The Hardwicke Stakes is a Group 2 contest run over 1m4f. It takes place at 15:45 on Saturday 22nd June, which is the fifth 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

1⁽⁹⁾

3125-1

Candleford

J: William Buick

T: William Haggas

9-3

110

125

Bolted up in C&D handicap at this meeting in 2022 and his two subsequent wins have come in Listed races, the latest at the Curragh (1m4f, good) four weeks ago on reappearance; on the balance of his form he's a shade vulnerable now back up in grade but his performances at Ascot suggest he's worth a second look (good third in C&D Group 3 in October 2022 on last course visit).

4⁽⁴⁾

113-25

Desert Hero

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

9-3

113

127

Won C&D handicap (good) at this meeting 12 months ago and followed up in Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood (1m4f, soft); campaign concluded with third to Continuous in the St Leger (1m6f, soft) and returned with near-miss over inadequate 1m2f in Group 3 Gordon Richards at Sandown (good to soft); disappointing at Newbury since but the Sandown effort firmly indicated he was set for a very good year, and he can play a leading role if bouncing back.

8⁽⁸⁾

1171-1

Middle Earth

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Ciaron Maher

9-3

115

130

Won the Melrose Handicap at York (1m6f, good to firm) last August and bounced back from soft-ground St Leger flop for Listed win here (1m6f, good) last October; returned with win in Group 3 Aston Park Stakes at Newbury (1m4f, good) last month, when clear with one who readily went one better in Listed race next time; this 4yo is firmly on the up for his top yard; player.

9⁽³⁾

02-112

Missed The Cut

J: James Doyle

T: John W Sadler

9-3

112

129

Won the Golden Gates handicap at Royal Ascot two years ago (1m2f, good to firm) for George Boughey; now trained in the US and won two Grade 3s there (1m2f/1m4f, firm) earlier this year; split two Charlie Appleby runners in Grade 2 at Keeneland (1m4f, firm) in April when last seen and that form reads well; could be involved.

3⁽²⁾

71/673

Crypto Force

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Adrian Murray

9-3

106

119

Won 2yo Group 2 in September 2022; missed all of last year and kept on for an encouraging third in Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh (10.5f, good to yielding) last month on third start back; doesn't have White Birch or Auguste Rodin to worry about today and the step up to 1m4f may be a positive, but he was beaten 11l last time and needs a sizeable step forward.

2⁽⁷⁾

82115-

Continuous

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

9-3

120

133

Runner-up in Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at this meeting 12 months ago (good to firm) before commanding wins in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur (1m4f, good to firm) and Group 1 St Leger (1m6f, soft); fine fifth in the Arc (1m4f, good to soft) last October when last seen; lacks a recent run but he's the one to beat if at the top of his game on this reappearance.

7⁽⁵⁾

2-1111

Isle Of Jura

J: Callum Shepherd

T: George Scott

9-3

112

127

Four wins in Bahrain from December to March (1m2f-1m4f, good/good to firm) and transferred that improvement back to Britain with a Listed win at Goodwood (1m2f, good) last month; this is a tougher test of his credentials but he could have more left in the tank, especially now back up to 1m4f.

6⁽¹⁾

14-214

Goliath

J: Maxime Guyon

T: F-H Graffard

9-3

112

124

Lightly raced and progressive 4yo who made all to win by 3l in Group 3 at Longchamp (1m4f, very soft) last month; another good run when fourth in Group 2 at Chantilly (1m4f, heavy) last time but further improvement is needed.

5⁽⁶⁾

12-114

Elegant Man

J: David Egan

T: Adrian Murray

9-3

113

130

Made debut last October and sole defeat among his first four runs (1m2f-1m4f, all AW) came behind Rebel Romance, who has since won two Group 1s; well-beaten fourth in Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on last month's turf debut (1m2f, good to yielding; stablemate Crypto Force third) but perhaps today's faster ground will help and he's not ruled out.

RACING POST TIP

Isle Of Jura

Bahrain revelation ISLE OF JURA continued the excellent work when winning a 1m2f Listed race at Goodwood last month, and the relentless progress he made from the rear that day suggests he will be seen to even better effect now he's back up to 1m4f. US challenger Missed The Cut, who was a 3yo winner at this meeting in 2022, was second in a hot Grade 2 at Keeneland last time and is second choice ahead of Middle Earth, who could be set for a very productive campaign on the back of his Group 3 reappearance win at Newbury. St Leger winner Continuous holds leading form claims and has to be respected despite the lack of a recent run, while Desert Hero may still be a 4yo to follow despite his Newbury flop.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2023	Pyledriver [5]	6	9-3	7/2	William Muir & Chris Grassick	P J McDonald
2022	Broome [7]	6	9-3	6/1	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2021	Wonderful Tonight [11]	4	8-12	5/1	David Menuisier	William Buick
2020	Fanny Logan [8]	4	8-12	17/2	John Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2019	Defoe [7]	5	9-1	11/4F	Roger Varian	Andrea Atzeni
2018	Crystal Ocean [4]	4	9-1	4/7F	Sir Michael Stoute	Ryan Moore
2017	Idaho [7]	4	9-1	9/2	A P O’Brien	Seamie Heffernan
2016	Dartmouth [4]	4	9-1	10-1	Sir Michael Stoute	Olivier Peslier
2015	Snow Sky [2]	4	9-1	12/1	Sir Michael Stoute	Pat Smullen
2014	Telescope [8]	4	9-1	7/4F	Sir Michael Stoute	Ryan Moore

Key race stats 2024

Key trends

Group-race winner, 10/10
Adjusted RPR of at least 128, 10/10
Rated within 8lb of RPR top-rated, 10/10
Distance winner, 9/10
Top-two finish last time out, 8/10
Aged four, 7/10
Finished in the first three in a Listed or Group race that season, 7/10

Other factors

Six winners scored last time out.

Four winners were RPR top-rated.

What happened in the Hardwicke Stakes last year?

PYLEDRIVER hadn’t been seen since winning the King George the previous year, reportedly suffered a couple of setbacks after, but showed he retains all his ability despite having taken a keen grip from an early stage. West Wind Blows looks an improved performer since his gelding operation, stepping up on the form of his recent 1m2f Longchamp Group 3 win here with a second. Changingoftheguard was disputing second position when badly hampered by the winner inside the final 110yds.

Hardwicke Stakes

15:05 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats 2024

What happened in the Hardwicke Stakes last year?

All Races