October 05 / 14.25 Ascot

14.25

Heavy

BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £48203.5
  • 1m 3f 211y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
ITV
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BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.10
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 452521 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Often front-runner; won this race last year and played second fiddle to Hamish on next two outings; very reliable, including on soft and heavy going as he showed again when dominating a Listed race at Chester three weeks ago, winning it for the second year running; set for another leading role.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(8)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:05 Chester

Al Qareem

9st 5lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Justified favouritism in Listed grade at Musselburgh (1m6f, soft) on seasonal debut, making it five wins from his last nine starts and taking overall record to 13-36; Chester record reads 112, most recently running creditably in this race 12 months ago; again likely to give his running.

9/1

1st

1

(5)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 1

14:30 Musselburgh

Al Qareem

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Front-runner who keeps pulling out more, with 12 wins; the four last season (April-October) included career-best form; unraced here; has never won first time out but he has run creditably and is the clear form pick.

4/5

1

(5)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 209y

Class 1

12:55 Ascot

Al Qareem

9st 9lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Front-running 6yo who keeps pulling out more, with 12 wins now to his credit, including three of his four starts at Ascot; latest was over 1m4f two weeks ago, with three 1m6f wins earlier this season; he's never been at his best over this far, admittedly with stiff tasks but it's hard to ignore that Trawlerman gave him 3lb and a comprehensive beating at York in August.

12/1

9/4

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 25-211 CD

Last run: 49 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Six Group 3 wins (1m2f-1m5f) in total, with this season's in August on good to firm at Glorious Goodwood and Newbury; he has comparable form on good to soft but his latest race on soft (a novice win) was in 2020, so there's something to prove today unless it's dried out considerably.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(5)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:35 Newbury

Al Aasy

9st 2lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Held up; eight Group 3 wins are already in the bag, including this race in 2021 (his only appearance in it); has a slightly mixed reappearance record but he was almost as good as ever with his two wins last term, including first time out, and a return to that level would make this 9yo the one to beat.

5/2

9th

1

(4)

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Al Aasy

9st 9lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: William Haggas

4-8 at Newbury but he was a below-form third in this race last year on heavy going (acts on soft); Sandown in April and Glorious Goodwood in August made it eight Group 3 wins now in total; held up as usual in Ireland last time but he did not get run of the race; the chance of heavy ground is far more of a concern but he has a leading form chance if the ground is okay.

11/2

5th

1

(6)

13th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 4f 0y

15:50 Leopardstown

Al Aasy

9st 12lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: William Haggas

8yo finished second in this race two years ago and better form in recent years, now a winner of eight races at Group 3 level, including this term at Sandown (1m2f) and most recently last month's Glorious Goodwood Stakes, producing a tidy turn of foot in softish ground to win it for second consecutive year; sets a high standard.

6/4

20/1

Form: 1340-0 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
His nine wins (36 races) include two Group events in 2022 and one in 2023; always behind on belated reappearance three weeks ago but going down by 7l was no disgrace; acts on soft (a bit below form on heavy) but arguably has more to prove over this far on testing ground; may need a career best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(1)

29th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

18:50 Down Royal

Layfayette

9st 6lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Noel Meade

Winner of ten races, most recently last month's seasonal return in good-class Curragh conditions event, coming late in testing conditions (first attempt at 1m6f); never able to land a blow later same month on quicker ground in Saval Beg; first attempt at 2m.

13/2

6th

6

(7)

25th Apr 2026

Yielding

1m 6f 0y

15:05 Navan

Layfayette

9st 5lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Noel Meade

Winner of ten races; last of six stakes race wins was in 2023 Royal Whip over 1m2f at the Curragh; however, he proved that he retains considerable ability and enthusiasm when winning a conditions event over this trip at the Curragh on seasonal debut; (Dallas Star third, Emit fourth), that was his first 1m6f attempt, on his 47th outing.

10/1

1st

7

(2)

3rd Apr 2026

Soft

1m 6f 0y

17:27 Curragh

Layfayette

9st 5lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Noel Meade

Winner of nine races; last of six stakes race wins was in 2023 Royal Whip over 1m2f at this venue; best run last season when runner-up to an odds-on chance in 1m2f Group 3 event here in June; first try at this trip.

8/1

Form: 145023

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Twice a winner on soft and he took third in last October's 2yo Group 1 on heavy at Doncaster; soundly beaten in the Derby on fourth run this season; showed his best, however, with cheekpieces since when second of five in Listed race at Hamilton (1m3f, good) and running-on third of seven in Group 3 at Kempton (1m4f, AW debut); needs improvement but worth a second look.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(4)

26th Oct 2024

Heavy

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Gods Window

9st 0lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: John & Thady Gosden

led at steady pace

14/1

4th

8

(5)

5th Oct 2024

Heavy

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

14:25 Ascot

Gods Window

9st 0lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: John & Thady Gosden

slowly away, towards rear

12/1

3rd

5

(3)

7th Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 1

14:35 Kempton (AW)

Gods Window

8st 13lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: John & Thady Gosden

Twice a winner on soft and third in last October's 2yo Group 1 on heavy at Doncaster; soundly beaten in the Derby on fourth run this season; first-time cheekpieces and back near the Doncaster form when second of five in Listed race at Hamilton (1m3f, good) in July on latest outing but he has something to find with the comfortable winner Kalpana; makes AW debut.

16/1

Form: 4-5178 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Best form was a Listed win at Goodwood (1m4f, soft) in May; disappointing over about 1m6f in Group 3 at York later in May and Group 2 at Doncaster last month, both on good to soft; never going well when hooded in the latter and the headgear is now set aside; the return to softer ground offers some hope but she needs overall improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(2)

5th Oct 2024

Heavy

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

14:25 Ascot

Gather Ye Rosebuds

9st 3lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Jack Channon

prominent

16/1

8th

1

(4)

12th Sep 2024

Good

1m 6f 115y

Class 1

15:35 Doncaster

Gather Ye Rosebuds

9st 7lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Jack Channon

Best form was a Listed win at Goodwood (1m4f, soft) in May, but disappointing in 1m6f Group 3 at York three weeks later; all starts on softer than good, except when last of eight in the Musidora at York (good) in May 2023; worth another go at 1m6f and a hood is enlisted, but may need rain.

12/1

7th

2

(5)

25th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:20 York

Gather Ye Rosebuds

9st 2lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Jack Channon

in touch with leaders, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 1f out

9/2

7/1

Form: 7-3624

Last run: 84 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Seems to need ground softer than good, and acts on heavy; finished upsides Hamish and Al Qareem (who both gave 3lb) in Group 3 at Newbury in April and stayed on well when back-to-form, short-head second in Listed race at York (1m6f) in June; flopped 12 weeks ago when last seen but the ground may have been good (rather than official good to soft) and he would not be far away if returning to form again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(9)

2nd Apr 2025

Yielding

1m 6f 0y

19:15 Gowran Park

Salt Bay

9st 5lb

J: W J Lee

T: Henry De Bromhead

towards rear, headway over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong

100/30

7th

7

(9)

2nd Apr 2025

Yielding

1m 6f 0y

19:15 Gowran Park

Salt Bay

9st 5lb

J: W J Lee

T: Henry De Bromhead

towards rear, headway over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong

100/30

7th

13

9th Feb 2025

Soft To Heavy

1m 7f 150y

13:40 Navan

Salt Bay

11st 12lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

in touch with leaders, weakened gradually from 2 out

11/4

Form: 473-05

Last run: 147 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Very useful (1m4f-1m6f) last year for Aidan O'Brien, including on soft; won hurdles debut in February but his three races since (the last two on Flat) have not gone well; tried blinkers in May on latest; hopefully refreshed in his break but he needs a major career best to win.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

(3)

1st May 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:35 Goodwood

Peking Opera

8st 13lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Listed Flat winner for Aidan O'Brien and initially looked a good prospect for hurdling; however, has struggled badly under both codes since returning from an absence.

33/1

7th

1

(2)

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 1f 24y

Class 5

16:15 Bath

Peking Opera

9st 9lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Listed Flat winner for Aidan O'Brien; made a successful hurdle debut for this yard in early 2024 but it's been a struggle since then under both codes; has dropped a long way in the weights but he's hard to trust at the moment and others are preferred.

10/1

4th

2

27th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Fontwell

Peking Opera

11st 12lb

J: Jude Fernandes

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Listed Flat winner for Aidan O'Brien; made a successful hurdle debut for this yard in early 2024 but it's been a struggle since then under both codes and he's tough to trust at the minute.

12/1

Non-runners

Hamish

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.80
Straight Forecast £4.21
Tricast £53.76
Trifecta £42.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Al Qareem

RP RATINGS:

Hamish

NEWMARKET:

Al Aasy

TOPSPEED:

Al Qareem

POSTDATA:

Al Qareem

The Times:

Al Qareem

The Guardian:

Al Qareem

Daily Mail:

Al Qareem

D Express:

Al Qareem

Daily Record:

Al Qareem

Telegraph:

Hamish

The Star:

Hamish

Daily Mirror:

Al Aasy

The Sun:

Al Aasy