Home » James McDonald

James McDonald

Jockey Form Profile

Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

28

(25)

19th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Divine Libra

9st 1lb

J: James McDonald

T: Charles Hills

Never involved from way back in this race last year but he fared better with a more prominent ride when about 2l behind the winner Northern Express over C&D (good to firm) in July; the luck hasn't been with him this year but he still needs to improve on that latter form.

14/1

2nd

13

(4)

19th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Tornado Alert

9st 2lb

J: James McDonald

T: Saeed bin Suroor

Won at Newcastle (1m, AW) last October on second start and fourth on reappearance in the 2,000 Guineas (1m, good), albeit no match for the front three; creditable sixth of 18 in the Derby at Epsom (1m4f, good) 12 days ago; he'll appreciate the drop back in grade and is not discounted.

9/1

15th

17

(7)

19th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Defence Minister

9st 3lb

J: James McDonald

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Hit the ground running last season with back-to-back wins (good/good to soft) but raced freely when highly tried in the Group 1 Middle Park (soft) and again on his reappearance in a Listed race, in which he also hung for pressure on the good to firm ground; pedigree suggests he should stay this far but running style casts doubts.

50/1

3rd

2

(5)

19th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Dubai Future

9st 4lb

J: James McDonald

T: Saeed bin Suroor

1m2f Listed winner at this meeting in 2022; has raced over a range of distances in the interim, given his first crack at 2m in the Dubai Gold Cup this April (second run since a long absence) when he showed far too much toe for his rivals in the closing stages of a steadily run race; this, however, should be much more of a slog and he needs to bounce back from a heavy defeat behind Candelari in France last month (the ground probably wasn't to blame, based on times); a hood joins his usual cheekpieces.

28/1

3rd

14

(7)

19th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Ascot

Sandals Song

9st 3lb

J: James McDonald

T: George Weaver

Made a successful debut in the Royal Palm Juvenile at Gulfstream Park (5f, firm) last month which gained him automatic entry into this race; should be suited by the ground and it will be interesting to see how he fares in the market; trainer's previous runner in this race finished ninth of 14 in 2023.

12/1