15.35

8/1

Place: £1.20

Form: 23-313 C

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 12lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict

Sported headgear from the outset (also ridden by Rab Havlin all starts); won a handicap at this meeting last year on his way through the ranks; produced late with the first-time visor (kept since) over 2m at Sandown in May to win his first Group race and he did well to run on into third from well off the pace in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot (2m4f, good to firm) next time, albeit 6l behind Kyprios; this race might pan out a bit more favourably.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
3rd 5 (9)	18th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 2m 3f 210y Class 1	16:15 Ascot Sweet William 9st 4lb J: Robert Havlin T: John & Thady Gosden	Third and fourth in the last two renewals of this race and his 19l defeat last year was the only time in his career that he's finished out of the top three; being ridden closer to the pace that day seemingly backfired, as he's usually smuggled into each-way contention in the closing stages; beat Caballo De Mar (who gave 2lb) in one tight finish this year and not quite able to reel in Dubai Future in another; probably as good as ever but winning the Gold Cup may again prove a bit beyond him.	16/1
2nd 1 (4)	28th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1	18:12 Sandown Sweet William 9st 9lb J: Robert Havlin T: John & Thady Gosden	Won this in 2024 and has added three more Group-race wins, the latest on reappearance in this month's Sagaro Stakes at Ascot (2m, good to firm) where he was clear with subsequent Group 1 winner Caballo De Mar; leading claims despite 5lb penalty.	Evs
1st 2 (9)	1st May 2026 Good To Firm 1m 7f 209y Class 1	14:35 Ascot Sweet William 9st 9lb J: Robert Havlin T: John & Thady Gosden	Headgear and Rab Havlin all starts; not straightforward but he nearly always gives his running, including at this track; he did not have the top stayers to worry about last September when winning his second Doncaster Cup and the same seems to apply today, so he's a leading player.	2/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

3rd

5

(9)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

16:15 Ascot

9st 4lb

Third and fourth in the last two renewals of this race and his 19l defeat last year was the only time in his career that he's finished out of the top three; being ridden closer to the pace that day seemingly backfired, as he's usually smuggled into each-way contention in the closing stages; beat Caballo De Mar (who gave 2lb) in one tight finish this year and not quite able to reel in Dubai Future in another; probably as good as ever but winning the Gold Cup may again prove a bit beyond him.

16/1

2nd

1

(4)

28th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

18:12 Sandown

9st 9lb

Won this in 2024 and has added three more Group-race wins, the latest on reappearance in this month's Sagaro Stakes at Ascot (2m, good to firm) where he was clear with subsequent Group 1 winner Caballo De Mar; leading claims despite 5lb penalty.

Evs

1st

2

(9)

1st May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 7f 209y

Class 1

14:35 Ascot

9st 9lb

Headgear and Rab Havlin all starts; not straightforward but he nearly always gives his running, including at this track; he did not have the top stayers to worry about last September when winning his second Doncaster Cup and the same seems to apply today, so he's a leading player.

2/1

3rd

3 (2)

9/1

Place: £1.95

Form: 135-37 C

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict

Took the 1m6f Queen's Vase from the front at Royal Ascot 2023; ran creditably while put in his place on next three starts, including when third in the Yorkshire Cup at York in May when shaping as if further would suit; failed to prove that with a tame show in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot (15-2), which was disappointing notwithstanding the 2m4f; this is his first go at 2m.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
1st 3 (2)	13th Jun 2026 Good 1m 5f 188y Class 1	15:00 York Gregory 9st 2lb J: James Doyle T: John & Thady Gosden	Won Group 2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot (1m6f, good) in 2023 and third in Group 2 Lonsdale Cup here (2m, good) in August 2024; absent since disappointing run in Saudi Arabia in February 2025 (wind op since) and returns with something to prove, but he's a major player if retaining his peak ability.	9/2
5th 2 (3)	13th Sep 2024 Good 2m 1f 197y Class 1	15:35 Doncaster Gregory 9st 7lb J: James Doyle T: John & Thady Gosden	Took the 1m6f Queen's Vase from the front at Royal Ascot 2023; supporting roles in his six races since but the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot was his only flop; career-best form in the Goodwood Cup next time, beaten a head by Sweet William for second; third at York (again 2m on good) last time was not at that level but some of the stars of the division are missing today and he has to be considered seriously.	11/4
3rd 3 (1)	23rd Aug 2024 Good To Firm 2m 0f 56y Class 1	14:25 York Gregory 9st 5lb J: James Doyle T: John & Thady Gosden	Took the 1m6f Queen's Vase from the front at Royal Ascot 2023; supporting roles in his five races since but the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot was his only disappointing show and he followed that with career-best form when third in the 2m Goodwood Cup late last month; effective here and he's one of the several leading candidates on form.	9/2

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

1st

3

(2)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

9st 2lb

Won Group 2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot (1m6f, good) in 2023 and third in Group 2 Lonsdale Cup here (2m, good) in August 2024; absent since disappointing run in Saudi Arabia in February 2025 (wind op since) and returns with something to prove, but he's a major player if retaining his peak ability.

9/2

5th

2

(3)

13th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:35 Doncaster

9st 7lb

Took the 1m6f Queen's Vase from the front at Royal Ascot 2023; supporting roles in his six races since but the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot was his only flop; career-best form in the Goodwood Cup next time, beaten a head by Sweet William for second; third at York (again 2m on good) last time was not at that level but some of the stars of the division are missing today and he has to be considered seriously.

11/4

3rd

3

(1)

23rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

9st 5lb