Expert - Bill Esdaile
Bill Esdaile has worked in racing journalism in the United Kingdom for over 20 years. He began his working career at the Sporting Life back in 1995, and has since worked for the Racing Post, The Sportsman, and is currently racing editor of London-based City AM. He is a keen form student, and will bring a unique insight into the major European races.

Expert Column for Diamond Jubilee Stakes Day (S2) (Bill Esdaile)

S2-1 Chesham Stakes


This 1,400m Listed Chesham Stakes, the longest race for 2YOs at the meeting, was framed with next season’s middle-distance classic stars in mind – sires must have won over 2,000m or more – but two years ago subsequent dual Guineas winner CHURCHILL broke his maiden here and ended up champion juvenile. However, normal service was resumed last year when MASAR, who was to go on and win the G1 Derby Stakes, turned up in the Chesham, finishing third behind the talented Coolmore filly SEPTEMBER, who was placed in three G1’s.

The fillies record in this race was just one win from 32 starts until then, but the fairer sex are again well represented, with Godolphin looking to BEYOND REASON, a striking daughter of Derby winner AUSTRALIA, to go two better than MASAR. BEYOND REASON bolted up on her debut on the polytrack at Kempton, and with her pedigree one would assume that she’ll improve for going up in distance.

Aidan O’Brien has won the last two renewals of this race and relies solely on CARDINI, a son of MAGICIAN who has been beaten on both starts at the Curragh over 1,200m this season. He won’t be carrying the same stable confidence as SEPTEMBER or CHURCHILL did, but you can never rule out a youngster from this yard.

NATALIE’S JOY would be another filly to consider as she was impressive when scoring by six lengths on her debut at Goodwood. The one worry would be her pedigree – she is by LOPE DE VEGA and the majority of his progeny appreciate some cut in the ground – but Mark Johnston has trained more 2YO winners than anybody this season, so if she does cope with the conditions she’d be right there.

Johnston also runs another filly in AUSSIE VIEW, who never looked like getting beaten at Doncaster last time, and NEW WINDS, who will relish this fast ground, the one blip on her three-race record being at Doncaster, where she floundered in the soft.

Archie Watson, one of Britain’s up-and-coming trainers, rates NATE THE GREAT the best 2YO he has had, and he duly delivered first time out at Carlisle. This is a giant step up in class, but vibes from Lambourn are encouraging.

Tom Dascombe earmarked this race for ARTHUR KITT before the colt had set foot on a racecourse, so impressive had his work been on the gallop. He went through the gears like an above average youngster on debut at Haydock – “he could be anything,” was the trainer’s post-race declaration.

SAN DONATO showed promise on his Yarmouth debut but it is early in the year for trainer Roger Varian to have fine-tuned his youngsters.

It is a big ask to expect a 2YO to win this race first time out, but the fact that French trainer Matthieu Palussiere is pitching his debutant ON A SESSION straight into the deep end suggests he has been showing plenty at home.


SELECTIONS: 9. BEYOND REASON, 10. NATALIE'S JOY, 5. NATE THE GREAT, 1. ARTHUR KITT & 3. CARDINI


S2-2 Hardwicke Stakes

Sir Michael Stoute has won the G2 Hardwicke Stakes over 2,392m an incredible 10 times during his career – including three of the previous four runnings with TELESCOPE, SNOW SKY and DARTMOUTH. It’s safe to say the Newmarket trainer knows just what it takes to win this race and it looks as though he will do so again this year with CRYSTAL OCEAN likely to take all the beating here. The 4YO son of SEA THE STARS arrives in winning form having landed a G3 contest over 2,400m at Newbury in May by a whopping six lengths ahead of SECOND STEP. SECOND STEP, trained by Roger Charlton, was narrowly touched off by the smallest of distances in another G3 at Newbury last autumn over 2,200m so that strong is form. CRYSTAL OCEAN also won the G3 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown in April over 1,990m when staying on late to get the better of FABRICATE, owned by Her Majesty The Queen. That trip was probably a little on the short side and he will appreciate this extra distance. He also has good form at Ascot having finished third in the G2 King Edward VII Stakes over 2,392m 12 months ago.

Roger Varian enters one in the race and it would be no surprise to see him finish in second behind CRYSTAL OCEAN. 6YO BARSANTI was a last-time-out winner back in May, landing an Ascot Listed prize for connections over 2,392m at the expense of Stoute’s MIRAGE DANCER who finished a neck second. SALOUEN was third that day and most recently finished just a head behind serial G1 performer CRACKSMAN in the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom. He was also runner-up in this race 12 months ago at a big price and although those large odds won’t be around on this occasion, he has enough to get competitive.

Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has won this race three times, most recently with IDAHO, and the 5YO GALILEO colt will be looking to become the first horse since MARAAHEL in 2007 to win back-to-back renewals. However, his recent form suggests he will be up against it having failed to land a blow during his recent adventures around the globe, including at Meydan, Woodbine, Tokyo and Chantilly. He did get the better of DANEHILL KODIAC in the G3 Diamond Ormonde Stakes over 2,676m at Chester last month, but he will still need to improve on that to get involved here.

O’Brien is double-handed in the race, having also declared CLIFFS OF MOHER who runs for the second time this week having finished fourth in Wednesday’s G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes over 1,993m. The 4YO son of GALILEO showed a lot of promise earlier in his career when he finished a close second in the G1 Derby Stakes over 2,405m, but he has failed to build on that since. He never threatened in Wednesday’s race and while his best performances have come over this distance, he looks up against it on all recent form.


SELECTIONS: 3. CRYSTAL OCEAN, 1. BARSANTI, 4. IDAHO & 2. CLIFFS OF MOHER


S2-3 Windsor Castle Stakes

The 1,000m Listed Windsor Castle Stakes for 2YOs is a fast and furious minute of huge excitement. Last year's winner SOUND AND SILENCE crossed the line in under 60 seconds and with the fast going this week we could see another sub-minute winner.

SABRE, trained by Richard Fahey, who saddled 2010 winner MARINE COMMANDO, is having a fantastic season with his juveniles and this son of MAYSON may be his speediest. He was second in a very hot contest over 1,000m at Sandown last time out and the form of that race is working out nicely. The winner, as well as the next three behind him that day, have gone on to compete at G2 level at Royal Ascot this week and he may just be good enough to sneak home in Listed company.

His biggest challenge may come from across the English Channel, with the french-trained JUNIUS BRUTUS heading into this race with a perfect record and an eye-catching win last time out. The son of COCKNEY REBEL trounced his rivals by five lengths over today's trip at Maisons Laffitte with a performance that immediately had people entering him into their notebooks for this race. The quick ground is a slight concern, though, while the form of his five-length victory at Maisons Laffitte is yet to materialise.

MUTAWAFFER made a pleasing debut when finishing fourth over course and distance and on good to firm ground last month, before stepping up in distance to readily land a 1,200m contest at Goodwood. He has plenty of speed and the drop back to 1,000m isn't a great concern, particularly given they're likely to go off at a blistering pace so his stamina could be a decisive factor.

Fillies don't often take on the colts in this race but QUEEN OF BERMUDA, MOONLIGHT ROMANCE and CHAPELLI all line up here with live chances. MOONLIGHT ROMANCE represents US trainer Wesley Ward, who, although not having his best Royal meeting, has to be respected with his fillies. The manner of her victory at Belmont Park was impressive but it didn't look the strongest of races and this requires more.

The William Haggas-trained QUEEN OF BERMUDA has won two of her three career starts and was a runner up on the other on her debut over track and trip last month. She definitely appreciates fast ground and represents a dangerous yard.

CHAPELLI is unbeaten in two starts over 1,000m, including a narrow victory on good to firm ground at York, but may find one or two too quick here. Breeding suggests she's one to follow over longer distances going forward.

JAMES WATT can't be totally discounted having won both of his career starts, and he still looked like he had plenty to learn on his most recent start at Windsor, though the strength of opposition in those races is questionable.

Aidan O'Brien had his first ever winner of this race three years ago with WASHINGTON DC and VAN BEETHOVEN looks his best chance of saddling another this time around. He was slowly into stride on debut over 1,000m and showed good speed to keep up with his rivals, finishing fast to grab third. Both of his starts since have come over 1,200m, including an impressive three-and-a-half length win at Naas, but he has plenty of speed and has to be respected despite the step back down in trip.


SELECTIONS: 19. SABRE, 7. JUNIUS BRUTUS, 23. VAN BEETHOVEN, 15. MUTAWAFFER & 28. QUEEN OF BERMUDA



S2-4 Diamond Jubilee Stakes

This 1,200m dash for older horses promises to be the race of the meeting and has yet again attracted a star-studded international field. It was upgraded to G1 status in 2002, since when CHOISIR (2003) and BLACK CAVIAR (2012) have won for Australia, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE (2005) for Hong Kong and UNDRAFTED (2015) for America. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE was the first Hong Kong-trained horse to win in Britain, scoring for David Oughton the year the Royal meeting was transferred to York. Surprisingly, in view of the guaranteed quality, it has not been a happy hunting-ground for favourite-backers, with only three market-leaders winning in the last 16 years.

HARRY ANGEL heads the betting this year, but while he is Europe’s top sprinter, the fact is he has been beaten all four times he has run at Ascot. Trainer Clive Cox, successful with LETHAL FORCE in 2013, is adamant that there was a legitimate excuse for HARRY ANGEL every time. It was hard to pick holes in his comeback success in the G2 Duke of York Stakes, though beating BRANDO two lengths is hardly earth-shattering form in what looks an exceptionally hot renewal.

The Aussies are split down the middle as to whether David & B Hayes & T Dabernig-trained REDKIRK WARRIOR or Aidan O'Brien's recent recruit MERCHANT NAVY is the one to be on, but either way they are not contemplating defeat. REDKIRK WARRIOR narrowly came out on top when the pair met in the prestigious G1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington over 1,200m, after which MERCHANT NAVY, now part-owned by Coolmore, was transferred to the Northern Hemisphere to join Aidan O'Brien. On form alone you would have to be with REDKIRK WARRIOR, as he meets MERCHANT NAVY on better terms. However, while he only recently arrived in Britain, the Coolmore horse is fully acclimatized, having settled in so well to his new surroundings at Ballydoyle that he surprised O’Brien by winning the 1,200m G2 Greenlands Stakes on his first run off the plane at the Curragh. “I’d have been happy just to finish in the first four that day,” reflected O’Brien, who expects MERCHANT NAVY to improve plenty.

Wesley Ward, however, insists that BOUND FOR NOWHERE, only fourth in the 1,200m G1 Commonwealth Cup last year, is now in better shape and has been clocking some amazing figures on the clock in the mornings since winning at Keeneland in April. He could be one who could outrun his odds.

No sprinter has retained his crown since RIGHT BOY in 1959, but with the ground riding fast James Fanshawe is predicting a big run from last year’s winner THE TIN MAN, who looked as good as ever when winning at Windsor recently.


SELECTIONS: 9. REDKIRK WARRIOR, 7. MERCHANT NAVY, 4. HARRY ANGEL, 1. BOUND FOR NOWHERE & 12. THE TIN MAN


S2-5 Wokingham Stakes (Handicap)

Punters don’t have many bigger puzzles to solve this week than this 30-runner cavalry charge down the straight 1,200m – the field will probably split into three groups, and nobody is certain as to where the best place to be drawn is. Earlier in the week it seemed that a low draw might be preferable, but while last year’s winner OUT DO was drawn in barrier 1 on the far rail, there was only two lengths between him and the fourth horse, who was drawn on the opposite side in 31.

Two big-priced winners and a run of seven consecutive losers for the favourites suggests we should be cautious, but John Gosden’s DREAMFIELD has always been at the head of the market and has been very well-backed in the past few weeks. Unbeaten in three races, DREAMFIELD produced an amazing performance to win on his comeback over course and distance in May, having been off the track due to injury for more than 18 months. The handicapper raised him for that, but although Gosden thought enough of him to enter for today’s G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes, his generous new mark was too hard to resist.

That said, when you get a short-priced favourite for one of the traditional cavalry charges of the British season, inevitably there is plenty of value elsewhere, and the likes of BLUE DE VEGA, VICTORY ANGEL, TUPI, MR LUPTON and SILENT ECHO look viable alternatives.

Robert Cowell, who has always excelled with sprinters and won the race two years ago with OUTBACK TRAVELLER, has BLUE DE VEGA, who finished best of all when a close fourth in the 'Dash' Handicap Stakes over 1,000m at Epsom and will be better suited by this stiffer challenge.

Northern stables have captured the prize three times in the last five years, and they are again strongly represented, with Richard Fahey’s MR LUPTON an obvious contender following his last-to-first victory at York last time.

Roger Varian predicts a big run from VICTORY ANGEL, who is a fast ground specialist. He won well on those underfoot conditions at Newmarket in April last year, but from then on it seemed that every time Varian entered him the heavens opened. However, VICTORY ANGEL fulfilled his trainer’s hopes when making an excellent comeback in May, finishing fourth to GIFTED MASTER, who is a Group horse. Silvestre De Sousa rides and the Newmarket horse has a handy weight.

But there is no doubt that on a point of handicapping the American raider UNDRAFTED is, apart from DREAMFIELD, thrown in at the weights. UNDRAFTED won the G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes here three years ago and also ran well in that race 12 months later. Wesley Ward, his trainer, was delighted with his recent third over 1,400m at Belmont and reports that the 8YO (same age as last year’s winner) is working better than he has done for a long time.

SILENT ECHO is the in-form sprinter, having won his last two races at Windsor, but a penalty has probably anchored him.

Richard Hannon relies on TUPI who finished sixth in last year’s G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes, beaten just 3½ lengths by THE TIN MAN. He’s now dropped back to handicap company with the English handicapper being very lenient with him, despite a couple of fair effort in Dubai over the winter. Ryan Moore is an interesting jockey booking and if TUPI can return to his form from this meeting 12 months ago he will be hard to keep out of the frame.


SELECTIONS: 7. DREAMFIELD, 19. TUPI, 26. BLUE DE VEGA, 24. VICTORY ANGEL & 16. SILENT ECHO


S2-6 Queen Alexandra Stakes

This 4,330m Queen Alexandra Stakes is the longest Flat race in the British calendar, and because of the distance jumping trainers have an exceptional record, with both the present champions from Britain and Ireland, Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins, having two winners apiece on the roll of honour.

Mullins did the Ascot Stakes-Queen Alexandra Stakes double with SIMENON in 2012, and THOMAS HOBSON, today’s assured favourite, came close to emulating that feat 12 months ago, winning the Ascot Stakes but being worn down close home by ORIENTAL FOX in what is the Royal meeting’s traditional finale. THOMAS HOBSON is far more than a plodder – he had the class to be second in last season’s G2 Doncaster Cup over 3,579m, as well as running an excellent race from a wide draw to finish a close sixth in the G1 3,200m Melbourne Cup.

Mullins, who won the Ascot Stakes on the opening day with LAGOSTOVEGAS, also relies on RENNETI and MERI DEVIE, the latter who was well beaten behind LAGOSTOVEGAS on Tuesday. It’s not been the best of years for RENNETI so far. He refused to race on his first start over hurdles at Fairyhouse and has then failed to beat a rival in the 2,000m G2 Mooresbridge Stakes or the 2,800m Listed Stakes. Nothing went right for MERI DEVIE in the Ascot Stakes on Tuesday, which I’m sure is why Mullins is having another go here. He won a competitive handicap hurdle at the Punchestown in April and should have the necessary stamina.

Gordon Elliott, who pushed Mullins all the way for last season’s Irish jumps title, runs PALLASATOR, who was an enigmatic character when with Sir Mark Prescott, though he did push BIG ORANGE all the way in the 2016 G2 Goodwood Cup over 3,200m. PALLASATOR was famous more for his pre-race antics – several times he down-tooled and refused to go down to the start – but a change of scenery seems to have done the trick. Twice a winner over hurdles, PALLASATOR, who also ran well in a Grade 1 hurdle at Punchestown last time, does not have much to find with THOMAS HOBSON on official ratings, and the booking of Jamie Spencer is significant.

Andrew Balding, successful with CHIBERTA KING in 2013, relies on COUNT OCTAVE, who was runner-up in the aforementioned Vase last year. He is a classy horse, but he too is going into unknown territory stamina-wise, not having previously gone beyond 2,900m.

NEARLY CAUGHT ran far better than his ninth position suggests in last year’s G1 Gold Cup, belying his massive odds when only flagging in the last 300m on what was his only attempt at this extreme distance. He needed his comeback run this season at Nottingham and improved on that when finishing second in a 3,200m G2 in Germany. Proven on fast ground, he could be a lively outsider.

FUN MAC finished fifth in this race 12 months ago on the back of a third in the 3,700m Chester Cup. This season he returned with a fine second in the Chester Cup, chasing home impressive winner MAGIC CIRCLE. Stamina won’t be a problem for this 7YO who will be staying on all the way to the line passed the tired horses.


SELECTIONS: 11. THOMAS HOBSON, 8. PALLASATOR, 3. NEARLY CAUGHT, 12. COUNT OCTAVE & 2. FUN MAC

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