Sandy Lane scorer Inisherin is set to face 13 rivals in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on Friday.
Kevin Ryan dropped the Shamardal colt in trip for last month’s Group 2 sprint at Haydock after failing to get home in the 2000 Guineas and that decision paid dividends, with the trainer now spying a top-level success.
Inisherin’s principal rival was set to be ownermate Elite Status, but the Carnarvon Stakes scorer has been declared a non-runner due to a knocked joint.
Instead, Jasour is likely to be the chief opposition as last month’s Trial winner brings C&D form to the table, Starlust is the highest-rated horse in the field, while Evade is bidding to build on a Listed win at Epsom’s Derby Festival.
Ireland’s leading hope comes in the form of Givemethebeatboys, who was narrowly denied by the absent Bucanero Fuerte in last month’s Group 3 Lacken Stakes at Naas.
The latest Commonwealth Cup 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.
Commonwealth Cup 2024 verdict
Timeform: Sheikh Mohammed Obaid holds a really strong hand, with easy Sandy Lane winner INISHERIN preferred to Elite Status, who was equally impressive from the front in a Newbury listed race last time. Jasour, whose connections know what it takes to win this, was a ready winner of the trial over C&D at the start of last month and looks best of the remainder.
*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
Commonwealth Cup 2024 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Commonwealth Cup 2024.
Elite Status
Trainer: K. R. Burke Jockey: Non-Runner Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 4
Non-Runner
Evade
Trainer: Archie Watson Jockey: Oisin Murphy Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 15
Group 3-placed in France at 2 for Andre Fabre. Improved on that form when making a successful start for the Archie Watson stable in 7f Epsom listed event 3 weeks ago. Has the potential for better again and ought to be fine back down at 6f.
****
Givemethebeatboys
Trainer: Mrs J. Harrington Jockey: Shane Foley Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 14
Group 3 winner at 2. Returned to win a 6f Navan listed race in April and even better form when narrowly denied by Bucanero Fuerte in Naas Group 3 weeks later.
***
Inisherin
Trainer: Kevin Ryan Jockey: Tom Eaves Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 1
Travelled smoothly up with the pace for a long way when pitched into the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on only his third start and proved a revelation dropped to 6f in the Group 2 Sandy Lane at Haydock (good to soft), making all by 3¾ lengths from Orne. Supplemented for £46,000. The one to beat.
*****
Jasour
Trainer: Clive Cox Jockey: Jim Crowley Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 5
Group 2 winner at Newmarket July meeting (6f, good to firm) last summer. Bombed out in the Morny and Middle Park subsequently but got his career firmly back on track when seeing off Adaay In Devon (who won a Sandown listed at the weekend) in the trial over C&D in May. Owner/trainer won this in 2020.
****
Kind Of Blue
Trainer: James Fanshawe Jockey: Daniel Muscutt Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 3
From a speedy family which has served the stable so well and he’s looked a smart prospect when winning 6f novices at Kempton (AW) and Doncaster (firm) this spring. This a huge jump in class but there’s definitely more to come.
***
Lake Forest
Trainer: William Haggas Jockey: Tom Marquand Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 8
Gimcrack winner at York (6f, good to firm) last August but it wasn’t a particularly strong renewal and he was well beaten in the Group 1 Middle Park at Newmarket on his final start. First outing for 8 months.
**
Louis Barthas
Trainer: Ollie Sangster Jockey: John Egan Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 7
Third in 6f AW novice on sole 3-y-o start. Actually stepped up on that form when 10¼ lengths ninth of 14 to Elite Status in listed race at Newbury (6f, good to firm) on reappearance but it suggests he won’t be anywhere near up to the task here.
*
Malc
Trainer: Richard Fahey Jockey: Oisin Orr Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 12
Useful at 2, notably runner-up in the Norfolk at this meeting. Showed he’s trained on when 5¼ lengths fourth of 14 to Elite Status in listed race at Newbury (6f, good to firm) on reappearance 34 days ago but it’s hard to see him turning the tables on Karl Burke’s charge.
**
Military
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Ryan Moore Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 9
Represents top connections but his form to date is no better than useful, finishing behind Givemethebeatboys when fourth in 6f Naas Group 3 in first-time blinkers (retained) last month.
**
Orne
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden Jockey: Kieran Shoemark Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 11
Winner of the Horris Hill at Newmarket (7f, heavy) last November and several good efforts in defeat in a busy start to his 3-y-o campaign, including 3¾ lengths second to Inisherin when dropped to 6f in the Sandy Lane at Haydock (good to soft) 27 days ago.
***
Pocklington
Trainer: Geoff Oldroyd Jockey: Harry Russell Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 10
Landed a pair of 6f Newcastle novices early in 2024 and not disgraced when 5¼ lengths fifth of 14 to Elite Status in listed race at Newbury (6f, good to firm) 34 days ago. Likely capable of better after only 3 starts but a big jolt of improvement will be needed to go close here. Has a visor added.
**
Starlust
Trainer: Ralph Beckett Jockey: Rossa Ryan Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 6
Won a 6f Group 3 on AW at 2 and third to Big Evs in Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on final start. A bit disappointing behind Jasour in the trial over C&D at the start of May but back to form with a bang when producing a really smart handicap performance at York (5f) 4 weeks ago. Blinkered first time.
***
Classic Flower
Trainer: P. Cottier Jockey: Mickael Barzalona Age: 3 Weight: 8st 13lbs Draw: 2
Useful French filly who has finished runner-up at listed/Group 3 level at Chantilly 3 times this year but her merit looks well established after 9 starts and she’s surely playing for minor money at best here.
**
Pandora’s Gift
Trainer: Stuart Williams Jockey: Sean Levey Age: 3 Weight: 8st 13lbs Draw: 13
Winner of 4 of her 5 starts on the AW, impressing again upped to listed company at Chelmsford (6f) last time. A filly going places and capable of making her presence felt at a higher level assuming she’s as effective on turf.
****
Royal Ascot Day 4 Tips
- Matt Chapman’s Royal Ascot tips for Day 4 on Friday
- Rory Delargy’s Royal Ascot Day 4 tips for Friday
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- Ruby Walsh’s horse racing tips for Royal Ascot Day 4 on Friday
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