J: Joel Rosario

T: Wesley A Ward

dwelt start

9/1

11th
7 (12)
Milford

16/1

Form: 1 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
6-5 favourite and made no mistake when comfortably beating four rivals on his debut in a Hamilton maiden (5f, soft) last month; runner-up did little for the form at Chester on Saturday and this ground is likely to be very different, but he's open to improvement and the yard is having another fine season with its 2yos; stable also runs Shareholder; holds a Phoenix Stakes entry.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

(6)

12th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

13:30 York

Milford

9st 3lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: K R Burke

Made a winning debut at Hamilton in the spring and returned to form in first-time visor when beaten neck by a stablemate there (5f, heavy) last month; faces much stronger opposition here; one of two runners for Karl Burke.

25/1

2nd

1

(4)

4th Sep 2024

Soft

0m 5f 7y

Class 4

16:35 Hamilton

Milford

9st 10lb

J: Brandon Wilkie

T: K R Burke

took keen hold, led, faced challenges over 1f out, rallied when headed inside final furlong, just held

3/1

6th

2

(11)

24th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 6f 12y

Class 5

17:45 Windsor

Milford

9st 8lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: K R Burke

Beat a modest lot at Hamilton (5f, soft) but did so easily and was highly tried next time in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot; this is considerably easier than that and he retains potential after being gelded; entered in the Group 2 Mill Reef; proven in the mud should it get wet.

11/4

33/1

Form: 1 D

Last run: 52 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
£145,000 yearling; 100-30 when making a winning debut in a Southwell novice (5f, AW) in April; runner-up won next time, but this one needs to have improved plenty from that if he is to make an impact at this level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

10

(5)

24th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

16:45 York

The Man

9st 2lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Richard Spencer

Won on AW in April; subsequent duck eggs in the Norfolk and Molecomb appear to expose his limitations; faces another tough task and ideally needs a drop back to lesser company; hood fitted.

40/1

14th

12

(2)

31st Jul 2024

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Goodwood

The Man

9st 3lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Richard Spencer

£145,000 yearling; it wasn't much of a race that he won at Southwell (5f AW) but he showed lots of early pace before dropping away in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot (5f, good to firm); this sharper 5f will suit him well but being in stall 2 is unlikely to help, for all that a couple of winners have been drawn low in the last decade.

40/1

12th

11

(7)

20th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Ascot

The Man

9st 3lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Richard Spencer

£145,000 yearling; 100-30 when making a winning debut in a Southwell novice (5f, AW) in April; runner-up won next time, but this one needs to have improved plenty from that if he is to make an impact at this level.

33/1

Form: 122 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Quite impressive when making a winning debut at Chantilly (5f, heavy) in April and finished a close second behind Enchanting Empress (well held in yesterday's Queen Mary) in a conditions event over C&D (good to soft) and a Sandown Listed contest (5f, soft); possible frame material if handling the quicker ground and taking to the cheekpieces; holds a Phoenix Stakes entry.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(1)

26th Oct 2024

Heavy

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

13:25 Newbury

Rock Hunter

9st 8lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Amy Murphy

Gelded prior to respectable third in Salisbury conditions race (6f, heavy) last month; 0-7 since debut win but often highly tried and best form gives him a chance off this mark on handicap debut.

9/2

3rd

2

(1)

3rd Oct 2024

Heavy

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Salisbury

Rock Hunter

9st 8lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Amy Murphy

in touch with leaders, headway over 1f out, went third inside final 110yds, kept on

14/1

Non-runners

Evening Saigon

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £173.70
Straight Forecast £123.41
Tricast £1916.43
Trifecta £1473.40

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Whistlejacket

The Times:

Loom

Daily Mirror:

Saturday Flirt

Daily Record:

Shareholder

TOPSPEED:

Tropical Storm

SPOTLIGHT:

Arizona Blaze

The Star:

Moving Force

POSTDATA:

Whistlejacket

Telegraph:

Whistlejacket

The Guardian:

Whistlejacket

Daily Mail:

Whistlejacket

D Express:

Whistlejacket

The Sun:

Whistlejacket