15.05
Good To FirmHardwicke Stakes (Group 2)
- Prize money: £141775
- 1m 3f 211y
- Class 1
- 12 runners
Runners: 12 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly sunny
5/2 (Won)
- Win: £2.50
- Place: £1.40
Form: 11-141 D
Last run: 36 days
W: 9st 3lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 123
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 1 (1) |
9th Jul 2026 Good To Firm 1m 4f 0y Class 1 |
9st 11lb |
Tremendous international performer who has won 21 of 31 races, amassing more than £12m in prize-money; two of last year's winning highlights were over 1m4f on fast ground at Royal Ascot and in the USA, and he was an odds-on scorer at Meydan in February on his only start this term; highly reliable too, so he looks hard to beat despite conceding 3lb all round. |
Evs |
|
4 (1) |
26th Jul 2025 Good 1m 3f 211y Class 1 |
9st 9lb |
Glorious globetrotter whose Group/Grade 1 record is 7-11 and overall strike-rate is 18-26; has done his winning at a lower level this year, mostly recently in the Hardwicke (Group 2) at Royal Ascot; thoroughly admirable and had an excuse (raced closer to the strong pace than ideal) when about 5l third in this race 12 months ago but he's a 7yo now and no horse older than six has won the King George. |
9/2 |
|
1st 9 (11) |
21st Jun 2025 Good To Firm 1m 3f 211y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Globetrotter who won 1m4f Group/Grade 1 races in Dubai, Hong Kong, Germany and the US last year; not at his very best when beating Epic Poet by a head in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup at York (good to firm) last month but that was 1m6f and he was conceding 5lb to the winner (level weights today); leading contender if at the top of his game now back down to 1m4f. |
5/2 |
9/2
- Place: £1.80
Form: 210-34 D
Last run: 55 days
W: 9st 3lb
5 yo Colt
OR: 117
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 2 (8) |
18th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 2m 3f 210y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
Second at last year's Royal Ascot in the 1m4f Hardwicke and 4l winner of the 1m6f Irish St Leger; ran on strongly from out the back when seventh in the Melbourne Cup (2m) in November and ended up third to Caballo De Mar in blanket finish to a Longchamp Group 1 (nearly 2m) four weeks ago, having been last of nine 2f out; those do not mean he's an assured stayer on this move up to 2m4f but he brings among the best form and has to enter calculations. |
8/1 |
6/1
- Place: £2.20
Form: 335-46 C
Last run: 27 days
W: 9st 3lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 118
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12th 8 (4) |
16th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 1m 1f 212y Class 1 |
9st 5lb |
Sold on the eve of this meeting last year for £2,000,000 and finished a creditable third to Rebel's Romance and Al Riffa in the Group 2 Hardwicke (1m4f, good to firm) a few days later; withdrawn after rearing over being saddled up on an intended start at last year's Newmarket July meeting; subsequently left Clive Cox and hasn't been seen since. |
8/1 |
|
3 (1) |
10th Jul 2025 Good 1m 4f 0y Class 1 |
9st 8lb |
Beaten on last eight starts having gone 3-3 in 2yo campaign (including here and in Group 2); however, the first seven of those defeats were in Group 1 races, with some very creditable performances, and he produced another when third in the Group 2 Hardwicke at Royal Ascot (1m4f, good to firm) last month with Palladium just over 1l further back in fourth; leading claims. |
7/4 |
|
3rd 7 (2) |
21st Jun 2025 Good To Firm 1m 3f 211y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
3-3 in 2yo season (including Group 2); 0-7 since and below par in Tattersalls Gold Cup last month but all of those were Group 1 races and he's shown some very strong form, including when third in last August's Juddmonte International (10.2f, good to firm); his dam was a 1m4f winner so there can be hope that today's new trip will suit, and he's a major player if he stays; changed hands for £2,000,000 at Goffs London Sale on Monday (remains with Clive Cox). |
6/1 |
16/1
Form: 430-35
Last run: 35 days
W: 9st 3lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 112
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 6 (5) |
1st May 2026 Good 1m 4f 0y Class 1 |
9st 5lb |
Peak efforts were as a 3yo but reappearance at Meydan this January saw his first win since 2023; nearly won another 1m6f Group 3 there next time, before a headstrong display (set up big lead) saw him tail off in 2m Dubai Gold Cup five weeks ago; the latter was in blinkers (first time since September) which are unsurprisingly left off today; thereabouts if bouncing back. |
8/1 |
|
4 (8) |
12th Sep 2025 Good To Soft 2m 1f 197y Class 1 |
9st 7lb |
No win since Group 1 as 2yo; good third, however, in the 14.5f St Leger here one year ago and only half a length behind Sweet William when trying 2m in the Goodwood Cup on penultimate outing; hampered at 1m4f latest; into new territory over this trip but Goodwood Cup suggests he is a serious player. |
5/1 |
|
4th 5 (4) |
29th Jul 2025 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 1 |
9st 12lb |
Probably okay on any going; runner-up in last season's Irish Derby and third in the St Leger; those are the clear highlights in form terms but his always-prominent fourth of 12 in Group 2 Hardwicke at Royal Ascot last month in first-time blinkers was much more like it again; this is a new trip but he's stuck to his task well on those best efforts over 1m4f/14.5f. |
12/1 |
20/1
Form: 315-22
Last run: 35 days
W: 9st 3lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 110
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 5 (2) |
11th Jul 2026 Good To Firm 1m 5f 188y Class 1 |
9st 0lb |
Won the Melrose Handicap over C&D in August 2024; 0-9 since but he was runner-up in five of those races, including when beaten a neck in C&D Listed event four weeks ago, narrowly in front of Mount Atlas; the lack of a recent win is a touch frustrating but he's clearly a leading contender. |
15/8 |
|
2nd 6 (3) |
13th Jun 2026 Good 1m 5f 188y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
Won the Melrose Handicap here in 2024 (good to firm; for 3yos) and another good run over C&D (good to firm) when third in this last year, 4l behind Al Qareem; not at his best at Ascot last month following a break, and there's a suspicion he may find one or two too good even if back to his peak, but he might not be far away. |
7/1 |
|
5th 7 (1) |
1st May 2026 Good To Firm 1m 7f 209y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
No win since Melrose Handicap at York (1m6f, good to firm) in 2024 but he ran very well in 1m4f Group races on first three starts last season and returned to that form when a close second in Saudi Arabia (1m7f) 11 weeks ago; that puts him back in the picture even though he's unraced over this far. |
5/1 |
10/1
Form: 123-14 CD BF
Last run: 35 days
W: 9st 3lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 115
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 2 (6) |
4th Jul 2026 Good To Firm 1m 4f 23y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
Dual Group 3 scorer at Sandown (1m2f) and Goodwood (1m4f) in 2025; resumed from six months off with a very good second of six in Newbury's John Porter Stakes in April so this veteran looks the one to beat dropped into Listed company here. |
8/13 |
|
2nd 3 (5) |
18th Apr 2026 Good 1m 4f 0y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
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 |
9st 9lb |
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 |
20/1
Form: 0416-4 C
Last run: 23 days
W: 9st 3lb
5 yo Colt
OR: 110
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 1 (2) |
4th Jul 2026 Good To Firm 1m 4f 0y Class 2 |
9st 12lb |
2023 Royal Ascot winner who has also tasted the high life in top hurdle races; his attentions were turned back to the Flat for four races (UAE and Saudi Arabia) this January-March and he wasn't in peak form, before 12l tenth at Royal Ascot (1m4f; restless in the stalls) continued that trend; falling in the weights but needs a revival. |
40/1 |
|
10th 1 (11) |
19th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 1m 3f 211y Class 2 |
9st 12lb |
Won 1m2f handicap at this meeting in 2023 and has also tasted the high life in top hurdle races; attentions were turned back to the Flat for four races (UAE and Saudi Arabia) this January-March and he wasn't in peak form, but edged down the weights as a result and this drop back in trip can help. |
28/1 |
|
2 |
19th Oct 2025 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 1 |
11st 6lb |
Not in top form since returned to the Flat but solid hurdles record (1121322) suggests a resurgence is likely; ran creditably, albeit fortunate to finish second the way things panned out, in the Champion Hurdle when last seen in this sphere; has the best chance at the weights. |
4/5 |
25/1
Form: 21-516 D
Last run: 15 days
W: 9st 3lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 112
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 1 (5) |
2nd May 2026 Good 1m 4f 0y Class 2 |
10st 0lb |
Seemingly ring-rusty on Group 3 return at Newbury two weeks ago, the same story as in 2025 when he followed that race with a win at this meeting in a four-runner 1m4f Group 2 with first-time cheekpieces; they were kept for two modest efforts last June but have not been called on this season; this is his first handicap and he has a big chance if springing back to his best. |
7/1 |
|
5th 4 (7) |
18th Apr 2026 Good 1m 4f 0y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
Won Group 2 at Newmarket (1m4f, good) last May in first-time cheekpieces, which were kept for two modest efforts in June but not today; first run since a gelding operation in September; ring-rusty on his 2025 reappearance in this race and the market may reveal whether the same is expected this time. |
12/1 |
|
9th 3 (9) |
21st Jun 2025 Good To Firm 1m 3f 211y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Displayed improved form in first-time cheekpieces (retained since) when winning the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket (1m4f, good) last month; flopped in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom subsequently but was reportedly unsuited by the good to soft ground; he could be just the type of older horse his trainer excels with and he's not ruled out. |
25/1 |
6/1
Form: 2244-5
Last run: 43 days
W: 9st 3lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 111
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10th 10 (1) |
21st Jun 2025 Good To Firm 1m 3f 211y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Ran well in defeat last season in Group 2s at this meeting (1m4f, good to firm) and at York (1m4f, good to firm); gelded in the off-season; this lightly raced 4yo is in top hands and may have needed last month's reappearance run at York, but improvement is required in first-time cheekpieces. |
6/1 |
|
5th 6 (2) |
9th May 2025 Good 1m 2f 70y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
took keen hold, towards rear, brief headway inside final furlong, never dangerous |
4/1 |
|
5th 6 (2) |
9th May 2025 Good 1m 2f 70y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
took keen hold, towards rear, brief headway inside final furlong, never dangerous |
4/1 |
16/1
Form: -13232
Last run: 36 days
W: 9st 3lb
6 yo Colt
OR: 111
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 3 (5) |
11th Jul 2026 Good To Firm 1m 5f 188y Class 1 |
9st 0lb |
7yo who is 0-12 since winning at Meydan in January 2025; has run really well in plenty of Group races in the interim, including the last two runnings of the Yorkshire Cup over C&D, but he ran a stinker in C&D Listed event four weeks ago; bang there if he bounces straight back. |
6/1 |
|
6th 2 (1) |
13th Jun 2026 Good 1m 5f 188y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
0-11 since winning at Meydan last January but he has run really well in Group races in the interim, including the last two runnings of the Yorkshire Cup over C&D; drops into a Listed race today and could be bang there. |
7/2 |
|
4th 5 (3) |
28th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
Beaten in Group races on his last ten starts but went close in the Yorkshire Cup at York (1m6f, good to firm) last May and he was a good third in that same Group 2 a fortnight ago (good); he should be fine back up in trip and might not be far away. |
7/1 |
25/1
Form: 25/14- CD
Last run: 364 days
W: 9st 3lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 110
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 1 (5) |
6th Sep 2025 Standard To Slow 1m 3f 219y Class 1 |
9st 7lb |
Ran respectably in Group 3 events the last twice; creditable second in this race two years ago but faces a difficult task on ratings today and has never won above Listed level. |
25/1 |
|
3rd 2 (1) |
16th Aug 2025 Good To Firm 1m 5f 61y Class 1 |
9st 7lb |
7yo who's been lightly raced in recent years; won one Listed race last May (made all) and another at Beverley (1m4f, good to firm) this July before his respectable, front-running third of five in Group 3 at Goodwood two weeks ago; there's a stamina query (after two attempts at 1m6f in 2022) and he may well need to show his best form for nearly two years. |
7/2 |
|
3rd 4 (1) |
2nd Aug 2025 Soft 1m 3f 218y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
7yo who's been lightly raced in recent years; has never raced on soft and not seen on good to soft since he was a bit below his best in this race in 2023; won one Listed race last May (made all) and another four weeks ago but he probably needs to return to 2023 form if he's to be competitive today. |
5/1 |
14/1
Form: 1416-3 D
Last run: 13 days
W: 9st 3lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 111
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 7 |
7th Jan 2023 Soft 1m 7f 216y Class 2 |
10st 12lb |
took keen hold, led, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon weakened |
20/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £12.00 |
| Straight Forecast | £6.47 |
| Tricast | £25.03 |
| Trifecta | £48.40 |
Selections
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