Results

1 14:30 Ascot 19 Jun 2025

Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (2YO only)

5f Good to Firm

More info

Winner £85,065 - 15 ran

Draw Advantage: High

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Weighed In

3 Charles Darwin (IRE) (15)

2 9-3 -

8/13 F

R L Moore

A P O'Brien

made virtually all, ridden and pressed over 1f out, quickened clear inside final furlong, stayed on strongly, readily

Jockey Form Trainer Form Full Horse Form

2 2¼

16 Wise Approach (IRE) (3)

2 9-3 -

10/1

W Buick

C Appleby

towards rear of mid-division, closed from 2f out, edged left inside final furlong, stayed on, went 2nd close home, no impression on winner

Jockey Form Trainer Form Full Horse Form

3 ¾

14 Sandal's Song (USA) (7)

2 9-3 -

9/1

James McDonald

George Weaver

prominent, every chance over 1f out, no impression on winner inside final furlong, lost 2nd close home

Jockey Form Trainer Form Full Horse Form

4 ½

2 Ameeq (IRE) (2)

2 9-3 -

100/1

K Stott

K A Ryan

prominent, every chance 2f out, lost 3rd and no extra well inside final furlong

Jockey Form Trainer Form Full Horse Form

5 ½

5 Comical Point (IRE) (6)

2 9-3 -

22/1

Oisin Murphy

A M Balding

held up in mid-division, hung right over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not trouble leaders

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6 1½

1 Afjan (FR) (5)

2 9-3 - t¹

7/1 2F

Alexis Pouchin

H F Devin

in touch in mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, driven over 1f out, edged left, stayed on same pace inside final furlong

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7 nse

8 Graft (IRE) (4)

2 9-3 -

50/1

K Shoemark

Mlle J Soudan

in touch in mid-division, effort over 2f out, stayed on same pace and no impression final furlong

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8 shd

13 Naval Light (9)

2 9-3 -

14/1

James Doyle

K R Burke

slowly away, towards rear, driven over 1f out, switched right and headway inside final furlong, kept on, never on terms

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9 shd

10 Irish Fighter (IRE) (8)

2 9-3 -

50/1

S De Sousa

I Mohammed

towards rear, ridden and behind over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, never dangerous

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10 nk

7 First Legion (IRE) (13)

2 9-3 -

11/1

S Foley

R Hannon

slowly away, held up in mid-division, ridden and switched left over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, kept on, never dangerous

Jockey Form Trainer Form Full Horse Form

11 1

4 Clear Force (IRE) (16)

2 9-3 -

33/1

C Lee

K R Burke

prominent, ridden over 2f out, lost place over 1f out, soon edged right, weakened inside final furlong

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12 ¾

11 Lil Brother (14)

2 9-3 -

66/1

T E Whelan

P Attwater

chased leaders, ridden 3f out, edged right and lost place 2f out, weakened inside final furlong

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13 1½

9 Hey Tru Blue (10)

2 9-3 -

33/1

Billy Loughnane

G Boughey

slowly away, always towards rear

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14 ½

6 Exclamation (IRE) (12)

2 9-3 -

100/1

Finley Marsh

G Harris

chased leaders, not much room and lost place over 3f out, well beaten over 1f out

Jockey Form Trainer Form Full Horse Form

15 ¾

15 Star Material (IRE) (11)

2 9-3 -

66/1

Connor Beasley

A Keatley

prominent, outpaced over 2f out, well beaten from over 1f out

Jockey Form Trainer Form Full Horse Form

12 London Boy (1)

2 9-3 - t¹

Jockey Form Trainer Form Full Horse Form

Off Time: 14:31:05 Winning Time: 0m 58.87s Last Updated: 07 Jul 2025 10:58:02

Betting returns

Type	Winnings
CSF	£7.89 (3, 16)
Tricast	£40.62 (3, 16, 14)
Win	£1.62 (3)
Place	£1.25 (3), £3.00 (16), £2.60 (14)
Swinger	£4.30 (3, 14), £4.85 (3, 16), £11.30 (14, 16)
Exacta	£12.20 (3, 16)
Trifecta	£76.00 (3, 16, 14)

Expert Analysis

Reporter: Simon Rowlands

Largely a case of “what you see is what you get” in that this was a well-run race in which the whole field raced centre to near side and there were no significant hard-luck stories. Charles Darwin put up the best winning performance in this race since 112-rated Sioux Nation in 2017, and in the fastest winning time since his sire No Nay Never posted 58.80s in 2013. His own finishing speed of 101.2% (23.27s for final 2f) was fractionally quicker than par for the course/distance.

CHARLES DARWIN (111+ here and previously) showed an admirably professional attitude, as well as smart form again, to land the odds in ready fashion, quickly away and making nearly all, travelling comfortably before going on again for sure 1f out and striding clear. He is probably a sprinter (has a high cadence) but likely to be at least as good back at 6f as at this 5f, having won at the longer distance by a wide margin already and never better than at the line here.

WISE APPROACH (101 here, 94 previously) ran much more in keeping with what might have been expected of him after his debut, posting a useful effort. He took a while to hit top stride, edging left as he improved but running on for second late on, and should be at least as good at 6f despite his disappointing run at the trip at York.

SANDAL’S SONG (98 here and previously) ran at least as well as he had when winning in useful company at Gulfstream on his only previous start, close up and nosing ahead briefly before the winner strode clear.

AMEEQ (96 here, 82 previously) took a big step forward and looked speedy as well as borderline useful, widest and close up/disputing the lead for a long way, edging left and just beginning to weaken when hit over the head by a rival’s whip with 100y to go.

COMICAL POINT (94+ here, 86+ previously) shaped better than the result, likely to build further on this at 6f, held up and running on but lacking the pace to challenge and not unduly knocked about.

AFJAN (88 here, 98 previously) was below the form of his debut win at Chantilly, where he needed most of a slightly longer trip to get up, not one to give up on yet.

GRAFT (87 here, 97 previously)

NAVAL LIGHT (87 here, 84+ previously) took too long to get going after a slowish start but should still improve.

IRISH FIGHTER (87 here, 77 previously)

FIRST LEGION (86 here, 101 previously)

CLEAR FORCE (81 here, 92 previously)

LIL BROTHER (78 here, 83 previously)

HEY TRU BLUE (72 here, 86 previously)

EXCLAMATION (70 here, 90 previously)

STAR MATERIAL (66 here, 85 previously)

Video Highlights

Replay: 14:30 Ascot 19th Jun 2025