October 05 / 13.50 Ascot

13.50

Soft

BetMGM Rous Stakes (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £31190.5
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
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BetMGM Rous Stakes (Listed Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

11/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.00
  • Place: £2.50

Form: 020755 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Has plied his trade in handicaps this year, running close to his best and not beaten far in the Portland at Doncaster (5.6f, good; also handles good to soft) three weeks ago; doesn't have much to find on the figures and would come firmly into the reckoning if the ground dries out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

(5)

2nd May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:55 Newmarket

Rumstar

9st 9lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Jonathan Portman

Acts on flat tracks but he comes into his own when tackling a stiff test at 5f, as when winning this race last year, taking C&D record to 2-2, and roaring home to win a Group 3 at Sandown (good to firm) in July; cheekpieces worn in October are discarded; yard in form; not to be underestimated.

5/1

6th

1

(10)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 34y

Class 1

13:30 Newbury

Rumstar

9st 6lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Jonathan Portman

Three-time winner at Group 3 level, two of them this year, including when defying a penalty at Sandown in July (5f, good to firm); ran a stormer when fifth in the Nunthorpe four weeks ago; versatile ground-wise and he should make another bold bid.

3/1

5th

5

(14)

22nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

15:35 York

Rumstar

10st 1lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Jonathan Portman

Can look good over 5f, as when winning either side of a winter break and, more recently, when outstaying She's Quality in a Group 3 at Sandown (good to firm) in July; however, he's had some wobbles too and his fifth to Arizona Blaze in a Group 2 at the Curragh last time was one of them; quite capable of a good show on his best form and has been supplemented.

14/1

100/30

  • Place: £1.60

Form: -35128 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Useful and consistent 3yo; dead-heated for first in Listed race at Ayr (5f, good to firm) in June and ran as well as could have been expected when eighth of 18 in the Group 1 Flying Five at the Curragh last time; good to soft ground would be fine (below par only run on soft); not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

(12)

23rd May 2026

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

15:30 Haydock

Beautiful Diamond

9st 3lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: K R Burke

Three Listed wins, latest at Ayr (5.5f, soft) last September; returned with Listed third at Bath (5f, good) but well beaten in Longchamp Group 3 (5f, soft) since; fifth in this race in 2024; may again be vulnerable.

14/1

3rd

1

(1)

5th Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 10y

Class 1

15:10 Bath

Beautiful Diamond

9st 12lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Her three Listed wins have all come at Ayr, but she is fully effective elsewhere and ran right up to her best when a neck second at Ascot when last seen in October (5f, soft); can go well fresh and she is a leading contender despite her 3lb penalty.

2/1

2nd

6

(11)

4th Oct 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Ascot

Beautiful Diamond

9st 1lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Beaten only by triple Group 3 winner Rumstar in this race 12 months ago and she took her form to an even higher level when running away with a fillies' Listed event at Ayr (5.5f, soft) last month; fresher than most after just two outings this year and she may still have untapped potential.

11/4

14/1

Form: 5-4345 D

Last run: 48 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
0-6 since winning a 2yo Listed event over this trip last summer but there have been possible excuses in terms of trip and ground; now has her ideal conditions (5f, good ground or softer) and she could outrun her likely odds.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

(2)

5th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Ascot

Miaharris

8st 12lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: Owen Burrows

held up in last, switched right and headway over 1f out

14/1

5th

6

(2)

18th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

16:45 Pontefract

Miaharris

9st 1lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Owen Burrows

Close third in Group 3 at Chantilly (6f, soft) in May and seemed stretched by 7f when fair Listed fourth at Deauville (7f, good to soft) last month; might not be far away now back down in trip, provided she handles conditions (unproven on quick ground).

13/2

4th

4

(8)

26th Apr 2024

Good

0m 5f 10y

Class 2

13:15 Sandown

Miaharris

9st 5lb

J: William Buick

T: Owen Burrows

Impressed over C&D on debut and she overcame adversity to win a Newbury Listed event on her second start (5f, good to soft); came up short in Group 3 events on her final two runs (not clear run on second occasion); not fully exposed but she'll need to have done well over the winter to defy this mark on her handicap debut.

9/2

Form: 11-422 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Won the Super Sprint and Lowther as a 2yo and she posted a personal best when second in Group 3 at Newbury (5f, heavy) two weeks ago, passing Democracy Dilemma late on; nearly always gives her running and may not have reached her ceiling just yet.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(6)

5th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Ascot

Relief Rally

8st 12lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

towards rear

11/10

2nd

11

(5)

21st Sep 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 34y

Class 1

13:30 Newbury

Relief Rally

8st 13lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

dwelt start, in rear

11/2

2nd

13

(6)

18th May 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:25 Newbury

Relief Rally

8st 11lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Enjoyed a most productive 2yo season, winning the Super Sprint here (5f, good to soft) and the Lowther at York (6f, good to firm; Group 2); seemed not to stay 7f when only fourth of six in the Group 3 Fred Darling here on reappearance, her run flattening out; returning to sprinting should be ideal and she'll be a major player if recapturing her juvenile form.

4/1

OUR TIP

Form: -83709 D

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
6f Group 3 scorer during excellent 2023 campaign but hasn't been at his best this year, only ninth of 11 in the same event at the Curragh last Sunday; would be a player at his peak but currently has something to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

16

(12)

23rd May 2026

Good To Yielding

0m 6f 0y

17:25 Curragh

Go Athletico

8st 12lb

J: Adam Caffrey

T: Adrian McGuinness

Rated 108 in his prime so has dropped a long way, but won Scurry Handicap (beating Fort Vega and Back Down Under) here last summer and last month's Naas third (three of today's rivals behind) was a good effort; can't rule out.

12/1

3rd

10

(5)

27th Apr 2026

Yielding

0m 5f 205y

18:15 Naas

Go Athletico

8st 12lb

J: Adam Caffrey

T: Adrian McGuinness

Bounced back to form from out of the blue to win the Scurry at the Curragh last July; has generally struggled since and well beaten in both starts this season at the Curragh; needs a revival.

28/1

10th

5

(3)

28th Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

0m 5f 0y

13:55 Curragh

Go Athletico

9st 2lb

J: Adam Caffrey

T: Adrian McGuinness

Two-time course winner including a Group 3 in 2023 and the Scurry handicap last year off 2lb higher; well beaten on seasonal return here (6f, heavy) behind Dmaniac; should strip fitter now but probably best over a bit further these days.

25/1

Form: 263414 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
5f specialist; having a good season and made all in the Beverley Bullet (Listed; good to firm) in August before being collared late on when fourth in Group 3 at Newbury (heavy) two weeks ago; should make another bold bid from the front.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(4)

18th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 21y

Class 2

17:40 Windsor

Democracy Dilemma

9st 8lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Robert Cowell

Front-runner who looks well handicapped on his win at Haydock (5f, good) last autumn but he's been disappointing at Musselburgh and Goodwood this spring; has some questions to answer and he needs a major revival with headgear removed; stablemate of Rhythm N Hooves.

12/1

9th

1

(1)

1st May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Goodwood

Democracy Dilemma

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Robert Cowell

Useful front-runner who returned with a good third in 5f AW listed event at Lingfield in February; not at his best on soft ground at Musselburgh since but can bounce back here.

8/1

13th

1

(6)

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 1y

Class 2

15:42 Musselburgh

Democracy Dilemma

9st 12lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Robert Cowell

Tough 5f specialist who usually makes the running; a respectable third at Lingfield six weeks ago should have blown away the cobwebs; concedes weight all round but he's a classy type and should go well.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £23.90
Straight Forecast £22.99
Trifecta £108.40

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Relief Rally

SPOTLIGHT:

Rumstar

Daily Mail:

Democracy Dilemma

POSTDATA:

Relief Rally

NEWMARKET:

Relief Rally

The Times:

Relief Rally

Telegraph:

Relief Rally

D Express:

Relief Rally

Daily Mirror:

Relief Rally

The Sun:

Relief Rally

The Star:

Relief Rally

Daily Record:

Relief Rally

TOPSPEED:

Rumstar

The Guardian:

Rumstar