The Chesham Stakes is a listed contest run over 7f. It takes place at 14:30 on Saturday 24th June, which is the fifth 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

5⁽⁹⁾

Lightning Leo

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

9-5

Cost 130,000gns as a yearling; showed a great attitude at Yarmouth (7f, good to firm) where he rallied tenaciously to beat Sayedaty Sadaty and Quatre Bras in a tight finish; open to progress and his gameness will be an asset in the rematch.

13⁽¹⁷⁾

La Guarida

J: Kevin Stott

T: Richard Hannon

9-0

103

New Bay filly who scored comfortably at Goodwood (6f, good to firm) four weeks ago, building on Newmarket debut promise and showing strong form (next three home have won since); already a leading player on the figures and the longer distance should aid further development.

3⁽¹⁵⁾

Golden Mind

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

9-5

Needed every yard of the 6f trip at Leicester (good to firm; got up in final strides) on second start, leaving the strong impression he'll benefit from this extra furlong; bred for Royal Ascot, being half-brother to connections' Norfolk and Commonwealth Cup winner Perfect Power; sire also scored at this meeting; excellent credentials.

14⁽³⁾

824

Maymay

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

9-0

Ran well in the Woodcote at Epsom (6f, good to firm; finished fourth) most recently, shaping as if she's ready for a crack at 7f; however, three defeats leave her looking vulnerable against numerous promising types in this field.

15⁽²⁾

Nemonte

J: Mikey Sheehy

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

9-0

Needed every yard of the 6f trip in big-field maiden at the Curragh (on good ground) where she got up in the final strides, belying her 20-1 odds; sure to appreciate this longer trip and she's one of many once-raced contestants who bring clear potential.

1⁽¹²⁾

Count Palatine

J: Sean Levey

T: Brian Meehan

9-5

Eyecatching fifth of 12, not far behind two subsequent winners, at Windsor (6f, good to firm; 18-1) where he did his best work in the closing stages and shaped as if he'll relish this longer distance; half-brother to ten winners and may well improve.

6⁽¹⁴⁾

Matnookh

J: William Buick

T: Richard Fahey

9-5

Stablemate of Golden Mind; Sea The Stars colt who caught the eye at Windsor (6f, good to firm) where he was slowly away and got behind before finishing nicely for third of 11; evidently crying out for this longer trip and ought to improve; similar profile to Count Palatine.

NR⁽⁶⁾

Quatre Bras

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

9-5

Nicely bred colt, being by Sea The Stars out of a Group 3 scorer, and cost 350,000gns as a yearling; duly made a promising debut at Yarmouth (7f, good to firm) where he kept on well for close third behind Lightning Leo and Sayedaty Sadaty; interesting with progress on the cards.

9⁽¹⁰⁾

Sayedaty Sadaty

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

9-5

Has a relatively ordinary profile judged on sales price (30,000euros yearling) and pedigree; however, he's in good hands and ran a promising race at Yarmouth (7f, good to firm) where he went down narrowly, splitting Lightning Leo and Quatre Bras; in the mix.

7⁽⁵⁾

Oddyssey

J: Jim Crowley

T: Patrick Owens

9-5

Held by a few of these opponents on Yarmouth 7f form, having finished only seventh in that race, and he gave the impression he's already crying out for further; well down the pecking order in this field.

16⁽⁷⁾

Pearls And Rubies

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

9-0

104

Well-bred filly, by No Nay Never out of a 1m2f Group 1 winner for her connections; duly made a promising debut at Navan (on good ground) where she got up in the final strides having needed every yard of the 5f trip; should relish this stiffer test and looks open to any amount of progress; trainer has won this race six times; respected.

12⁽¹⁶⁾

Content

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O'Brien

9-0

100

The product of extremes, being by Galileo out of a dual Nunthorpe winner; will take after her sire judged on close third of six to shorter-priced stablemate at Leopardstown (7f, good) where she stayed on nicely to the line; one of two very promising contenders for Aidan O'Brien.

4⁽⁴⁾

Hot Fuss

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Tom Dascombe

9-5

Purchased for 120,000gns last month; made an encouraging debut at Newbury (6.5f, good to firm) where he was slowly away and hit a flat spot before keeping on for fourth of ten; open to improvement with this extra yardage a likely plus.

2⁽¹⁾

Dallas Star

J: Rowan Scott

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

9-5

Showed ability with his third-place finish at Haydock (7f, good to firm) in race won by a potentially smart colt; had the run of things up front but it's impossible to rule out progress from this half-brother to eight winners.

11⁽¹¹⁾

Carolina Reaper

J: Jason Hart

T: Charlie Johnston

9-0

Eyecatching fourth in newcomers' event at Beverley (7.5f, good to firm) where she finished strongly having been slow to break and ended up in a difficult position; however, did not shape as if this slight drop in distance will suit.

17⁽¹³⁾

Snellen

J: Gary Carroll

T: Gavin Cromwell

9-0

Justified favouritism in 14-runner maiden at Limerick (7f, good to firm; hung left through apparent greenness) last week, the market confidence due to her barrier trial performance at Naas (6f) where she made all in a fast time; evidently talented and she's bred to perform well over C&D (sire's Royal Ascot win came in the Jersey).

10⁽⁸⁾

Warnie

J: James McDonald

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

9-5

Stablemate of Nemonte; 18,000gns yearling, 65,000gns 2yo; Highland Reel half-brother to 1m AW winner Mutaraafeq; dam French 9.7f AW winner (including 2yo) out of half-sister to Coventry winner Hellvelyn; debutant won this race last year but that was the first winning newcomer at Royal Ascot since 1996; tough test on debut.

RACING POST TIP

Golden Mind

Pearls And Rubies and Content are obvious players, being well-bred fillies from a yard that has a great record in the Chesham. They command major respect but plenty of the other runners are appealing types too, most notably GOLDEN MIND who should progress further and brings stacks of Royal Ascot potential through his pedigree. La Guarida (second choice) holds strong claims on form, while Nemonte (third choice) and Snellen are Irish maiden winners who look open to major progress. The rematch between Lightning Leo, Sayedaty Sadaty and Quatre Bras adds extra spice to a deep and very interesting renewal of this prize.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2022	Holloway Boy [12]	2	9-5	40/1	K. R. Burke	Daniel Tudhope
2021	Point Lonsdale [7]	2	9-3	10//11F	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2020	Battleground [6]	2	9-3	11/4F	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2019	Pinatubo [7]	2	9-3	3/1	Charlie Appleby	James Doyle
2018	Arthur Kitt [3]	2	9-3	13/2	Tom Dascombe	Richard Kingscote
2017	September [6]	2	8-12	11/8F	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2016	Churchill [8]	2	9-3	8/11F	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2015	Sunny Way I [8]	2	9-3	14/1	E J O’Neill	Cristian Demuro
2014	Richard Pankhurst [7]	2	9-3	10/1	John Gosden	William Buick
2013	Berkshire [21]	2	9-3	16/1	Paul Cole	Jim Crowley
2012	Tha’ir [7]	2	9-3	9/2	Saeed bin Suroor	Frankie Dettori

Key race stats

Rated within 9lb of RPR top-rated, eight winners in last ten runnings
Raced just once, 8/10 (four had won)
By a sire with a stamina index of at least 8.7f, 7/10
Recorded Topspeed figure of at least 63, 7/10
Adjusted RPR of at least 95, 6/10

Other factors

Since Bach in 1999, only two winners have previously scored over 7f – September in 2017 and Point Lonsdale last year (all trained by Aidan O’Brien).
The record of fillies is 1-31.

What happened last year?

A massive boilover as hotpot Alfred Munnings, who was sent off the 11-8 favourite after an impressive debut win, failed to make an impression and finished only sixth, while 40-1 shot Holloway Boy, who was making his racecourse debut, won a touch cosily under Danny Tudhope. There were shocks all round as Pearling Path at 80-1 and Lakota Sioux at 33-1 made sure the three biggest- priced runners completed the 1-2-3.

Chesham Stakes

14:30 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats

What happened last year?

All Races