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

1st

3

(9)

4th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 10y

Class 1

13:50 Sandown

Rumstar

9st 5lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Jonathan Portman

Creditable second on reappearance when bidding for a second win in the Palace House at Newmarket; hindered by poor draw at Royal Ascot since; landed this contest (good to firm) 12 months ago, despite carrying 3lb extra, and has no penalty this time; major contender.

11/4

25th

10

(4)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

15:40 Ascot

Rumstar

9st 7lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Jonathan Portman

Acts well on good or quicker; Listed winner over C&D; has had excuses for two Group 1 defeats at 5f in Britain, not ideally drawn in this race last June and checked in his run in the Nunthorpe at York in August, albeit still doing well in the latter in fifth of 17 to Asfoora; useful comeback at Newmarket in April when a close second to Night Raider; can be thereabouts.

14/1

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

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

1

(2)

20th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

16:08 Ayr

Beautiful Diamond

9st 9lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

3-3 at Ayr, all in Listed races including a dead-heat in this race in 2024; ran another fine race when third to classy stablemate Night Raider in the Group 2 Temple Stakes four weeks ago; obvious chance back down in grade and rain won't bother her.

11/8

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

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

6th

19

(1)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 63y

14:50 Curragh

Go Athletico

8st 7lb

J: Nathan Crosse

T: Adrian McGuinness

Nine-time turf winner, including a 6f Group 3 at this venue in 2023, Listed contests and this event 12 months ago; was once rated 108, so has dropped a long way; inconsistent this year; good run when second here last time, 3lb wrong

14/1

2nd

6

(14)

27th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

17:05 Curragh

Go Athletico

9st 3lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: Adrian McGuinness

Nine-time turf winner, including a C&D Group 3 in 2023, Listed contests and a C&D premier handicap last July; was once rated 108, so has dropped a long way; positive third at Naas in April (6f, good); no luck in running over C&D last month; well below his best over 7f at Cork last time.

14/1

12th

15

(1)

14th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

14:37 Cork

Go Athletico

8st 7lb

J: Julian Pietropaolo

T: Adrian McGuinness

Nine-time turf winner, including a Group 3 and Listed contests, was once rated 108 so has dropped a long way; positive third at Naas in April (6f, good); put a line through his latest Curragh run where he got no run; 3lb wrong but not ruled out.

14/1

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

20th

1

(3)

6th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Epsom

Democracy Dilemma

9st 12lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Robert Cowell

Front-runner; second in this race in 2024 off 3lb higher; ran away with a 5f handicap at Haydock (good ground) last September off this mark; unable to hit the same heights since but his AW third in February was a fair run; won't be inconvenienced should there be a marked deterioration in the going but a full revival is required; visor returns having been left off latest.

10/1

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

+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