Royal Ascot - Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes

Royal Ascot (Day 4, Race 5)

Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+ 0-105) Winner £31,155

Pick: Blissful Moment (each/way)

Prompter: Showed promise for this type of test on more than one occasion last season but just not delivered, finishing last behind Resurge last time; Opposable and this ground not likely to suit.

Jutland: Resumed improvement when running out a commanding winner at Chester and was unplaced both times until wining there again last time (fo0rm boosted by runner up); Has looked a non-stayer every time he’s run over this trip though, and easy ground against him.

Modun: Overcome every obstacle presented to him on debut when slow away and green (also set plenty to do) on Folkestone debut and unlucky to be caught in the last strides in handicap debut at Kempton; Easy winner of 10f Newbury handicap on reappearance and no surprise he’s up 15lbs but this a whole different proposition and treated with caution.

Chock A Block: Some smart efforts in defeat last term, including when fourth in the Chester Handicap, but disappointing reappearance and soft ground means he’s swerved here.

Fox Hunt: Finally had things fall his way (first time visor) when running out a ready winner at Epsom on his last start (always holding on) and while he’s only gone up 3lbs for that, suspicion is this is a better race; Can go well for trainer who’s runners are more than holding their own this week but does look a little exposed.

Halicarnassus: Has a cracking record in Dubai and improved on that with two seconds and a fourth this year, all over 1m3f; Not as good here though and no soft ground wins.

Sharaayeen: Progressive last season, romping away with a 10 furlong Newbury handicap but also running a good second on soft ground; Travelled like the winner all the way until he was headed by superior horse and listed winner since in Times Up; All the rage but it has been a decade now since Barry Hills has last supplied a top-six finisher in this.

Albqaa: Left Richard Fahey (for whom he ran so well in Zetland Gold Cup) after being beaten in a claimer on reappearance and well beaten in Hunt Cup on Wednesday so hard to fancy at all.

Rock A Doodle Doo: Followed close Epsom second with impressive last to first surge here last time, getting there with perfectly timed challenge; The third has franked the form since and there should be more to come but reopposing second is weighted to reverse form and soft ground a complete unknown.

Awsaal: Looked like he has this type of race in him when winning at Salisbury and Haydock but subsequent injury has kept off track for a year; Should be better for first run back and not witout chance at best but wide draw a put off.

Blissful Moment: Quickly off the mark at three, seemed suited by pressing the leader when breaking maiden and improved to take handicap on last tart at Beverley; Had all but Rock A Doodle Doo beaten late on return here but caught late on (weighted to reverse form with winner, who was race fit); Can go well here if coping with ground.

Very Good Day: Best effort when third to Derby third Rewilding in Cocked Hat Stakes; Made hard work of landing odds in Newbury maiden next time and well behind in Group races on both starts since, but exposed based on last effort.

Taqleed: Lightly-raced, lightly weighted, progressive sort with aspirations of being a Group-class performer; Progressive all last season and entitled to improve for his reappearance but seemed unsuited by soft ground in Cambridgeshire, so hard to trust here.

Averroes: Solid in handicaps last year when making frame three times in valuable events (second on heavy so goes up not – so short shortlist); Second in York contest last time despite pulling makes him look tempting although has found trouble in big handicaps every single time he’s run in them.

Ile Dr Re: Absolutely no problem on surface and winner of 10 furlong event last June; From since then uninspiring though, and while he has relatively fair mark, hasn’t proven that he’s got talent for race like this.

Life And Soul: Beat Promoter over this C&D last September and has been bang there in all of the major middle distance handicaps he contested since and running to the pound this season, so every chance that he can go well; Never run on testing ground.

Nice Style: Possible excuses for last two runs in that he was never going in Lingfield Derby (keen) and too slowly away in York handicap; But has been well beaten on his only run over trip, so passed over.

Heddwyn: Has bumped into progressive horses on two of last three occasions in London Stripe and Green Destiny and decent effort on his reappearance; Could go very well and ground no problem but stamina the worry.

Coin Of The Realm: More than enough talent to win this, and still fairly weighted in relation to his romp in the Great Metropolitan Handicap in 2010; Could never get into contention there last time but nothing from the back could; Beaten on all 4 Soft/Heavy ground runs though and that takes away appeal.

VERDICT: Modun is the talking horse in this race and he could easily be Group class but this ground is new to him and a 15lbs rise makes life very hard here. Given that Sir Michael Stoute has four winners and two seconds from his last 12 runners a chance is taken that BLISSFUL MOMENT will go on the ground. Many make appeal and only fall down on one count (that being stamina, rainer records and soft ground) and the best of those in order are Sharayeen, Rock A Doodle Doo, Life & Soul & Heddwyn.