The Ascot Stakes is a handicap run over 2m4f. It takes place at 17:00 on Tuesday 20th June, which is the first day of Royal Ascot 2023. View the runners here, and also make sure to check out the odds and tips on offer for this race.

NO.DRAW
FORM

HORSE

ODDS

JOCKEY& TRAINER

AGE

WGT

RPR

8⁽²⁰⁾

6/69-9

The Grand Visir

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Ian Williams

9-7

105

Won this race in 2019, second in the Queen Alexandra in 2020 and third in it in 2021; getting on in years and unraced in between his ninth in the last two Chester Cups, with soft ground and a wide draw both not looking ideal in it this year; 11lb below his peak Flat mark but what he's worth these days is something of a guess and he has the outside stall.

11⁽¹⁶⁾

3734-2

Zoffee

J: Ben Curtis

T: Hugo Palmer

9-7

111

No ground worries; unraced here; reliable and progressive since back to Flat with new trainer for 2022, although his seventh of 14 when tried over 2m4f at Glorious Goodwood slightly dented that sequence; ended that campaign with fourth in the Cesarewitch and began this one going down by a neck in the Chester Cup, both at about 2m2f; 2lb higher today and likely to go well.

2⁽¹³⁾

370-46

Calling The Wind

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Richard Hughes

9-11

110

Has run well in all of his five races at Ascot, including when runner-up in the 2m5f Queen Alexandra at this meeting in 2021 (soft) and close third in it last year (good to firm); ran well when sixth in the Chester Cup last time and that should set him up nicely for a bold show today with top 3lb claimer recruited; shortlisted.

18⁽⁹⁾

017-93

Themaxwecan

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Charlie Johnston

9-4

109

Best on good or good to firm; has proved himself over 2m here; two placings in the Cesarewitch Trial at Newmarket stand out in his five attempts at 2m2f and he was mid-division in his two 2m4f assignments (tenth in this last year) but he's not entirely dismissed, having won here off this mark under Jamie Spencer last August.

6⁽⁷⁾

1/115-

Ahorsewithnoname

J: William Buick

T: Nicky Henderson

9-8

105

Revelation in a hurdles run (soft) and on Flat (good) in spring 2022, form backed up when she was next seen taking fifth of 21 in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket (2m2f, good) in October; the latter shows she needs better off the same mark today; returned to form in latest hurdles start (April) and is now in foal, so this is scheduled to be her last race.

NR⁽³⁾

208-58

East Asia

T: Ian Williams

9-4

Four wins over 1m4f-2m on turf in 2021 during first campaign for this yard; lightly raced since and there's a serious question whether enough ability remains, as his last serious impact was at Meydan in February 2022, but stable (runs four in this field) is one to note in major staying handicaps.

13⁽⁴⁾

2017-9

Prince Imperial

J: Rob Hornby

T: Milton Harris

9-6

109

No ground worries and stays 2m2f but he suffered a heavy defeat on his only run in a big field (2022 Cesarewitch) and did not make the grade as a hurdler last term, before tailed off after slow start two months ago on return to Flat; first run since leaving Richard Hughes for 35,000gns six weeks ago; often blinkered but 2020 visor returns, plus tongue tied first time.

4⁽¹⁴⁾

628-46

Urban Artist

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Hughie Morrison

9-10

100

Can make the running but below form when she tried it in French Listed race on latest outing, following a respectable reappearance; no ground worries but while peak efforts make this a competitive mark, she was below that level when sixth in 2m5f Queen Alexandra here last year on her only attempt at a marathon trip and is clearly held by Calling The Wind on that result.

1⁽¹¹⁾

/210-0

Tritonic

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Alan King

9-12

100

109

Sole run on good to firm was in 2020 (acts on soft); unraced over even 1m6f on Flat (last October's win was 1m4f) until he had a go at the 2m2f Chester Cup (9-1) on reappearance, always in rear; needs career-best Flat form to take this but he ran creditably in a 2m4f hurdle race in April and his biggest win over hurdles was at this track.

14⁽¹⁰⁾

22320-

Throne Hall

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

9-6

109

Stays 1m6f but last of ten in a Shergar Cup race here (2m) last August on sole Flat run beyond that; won two 2m novice hurdles last autumn and, after lesser shows on soft ground and a five-month break, he was back to that form in a hurdle race 13 days ago; plenty to prove in this, though.

3⁽⁶⁾

5/1122

Fleurman

J: Kevin Stott

T: Olly Murphy

9-11

108

Last raced on Flat turf in 2021 but won and placed on softer than good over hurdles early in 2022; seriously progressive with cheekpieces on AW Flat this February-April, staying 2m well; interesting candidate for this longer distance but turf and AW marks are the same, so he needs to improve again.

9⁽²⁾

134761

Solent Gateway

J: James Doyle

T: Hugo Palmer

9-7

109

Bit to prove on worse than good to soft; never better than when making all at Haydock (2m, good to firm; up 2lb today) on latest start, holding off a persistent challenge from Law Of The Sea; unraced here and well beaten last season when he tried 2m2f and 2m4f once each.

5⁽¹⁵⁾

811/2-

Bring On The Night

J: Ryan Moore

T: W P Mullins

9-9

108

2-3 early in 2020 in France for Andre Fabre, the wins on heavy and AW; not seen again until useful hurdles form in February-April 2022, which preceded his second of 19 when favourite for this race (good to firm) last year, coming from mid-division to hold every chance through the final 2f; up 4lb and unraced since but one to take very seriously, for trainer with a fine record in this race, particularly when teaming up with Ryan Moore.

20⁽¹⁹⁾

6/11/1

Zinc White

J: Jim Crowley

T: Ian Williams

9-4

107

Scored twice (1m6f, soft) in May 2021 for Ralph Beckett; only two races since, his first for this yard when impressive winner from Novel Legend in the Chester Plate (2m2f, soft; 33-1) in May after a 561-day absence; has had only seven races and, despite 8lb rise, is one to note in staying handicaps; drawn very wide today, though, and all his form is on soft ground.

10⁽¹⁸⁾

4871/3

Pleasant Man

J: Tom Marquand

T: Paul Nicholls

9-7

105

Unraced on firmer than good; effective at 1m4f/1m6f for Roger Charlton in 2021, including at this track; missed most of last year but runner-up in handicap hurdles (about 2m3f) this February and a creditable, front-running third of 14 in strong 1m6f handicap at Musselburgh in April when back on Flat; needs a career best.

17⁽¹⁷⁾

3-0042

Law Of The Sea

J: David Egan

T: Ian Williams

9-4

110

Formerly with the Gosdens (fifth in the 1m6f Queen's Vase here) and Bhupat Seemar; made an eyecatching debut for this stable when fourth of 16 in the Chester Cup (2m2f, soft) in May, looking capable of a bit better, and he again ran well when second to Solent Gateway at Haydock (2m, good to firm); seriously considered but such a wide draw isn't ideal.

12⁽¹²⁾

120-20

Irish Lullaby

J: Ronan Whelan

T: Mrs John Harrington

9-7

107

Declared for this instead of the 1m6f Copper Horse; last-gasp 1m4f winner at the Galway festival (soft) last July and pipped in useful 1m6f handicap at Haydock (good to firm) next time; close second in 1m4f Listed race was a very bright start to this season and she had excuses (brought out again quickly, scoped badly) for latest start; while this is a big step up in trip and she'll have to settle, which is not totally guaranteed, there's a lot in her good performances which smacks of significant staying potential.

19⁽⁵⁾

00241-

Achnamara

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Harry Fry

9-4

107

Three wins last year for the Johnston stable, including 1m4f on good to firm (tailed off sole run on soft) and ending that campaign well on top in a 1m6f race on AW; 7lb higher today, following three undistinguished runs over hurdles for his new, Chester Cup-winning yard but he's had wind surgery since and now has tongue tied first time in search of a revival.

15⁽¹⁾

12-112

Novel Legend

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Fanshawe

9-5

110

Below form sole start on good to firm (last August); form figures of 12112 since sent beyond 1m4f, most recently scoring by 6l at Newbury (2m, soft) and second of 14 in the Chester Plate (2m2f, soft) in which he stayed on well without proving a match for Zinc White; up another 6lb but respected.

7⁽⁸⁾

2114-8

Weston

J: Colin Keane

T: Gordon Elliott

9-7

107

Useful form in Germany last season, winning over 1m2f (soft) and 1m3f (good to soft); 14-1 and ridden by 7lb claimer when making debut for new yard at Leopardstown (soft to heavy) in early May, running on in mid-division as if 1m2f was definitely now too short for him; this trip is a huge step up but there is stamina in the pedigree.

RACING POST TIP

Irish Lullaby

Zinc White would look a very strong contender on soft ground, even with his wide draw. He is one of four runners for Ian Williams, who won this race in 2019 and 2021 but whose other one to note on 2023 evidence, Law Of The Sea, has also been drawn out wide. Last year's runner-up Bring On The Night is a little better off in 15 and has been a hot favourite in ante-post lists, straight on the shortlist given the Ascot Stakes record of his trainer Willie Mullins. However, the top two options may be Calling The Wind, who just looks sure to run well, and IRISH LULLABY (nap), who has much more to prove than most in stamina terms, not having raced beyond 1m6f, but has hinted strongly at hidden depths in her best performances. Novel Legend and Zoffee also require a positive mention.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2022	Coltrane [6]	5	9-5	14/1	Andrew Balding	Callum Hutchinson
2021	Juan Elcarno [5]	4	9-3	14/1	Kevin Ryan	Andrea Atzeni
2020	Coeur De Lion [9]	7	8-10	16/1	Alan King	Thore Hammer Hansen 5
2019	The Grand Visir [18]	5	9-10	12/1	Ian Williams	Richard Kingscote
2018	Lagostovegas [1]	6	9-3	10/1	W P Mullins	Andrea Atzeni
2017	Thomas Hobson [11]	7	9-10	4/1F	W P Mullins	Ryan Moore
2016	Jennies Jewel [2]	9	9-3	6/1	Jarlath P Fahey	Ronan Whelan
2015	Clondaw Warrior [19]	8	9-0	5/1F	W P Mullins	Ryan Moore
2014	Domination [17]	7	9-7	12/1	C Byrnes	Fran Berry
2013	Well Sharp [16]	5	9-10	9/1	Jonjo O’Neill	Fran Berry
2012	Simenon [7]	5	9-10	8/1	W P Mullins	Ryan Moore

Key race stats

Previously ran over hurdles, 9/10
Raced no more than once on the Flat that season, 9/10
Won a Flat handicap, 9/10 (exception was Group placed)
Won within last five Flat starts, 9/10 (exception had won last time out over hurdles)
Officially rated 91-97, 7/10

Other factors

Four winners shouldered top weight of 9st 10lb.
Only three winners had scored beyond 2m on the Flat.

What happened last year?

The Ascot Stakes provided one of the feelgood stories last year when jockey Callum Hutchinson rode his first winner at the royal meeting on Coltrane. Despite finishing second in the Chester Cup on his previous start, he was sent off at 14-1 but narrowly held on to win under the apprentice jockey from Bring On The Night. Coltrane would go on to bigger and better things and is now one of the favourites for the Ascot Gold Cup.

Ascot Stakes

17:00 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats

What happened last year?

All Races