The Golden Gates Stakes is a handicap run over 1m2f. It takes place at 17:35 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

3⁽¹⁾

1-27

Liberty Lane

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

9-9

100

108

Irish Derby entry; favourite for novice at Nottingham (1m, soft) last October and won it by 5l; made most this term when second over about 1m2f in a novice at Newmarket (good) and when seventh of 11 in the Group 2 Dante at York (good to firm); both were improved form and although he needs more today, it is just his fourth start and setting the pace last time was reportedly not the plan; could do better again.

11⁽¹⁸⁾

356472

Coco Jack

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: George Scott

9-0

110

Has had 16 races (four wins last summer) so the first instinct has to be that he's too exposed to win a race like this; solid second when upped to 1m1f at Musselburgh (good to firm) last time and he's by a Derby winner, so this trip may well be within reach; however, he was swamped late on that day by Lion Of War and that winner left a much stronger impression.

12⁽²⁾

2131-4

Have Secret

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

9-0

109

Usually held up; two minor honours on good to firm early in career; competitive in his four nurseries as 2yo, including wins at Haydock (7f, good) and Nottingham (1m2f, soft); close fourth of 14 in the London Gold Cup at Newbury (1m2f, good) was a cracking reappearance, denied in the final strides, and he probably has more to give with that run under his belt.

15⁽¹⁷⁾

53-341

Lion Of War

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Charlie Johnston

8-13

113

Won last summer on first two starts; six races since and he did not make much progress until latest but made quite an impression that day, coming from out the back to deny Coco Jack in 11-runner handicap at Musselburgh (1m1f, good to firm) after being bumped and stumbling soon after the start; back up 4lb but has to be worth this second attempt at 1m2f; player.

6⁽⁶⁾

4-3341

Canute

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

9-2

112

Five starts, last four in blinkers; 10-11 but improved in a ten-runner handicap at Navan (1m2f, good) 13 days ago, slowly away but quickly close up, leading final 1f and winning in tidy fashion; probably remains well handicapped and could be capable of better again.

9⁽¹⁵⁾

422

Cuban Dawn

J: Hollie Doyle

T: J S Bolger

9-0

106

Similar form in Listed race at the Curragh and when a close second in good-ground maidens at Cork and Gowran Park, all over 1m last month; changed hands for £300,000 on Monday; needs major improvement but the big positive, backed up by his performances, is that he's bred to be very well suited by further than 1m; unexposed and needs a close look.

2⁽³⁾

41-44

Londoner

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O'Brien

9-9

100

108

Irish Derby entry; won 1m AW maiden at Dundalk on second outing last October; his other three runs have been on soft or heavy, fourth this season over about 1m2f in Group 3s at Longchamp and Leopardstown; put in his place last time and needs much better overall to win this handicap debut but perhaps the likely very different ground offers some hope.

1⁽¹⁶⁾

1511-3

Local Dynasty

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

9-9

100

112

Unplaced favourite in a Group 3 but won his other three starts as 2yo, on a wide range of ground and culminating in 1m Listed race at Pontefract in October; good third of six in Listed race at Chester (1m2f, soft) on reappearance, racing freely long way (up front early on) but keeping on well; capable of better.

NR⁽¹⁹⁾

5-11

First Sight

T: Charlie Appleby

8-13

107

All three runs were on AW in December/January; won 1m maiden at Kempton on second start and seemingly did not have to reproduce that form when adding a 1m2f novice at Lingfield three weeks later, albeit denying a 1-2 shot in the process; well bred and from a top yard, he can't be dismissed despite this much harder task.

10⁽⁴⁾

24-116

James McHenry

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Edward Bethell

9-0

108

Won 1m handicaps at Ripon (soft; made most) and Haydock (good to soft) this spring; found a good handicap at Haydock (1m, first run on good to firm) too tough on latest outing, making progress to challenge but ending up only sixth; tendency to start slowly doesn't help and, although dam was 1m4f winner, he needs to see the race out a lot better than he did last time.

5⁽¹³⁾

221-8

Obelix

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-4

105

Runner-up on first two starts, including on good ground, before surging 7l clear in a novice at Newcastle (1m, AW) in September; while 1m Listed race there on reappearance was up with that form, he managed only eighth of 11 after racing freely and that was as second favourite; gelded since and now wears cheekpieces; bred to stay at least this far but others look more solid.

4⁽¹⁰⁾

51-4

Laafi

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

9-6

107

Favourite for maiden at Nottingham (1m, soft) in October on second start, making relentless progress to lead close home; 22-1 for the Lingfield Derby Trial (1m4f, AW) on reappearance, held up taking bit of a hold, making progress into fourth turning for home but three others saw it out better and he was beaten just over 7l; tongue tied today and dropped to 1m2f; work in progress and likely to prove a good deal better at some stage, perhaps today.

NR⁽¹⁴⁾

231-16

Like A Tiger

T: James Ferguson

9-1

109

Won final start as 2yo (1m, AW) and reappeared with a striking performance in handicap at Newmarket (1m2f, good to soft) in April, rearing as the stalls opened but soon back in touch and cruising to the front over 1f out, before striding 4l clear; sixth of seven in Listed race there (1m2f, good; second favourite) 16 days later singularly failed to back up that good impression, leaving questions to answer today, including if he has his first run on firmer than good.

16⁽⁹⁾

-41651

Burdett Road

J: Neil Callan

T: Michael Bell

8-13

109

Fifth attempt when making all in Lingfield maiden (1m, AW) in March; not so good in two 1m Newmarket handicaps afterwards but front-running over 1m2f under Neil Callan proved the perfect fit in six-runner handicap at Newbury (good to firm) on latest start, where the opposition got closer over 2f out but then saw him stretch well clear; 8lb higher in this much stronger race and plenty seems to rest on whether he can make the running.

8⁽¹²⁾

4-140

Lose Your Wad

J: Jim Crowley

T: Charles Hills

9-0

107

Won maiden at Kempton (1m, AW) on reappearance and improved on that form when fourth of six in Listed race at Chester (10.3f, soft) in May, well held but that's after being badly hampered over 1f out; tenth of 13 in handicap at Epsom (1m2f, good to firm; always well off the pace) three weeks ago was disappointing, for all that he was 20-1; better than that but this is a tough race in which to bounce back.

17⁽¹¹⁾

421

Ziryab

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: John & Thady Gosden

8-11

112

525,000gns yearling buy, brother to the same stable's King Leonidas whose best form (RPR 109) was registered over 1m2f on handicap debut; this one's three runs over 1m, making all in Leicester maiden (good to firm) last time, suggest that he too is building up to something once upped to this trip; very much one to note.

13⁽⁷⁾

8124

Knockbrex

J: Frankie Dettori

T: Charlie Johnston

8-13

112

Made all in Pontefract maiden (1m2f, soft) in April and ran well both starts since, on first occasion bumping into this week's unbeaten Queen's Vase winner Gregory; surely did too much up front last time on handicap debut at York (1m4f, good to firm) where he had all his rivals stretched 2f out before subsiding into fourth of 11 behind Queen's Vase third Chesspiece; off same mark and back to 1m2f, he has to be of major interest.

RACING POST TIP

Knockbrex

Having grabbed the eye with how strongly he travelled up front in a 1m4f handicap last time, and having come up against notable rivals on all of his last three outings, KNOCKBREX should put up a bold show for Charlie Johnston. The trainer also has another major candidate in Lion Of War. All the three previous winners of this race were handicap debutants making their fourth start and had double-figure draws. There's a fascinating collection of similarly unexposed runners this year, among whom Ziryab (first reserve and second choice if he gets in), Laafi and Liberty Lane are just a flavour. Aidan O'Brien's Canute has run in two handicaps but his win last time out needs plenty of respect.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

YEAR	WINNER [DRAW]	AGE	WGT	SP	TRAINER	JOCKEY
2021	Foxes Tales [13]	3	8-11	13/2	Andrew Balding	Oisin Murphy
2020	Highland Chief [16]	3	9-7	20/1	Paul & Oliver Cole	Rossa Ryan

Key race stats

What happened last year?

Jockey James McDonald picked up his third victory of the royal meeting with Missed The Cut, who took it up with two furlongs to go before kicking clear by four-and-a-quarter lengths to complete a comfortable hat-trick. Outsider Asgoodassobergets came home well from the rear for second, along with Sun King (third), Groundbreaker (fourth) and the French raider Pervade (fifth) in a race that set up well for a closer.

Golden Gates Stakes Handicap

17:35 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats

What happened last year?

All Races