Norfolk Stakes winner A'Ali to miss Royal Ascot as Crisfords eye Sandown target

Last year's Norfolk Stakes scorer A'Ali will not be returning to Royal Ascot, with Simon and Ed Crisford targeting the Coral Charge on Eclipse day after the colt's below-par return at Newcastle last week.

A'Ali, who also won the Prix Robert Papin and Flying Childers at two, failed to land a blow when eighth in the Pavilion Stakes on his return, and will revert to the minimum distance at Sandown on July 5.

The Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa-owned three-year-old was a general 25-1 chance for the Commonwealth Cup.

Simon Crisford said: "He's come out of his race extremely well and will head to Sandown for the Coral Charge. We learned at Newcastle that six furlongs doesn't suit him and it didn't pan out at all for him.

"There wasn't a bother on him afterwards so we'll drop him back in distance and stick to what he does well."

Finest Sound: easy winner at Haydock on MondayCredit: David Davies/Pool via Getty Images

One horse from Gainsborough Stables who could be heading to Royal Ascot is Finest Sound, who provided the father-and-son team with a first success since taking out a joint licence when a ready winner at Haydock on Monday.

Crisford, who won the Britannia with Ostilio two years ago, said: "It was fantastic to have our first winner with a joint licence and we were delighted with his performance.

"He ran some very solid races against good horses last year and the form is stacking up very nicely. We'll go for the Britannia if he gets in and comes out of this well."

On the joint licence, he added: "Nothing has really changed with our operation since taking the joint licence, but it's good to spread the responsibility and accountability. We have a stable in Meydan in the winter so it made perfect sense for us to take the joint licence as we can't be in two places at once."

The Grand Visir: Ascot Stakes winner at the meeting last yearCredit: Edward Whitaker

One Royal Ascot winner who will be returning to Berkshire is last year's Ascot Stakes scorer The Grand Visir, with the classy stayer being aimed at the Queen Alexandra.

An official rating of 104 ensures the Ian Williams-trained six-year-old cannot bid for back-to-back wins in the 2m4f handicap and instead tackles the 2m5f conditions stakes, which as usual is the final race of the meeting.

The Queen Alexandra has been won by Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott in four of the last ten years but will not be open to Irish-trained runners due to imposed restrictions, whereby international runners can only contest Pattern or Listed events from Monday onwards.

Williams said: "The Grand Visir's in great order and the Queen Alexandra will suit as long as the ground isn't too firm, which it doesn't look like it's going to be.

"It might not be as strong a race as in the past with Irish horses unable to run in it – it will make a big difference with no Willie or Gordon's runners in there."

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