Auguste Rodin is set to face nine rivals in the feature race on day two of Royal Ascot, the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.
The multiple Group 1 winner’s four-year-old campaign has yet to get going after flopping in the Dubai Sheema Classic and finding White Birch too hot to handle in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, although this is likely to be an easier assignment as his Irish rival is absent from proceedings.
It is Inspiral that will start as Auguste Rodin’s principal opposition as the classy mare is stepped back up in trip to 10 furlongs – a distance she scored over in last season’s Breeders’ Cup.
There is strong French representation in the field courtesy of prolific filly Blue Rose Cen, last term’s Champion Stakes third Horizon Dore, Group 2 scorer Zarakem and rank outsider Snobbish.
Alflaila, Hans Andersen, Lord North and Royal Rhyme complete the field for Wednesday’s 16:25.
The latest Prince Of Wales’s Stakes odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Prince Of Wales’s Stakes 2024 verdict
Timeform: INSPIRAL is sure to be all the better for her reappearance and the style of her win at Santa Anita back in November strongly suggests she still has unfinished business at this trip, so she’s narrowly preferred to Auguste Rodin, who took a big step back in the right direction when runner-up in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last time. Royal Rhyme could be the one to fill the places on just his second try at the top level.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Prince Of Wales’s Stakes 2024 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes 2024.
Alflaila
Trainer: Owen Burrows Jockey: Jim Crowley Age: 5 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 2
Slow starter who ended 2022 firmly on the up, supplementing his Group 3 Strensall Stakes win at York with a high-class effort in the Darley Stakes at Newmarket (9f). Ran only twice in 2023, winning Group 2 at York on return before a creditable effort behind Auguste Rodin in Irish Champion Stakes.
***
Auguste Rodin
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Ryan Moore Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 3
Flopped in 2000 Guineas and King George but won all other outings at 3, namely Derby at Epsom, Irish Derby, Irish Champion and Breeders’ Cup Turf. Flopped again on Meydan reappearance but took a big step back in the right direction when second in Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh. Leading player.
****
Hans Andersen
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: W. M. Lordan Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 6
Useful colt who didn’t need to be at his best to make a winning reappearance in minor event at Dundalk in April. Not disgraced back up in grade the last twice but is once again biting off more than he can chew.
**
Horizon Dore
Trainer: P. Cottier Jockey: Mickael Barzalona Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 7
Progressed well last year, gaining his fourth success in a row in Prix Dollar at Longchamp (9.7f) in September and has returned at least as good this season, losing out only in a head-bobbing finish in Grade 1 at aforementioned track on most recent outing. Respected.
***
Lord North
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden Jockey: William Buick Age: 8 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 5
8-y-o who won this race 4 years ago, but he came up short bidding for a fourth successive win in Dubai Turf at Meydan (9f) in March. Ran his most encouraging race of the year when third in Mile at Sandown the following month but he’s likely to find at least a couple too good back up in grade.
**
Royal Rhyme
Trainer: K. R. Burke Jockey: Clifford Lee Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 1
Most progressive last season, bolting up in Goodwood handicap before following up in a Ayr listed race (1¼m). Far from disgraced stepped up to Group 1 level when fifth in Champion Stakes here and outclassed his 3 rivals in Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on return. Interesting contender.
***
Snobbish
Trainer: Maurizio Guarnieri Jockey: Fabien Lefebvre Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 9
Fairly useful maiden winner in France who is flying way too high at this level and is presumably here as pacemaker for stablemate Blue Rose Cen.
*
Zarakem
Trainer: J. Reynier Jockey: Maxime Guyon Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 8
Rose through the ranks with a 5-timer last season and produced a career best to make a winning reappearance in the Prix d’Harcourt at Longchamp (10.4f) in April. However, ran below form in Group 1 there later that month and this isn’t any easier.
***
Blue Rose Cen
Trainer: Maurizio Guarnieri Jockey: Christophe Soumillon Age: 4 Weight: 8st 13lbs Draw: 4
Smart filly who had a brilliant season (for Christophere Head) last year, winning the Pouliches, Diane and the Prix de l’Opera. Ran respectably in Grade 1 at Longchamp (9.2f) on last month’s reappearance and can be marked up having met trouble.
***
Inspiral
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden Jockey: Kieran Shoemark Age: 5 Weight: 8st 13lbs Draw: 10
High-class mare who completed a top-level hat-trick in the autumn with wins in the Sun Chariot at Newmarket (1m) and Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita (1¼m). Should be all the better for her reappearance and holds leading claims.
*****
Royal Ascot Day 2 Tips
- Matt Chapman’s Royal Ascot tips for Day 2 on Wednesday
- Rory Delargy’s Royal Ascot Day 2 tips for Wednesday
- Mick Fitzgerald’s Royal Ascot tips for Wednesday
- Ruby Walsh’s horse racing tips for Royal Ascot Day 2 on Wednesday
Read More on Royal Ascot
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest horse racing tips
- Royal Ascot race times and day-by-day schedule
- Royal Ascot prize money for every race at the 2024 meeting
- Paddy Power’s ultimate Royal Ascot betting guide
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