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Racecards

15:05 Ascot

Hardwicke Stakes (group 2) (Class 1)

  • 9 Runners
  • Distance: 1m 4f
  • Going: Good to Firm, Firm in places
  • Surface: Turf
  • £150,000 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 2m 31.29s
  • Off Time: 15:07:57
  • 9 Ran
2(9)
Silk - Royal blue
9/1
  • Form 2431-19
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-0

broke well, led early, steadied in touch, 6th pushed along straight, driven, beaten 2f out

3(10)
Silk - Red, red and Royal blue check cap
11/1
  • Form 7/51111-
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 108

in rear, under pressure over 5f out, last, struggling straight

4(7)
Silk - PURPLE, white seams, striped sleeves, purple cap
11/8
  • Form 336-713
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 119

tracked leaders in 4th, 3rd straight, ridden to tracked leader 2f out, stayed on under pressure throughout final furlong, driven ahead final 75 yards

5(5)
Silk - Royal Blue, White epaulets, striped cap

Maraahel (IRE)

23 b CDD
5/1
  • Form 1350-22
  • Age 7
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 116

awkward start, in touch on outside, 5th straight, driven, went 3rd well over 1f out, stayed on one pace, no chance with leading pair

6(4)
Silk - Dark Blue, Light Blue cross belts, striped sleeves, White cap
  • Form 1/15-449
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 105

took keen hold early, soon led, settled 2nd after 2f, ridden to lead over 2f out, immediately hung right to rails, stayed on well under pressure final furlong, weakened final 75 yards

7(2)
Silk - Royal blue, white epaulets, black cap
50/1
  • Form 24226-9
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 109

led after 2f, ridden, headed over 2f out, soon beaten, eased final furlong

8(8)
Silk - Green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves
3/1
  • Form 1/5-1
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 108

took keen hold early, disputing 6th, ridden straight, switched left, ridden, no response 2f out

9(11)
Silk - Light Blue and Grey (halved), sleeves reversed, Black cap
14/1
  • Form 151-3
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 109

held up in rear, niggled along 8f out, 8th straight, headway over 1f out, went one pace 4th 1f out

11(3)
Silk - Pink, Emerald Green chevron, halved sleeves, quartered cap
33/1
  • Form 1260-08
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 105

tracked leading pair, 4th, ridden straight, hard ridden 2f out, soon weakened

1(1)
NR
  • Form 42411-0
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-5
  • Official Rating 115

Nonrunner

10(6)
NR
  • Form 1/240-28
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 106

Nonrunner

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

This trip may prove to be a bit on the short side now for Hi Calypso and preference is for stablemate SPANISH MOON ahead of Macarthur and the hat-trick-seeking Maraahel. A penalty for St Leger winner Lucarno makes life tougher and whilst he will like the ground he looks opposable over this trip, and preference is for Spanish Moon. He is more inexperienced than a lot of this field however his win over the course and distance last time looks solid. He was hampered on that occasion so is rated better than the bare form and he should be able to cope with this rise in grade, whichever way the ground goes. Maraahel deserves the utmost respect; he has won the last two renewals of this but this quirky animal hasn't looked at his best this season and whilst this will have been his target all year, the feeling is that this renewal looks stronger. Macarthur arguably got too embroiled in a pace battle at Epsom on Oaks Day and should be a major player here, especially if ridden with a bit more restraint, whilst Speed Gifted stays well and can only improve for his reappearance run at Goodwood. Happy Boy was well-held on his UK debut at Sandown but may do better on this better ground, whist horses such as Shahin and Multidimensional have a bit to prove. A tough race to call, but Spanish Moon receives the vote.

Formwatch

Happy Boy (BRZ) 6-1 (9-3) Prominent until ridden and weakened 2f out, 9th of 14, 14l behind Smokey Oakey (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) sft in May.

Hi Calypso (IRE) 9-2 (8-7) Slowly into stride, held up, headway over 3f out, ridden well over 2f out, led entering final furlong, driven out, won at Doncaster 1m 7f fll stk Grp 2 (1) gf in Sept beating All My Loving (8-6) by a nk, 14 ran.

Macarthur 12-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, led 4f out, headed inside final furlong, held when hampered and snatched up final 50yds, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Soldier Of Fortune (9-0) at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd.

Maraahel (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Started slowly, held up behind, headway 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on well, caught near finish, 2nd of 14, nk behind Smokey Oakey (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) sft in May.

Multidimensional (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Held up, 7th straight, soon ridden and beaten, 9th of 11, 18l behind Soldier Of Fortune (9-0) at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd.

Shahin (USA) 15-2 (9-0) Awkward leaving stalls, soon mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 15l behind Peppertree Lane (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 4f lst stk (1) gd.

Spanish Moon (USA) 7-2 (8-12) Held up, badly hampered 4f out, driven over 2f out, stayed on to lead final furlong, won at Ascot 1m 4f lst stk (1) gf in May beating Munsef (8-12) by 1l, 10 ran.

Speed Gifted 5-1 (9-0) Held up, headway 3f out, soon ridden, hung very badly right from 2f out, challenged inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 10, nk behind Peppertree Lane (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 4f lst stk (1) gd.

Yellowstone (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, soon close up, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 10, 10l behind Getaway (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 4f Grp 2 (1) gf in May.

Lucarno (USA) 4-1 (9-7) Close up, ridden and weakened from 3f out, 11th of 14, 18l behind Smokey Oakey (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) sft in May.

Supersonic Dave (USA) 14-1 (9-0) Held up behind, ridden over 2f out, never on terms, 8th of 12, 22l behind Samuel (9-0) at York 1m 6f lst stk (1) gd in May.