5.00 Royal Ascot (Day 3, Race 5)
Tercentenary Stakes (Formerly The Hampton Court Stakes)
(Group 3) (Class 1) (3YO only)
Winner £39,697
Advice: 1 pt win Stipulate (9/1 Bet Victor), Tales Of Grimm (6/1 Stan James)
Crius: Steadily progressive last year after winning novice
stakes (runner up in handicap/listed company) and then ran out ready winner of
Group 3 (form worked out majorly); Craven second good start to season but
disappointing in Ireland (never given a chance by keenness and poor ride) and
stamina to prove with penalty. 
Cavaliero: Turned into a good horse at the
backend of last season, moving on from a clear cut maiden win at Chepstow
(entitled to at 2/7) to beat Harvard N Yale (himself highly regarded at the
time); Good return considering the class of the front two and fact he was
conceding race – fitness towards the top two at Lingfield in Derby trial, and
never going to have a serious chance in actual event; Interesting here. 
Energizer: Heads the field on BHA ratings if one takes into
account his German 2,000 Guineas fourth (from one of Germany’s top yards) and
respected on that basis, although the way he faded late on suggests that 10
furlongs around he might stretch him badly.
Goldoni: Sprung a shock when landing the Investec Derby
trial at Epsom (heavy ground) but exposed in the Lingfield Derby trial next
time and passed over. 
Grandeur: Steadily progressive handicap profile, beating
Trader Jack (runs in Brittannia at 4.25) in convincing style at Goodwood before
coming close second to Wrotham Heath in well conested Epsom handicap; Came a
bit late in the day there but now 6lbs better off so should have big chance if
ground doesn’t get too rain softened.
Mukhadram: Excellent second in stronger than usual looking
renewal of the Wood Ditton (winner went onto be second to Noble Mission in
Listed race)
Rewarded: Going for fourth win in a row when meeting trouble
in good renewal of London Gold Cup last time out (stopped when making best
challenge; Had topweight) and likely that he has more to offer today; Goes on
most ground and likely to relish a strong gallop.
Starboard: Outsped when one could say that his jockey was
caught napping in conditions contest at Newmarket (winner had good form); Liked
the step up to 1m2f last time when he took strong conditions contest 
Stipulate: Career
best when making impressive comeback in listed company at Newmarket in Fielden
Stakes and forgiven his effort in the Bet365 Classic Trial on account of the
really heavy ground; Dropped back to a mile last time at Sandown and travelled
really well before going down by only a half-length (had 5lbs penalty) in Heron
Stakes last time; That form sees him hold Tales Of Grimm and must be respected
here. 
Tales Of Grimm: Taking, if not clear cut winner of his
maiden in marginally quicker time than other division winner, beating
subsequent clear cut winner and Fillies Mile third Firdaws (got blocked in her
run); First run since when staying on third at Sandown to Stipulate; Extra two furlongs
could make all the difference 
Wrotham Heath: Tipped for big things after winning
Nottingham maiden with ease but did too much too soon when well beaten by
Ektihamm on Newbury reappearance; Went like the winner in 1m4f handicap at
Newmarket but patently failed to stay and put that right with win on Derby day
(over Grandeur); Must be respected here and choice of Tom Queally out of Cecil
two but now 6lbs worse off with runner up and this a step up in class.
VERDICT: A fiercely contested
renewal. Wrotham Heath is sure to be a popular choice for many here and he can
go well, but he’s 6lbs badly in with Grandeur from that meeting and has a tough
task on here. Jeremy Noseda’s runner
gets preference of the two, but STIPULATE has been ignored due to being the
second string of Henry Cecil’s, despite the fact that his listed win first time
out was as impressive as any performance in this field, and he carried a 5lbs
penalty last time out when second over a mile, so he’s got a good mix of raw
speed and stamina for this is the ground doesn’t ease too rapidly. Tales Of
Grimm was behind him that day and may be 5lbs worse off but the fitness
improvement he should make for that along with the step up in trip, should
really help him. Starboard has to be respected on strong lines of form shown this season, while Mukhdaram also merits respect.
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