The Coventry Stakes is a Group 2 contest run over 6f. It takes place at 15:05 on Tuesday 18th June, which is the first day of Royal Ascot 2024. 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

22⁽⁷⁾

Yah Mo Be There

J: Tom Marquand

T: Richard Spencer

9-3

100

Seemingly not unfancied at single-figure odds on York debut (6f, good) and, after emerging from off the pace to lead about a furlong out, he required Andesite to dig deep into his reserves to see him off with the pair well clear; more patient tactics might be on the agenda and he can run a big race under new partner Tom Marquand; connections won this with a once-raced colt in 2017.

1⁽¹⁶⁾

431

Al Qudra

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

9-3

102

Close up in Newmarket 5f novices won by Arran and The Actor before justifying short odds on the step up to 6f at Lingfield (AW); twice beaten already, he lacks the profile of a typical Coventry winner, but he's evidently learning on the job (improved his RPR with each run) and was noticeably sharper from the gates last time; respected with an edge in experience over many of these.

13⁽¹²⁾

Midnight Strike

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

9-3

105

Much the best first time out at the Curragh (5f, soft to heavy) but came up short when just behind Camille Pissarro in the Group 3 Marble Hill (6f, good), having got outpaced before staying on; that form entitles him to a second look but confidence in him would be higher on softer ground.

18⁽²⁰⁾

Symbol Of Honour

J: Mickael Barzalona

T: Charlie Appleby

9-3

101

William Buick was aboard when a beaten favourite in The Actor's race at Newmarket in April (5f, good) but he now jumps ship to third-placed Al Qudra, despite this colt going on to win pretty much as he liked at Lingfield (6f, good to firm); jockey arrangements look too significant to ignore.

17⁽¹⁷⁾

Star Anthem

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Clive Cox

9-3

100

Both runs over 5f on good to soft; only just missed out at Newbury and didn't have to improve all that much to justify short odds at Bath, strolling home by 4l; from a yard that's won this race before but he surely needs to step up a fair bit.

15⁽¹³⁾

Nascimento

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Michael Bell

9-3

The booking of Ryan Moore heightened interest at Yarmouth (6f, good to soft) and he went off at 9-2, but after showing up well his inexperience got the better of him; can win races for sure but this is unlikely to be one of them.

21⁽⁸⁾

Up The Clarets

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

9-3

Hamilton winner (5f, good) who ran well in defeat under a penalty at Musselburgh (good to soft); the winning filly, to whom he was conceding 11lb, was second to Francisco's Piece on her debut but has been well held in two other races; surprising if this colt gets in the shake-up for his new yard, having left Richard Fahey.

23⁽¹⁾

Zminiature

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Dylan Cunha

9-3

16-1 debut winner at Doncaster (5f, soft); faced the same scenario but at Listed level at Sandown and wasn't out of his depth, staying on well for third from an unpromising position; stepping up to 6f looks the way to go and he's not without hope of outrunning his odds, provided stall 1 (from which The Wow Signal obliged ten years ago) is no drawback; tongue-tie added.

11⁽⁹⁾

121

Francisco's Piece

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

9-3

108

He's not wildly appealing on his two British runs (soft/good) and the ground was heavy when he took a noticeable step forward in winning a French Listed race; his sire also relished the mud; however, he could be progressing fast and the step up to 6f is probably what he needs; his odds have tumbled in the last week.

4⁽²²⁾

Arran

J: David Probert

T: Paul & Oliver Cole

9-3

100

Knew his job when making a successful debut over 5f at Newmarket's Craven meeting (good), repelling The Actor by a neck with a very green Al Qudra not far behind; the step up to 6f will suit this half-brother to Wokingham contender The Wizard Of Eye (6f-1m winner) and the stable knows what's required, having captured this race three times during the 1990s.

19⁽⁴⁾

The Actor

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

9-3

103

Both runs over 5f at Newmarket (good), going down narrowly to Arran on debut then showing a willing spirit to lead late on at the Guineas meeting (Al Qudra, Mr Chaplin and Symbol Of Honour behind); unruly before that latest race, so is entitled to sharpen up mentally; just a suspicion that he'll prove vulnerable in this hot contest.

16⁽¹⁰⁾

Rashabar

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Brian Meehan

9-3

Twice-raced maidens rarely win the Coventry but the stable's youngsters are renowned for improving with experience and, after a solid debut third at Newbury (5f, good to soft; Star Anthem runner-up), he had a wicked draw to contend with when second at Chester (6f, good); could run well but minor honours would be a result.

14⁽⁵⁾

Mr Chaplin

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

9-3

Best of the newcomers when fourth behind The Actor at Newmarket's Guineas meeting (5f, good) and he was wiser to the job in hand in beating his 19 rivals over 6f at Newbury (good; by 3l); that win looked good but the form has taken some knocks.

5⁽²⁾

Camille Pissarro

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

9-3

107

Cost a cool 1,250,000gns as a yearling and is half-brother to Commonwealth Cup winner Golden Horde; odds-on both starts, having a bit in hand at Navan (6f, good to yielding) before second in the Group 3 Marble Hill at the Curragh (6f, good), where he travelled well and fought bravely only to just miss out; four of the trainer's previous ten winners of this took in that race en route (finishing 7111) and it must count for a lot that he's the sole representative from a yard that's won this so many times.

9⁽¹¹⁾

Cowardofthecounty

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

9-3

104

100,000gns yearling who didn't appear to carry a wave of confidence at the Curragh (6f, soft to heavy; 17-2) but he was well on top late on and back in second was subsequent Listed winner Whistlejacket, a line of form that suggests he has every chance of beating Camille Pissarro; he's a big boy with considerable scope and commands the utmost respect.

NR⁽¹⁹⁾

Andesite

T: K R Burke

9-3

101

Bred for the job as a son of Chesham winner Pinatubo and a half-brother to Queen Mary heroine Dramatised; appears to carry plenty of stable confidence after his winning debut at York (6f, good) where he knuckled down late on to thwart Yah Mo Be There with the pair totally dominant; five of the last ten winners had won their solitary start; major player.

7⁽¹⁵⁾

Columnist

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

9-3

Bought for £170,000 at the breeze-ups; pedigree all speed and he was never headed from a good draw when winning by clear daylight at Chester last month (6f, good to soft); faces a different test here but he's promising.

12⁽³⁾

Ingot

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-3

Fifth foal out of the owner's Integral who won the Duke of Cambridge at this meeting; this is always a tall order for any maiden and, having raced prominently, there were no excuses when narrowly denied at Kempton (7f, AW); however, his connections are hardly renowned for tilting at windmills and it would come as no surprise if he raised his game and got competitive; drops to 6f and his sire was a star sprinter.

10⁽¹⁸⁾

Electrolyte

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

9-3

72,000gns yearling, £220,000 breeze-up buy; bred to stay further but had sufficient toe to make all at Ayr (6f, good), albeit in just a four-runner race and the second was beaten further by Mr Chaplin the time before; however, there's no knocking a winning start and his yard won this two years ago with a once-raced colt.

6⁽⁶⁾

Catalyse

J: James Doyle

T: Richard Fahey

9-3

101

60,000euros yearling, £300,000 breeze-up buy; bred to be sharp and it was never in any real doubt when the 5-4 winner of a 6f novice at Hamilton (good), looking stronger the longer he went on; the third was beaten further by Andesite and Yah Mo Be There at York, but this Wathnan Racing colt is evidently useful, at the least; James Doyle prefers him to the other two runners in the same colours and he's attracted support this past week.

8⁽²³⁾

Cool Hoof Luke

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Andrew Balding

9-3

The form of his narrow Chelmsford win (6f AW) is no real advert for his prospects here but the race didn't go entirely his way and he's a good looker who should have more to offer; others much preferred, however.

20⁽²¹⁾

Turners Cross

J: Shane Foley

T: Mrs John Harrington

9-3

85,000euros breeze-up purchase; Irish stable always respected on British forays but this colt needed to show more on debut at Fairyhouse (6f, good) 11 days ago, even allowing for some mid-race interference.

3⁽¹⁴⁾

Angelo Buonarroti

J: David Egan

T: Ralph Beckett

9-3

Price shot up from $135,000 as a yearling to 1,000,000euros as a breeze-up buy; out of a sister to Royal Ascot-winning 2yo Churchill; hurled into the deep end for this debut but his purchase price naturally catches the eye and a newcomer did win the Chesham at this meeting two years ago; reckless to put a line through him on inexperience alone.

RACING POST TIP

Yah Mo Be There

Winners have been drawn high, low and centre in the last decade. The betting is often a good guide to the Coventry but this year's renewal looks especially open. Aidan O'Brien has landed ten of these but only one of his winners was beaten the time before, and Camille Pissarro is no more appealing than his imposing compatriot Cowardofthecounty who didn't half look good on his Curragh debut. However, the key form might be the York race dominated by Andesite and YAH MO BE THERE. Had the selection not consumed quite so much fuel in a bold move that accelerated him past the winner a fair way out, it may have been a different outcome. If smothered up for longer, he could take a huge step forward and reverse placings with Andesite who is rated very highly by Karl Burke. It's unlike the Gosdens to throw a maiden into Group company and Ingot could be a lively one at lengthy odds.

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2023	River Tiber [6]	2	9-3	11/8F	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2022	Bradsell [2]	2	9-3	8/1	Archie Watson	Hollie Doyle
2021	Berkshire Shadow [17]	2	9-1	11/1	Andrew Balding	Oisin Murphy
2020	Nando Parrado [6]	2	9-1	150/1	Clive Cox	Adam Kirby
2019	Arizona [3]	2	9-1	15/8F	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2018	Calyx [22]	2	9-1	2/1F	John Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2017	Rajasinghe [9]	2	9-1	11/1	Richard Spencer	Stevie Donohoe
2016	Caravaggio [13]	2	9-1	13/8F	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2015	Buratino [10]	2	9-1	6/1	Mark Johnston	William Buick
2014	The Wow Signal [1]	2	9-1	5/1J	John Quinn	Frankie Dettori

Key race stats 2024

Key Trends

Won last time out, 9/10
No more than three starts, 9/10
Won a previous start by at least two lengths, 8/10
Rated within 7lb of RPR top rated, 7/10 (exceptions 13lb to 22lb off top)
Adjusted RPR of at least 110, 7/10
Distance winner, 6/10

Other Factors

Seven winners were undefeated. Buratino, who won in 2015, had been beaten twice over 5f but was undefeated over 6f.

The market had usually been a strong indicator but three of the last six winners were priced in at least double figures.

What happened in the Coventry Stakes last year?

RIVER TIBER, winner of his first two starts, posting three-figure RPRs both times, looked sure to appreciate the step up to 6f. He travelled well just off the lead on the far side and ran on well to score, justifying strong confidence in him beforehand. Army Ethos ran a cracker in second for the same connections as last year’s Coventry winner. Bucanero Fuerte ran credibly in third on ground likely too quick for him. Givemethebeatboys was sold for 1,100,000GBP on the eve of the meeting but only managed fourth.

Coventry Stakes

15:05 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats 2024

What happened in the Coventry Stakes last year?

All Races