Down Royal - Sat 20 Jun 2026
VAUNTINGLY took a pleasant step forward from her debut third to take the silver medal home behind a subsequent Group 3 winner at Gowran Park last month. The daughter of Night Of Thunder is likely to have more under the bonnet and is tough to oppose. Wickedly Wootton had My First Rose (seventh) behind when fourth on her introduction at Leopardstown and can confirm that form to go close, while Camelot Queen is another to watch out for.
Amrum got up to lead at the post over an extended 1m1f at Gowran Park at the start of the month and will have more to offer on just his second outing in handicap company. However, TEOLOGIA showed improvement in first-time cheekpieces to score by just over a length over track and trip on her most recent outing and an official rating of 71 might not be beyond her. Roaming Coyote and Connecteo are others to note.
Coul Dore finished two lengths clear of the third when hitting the crossbar at Fairyhouse earlier this month and should mount a bold bid, but the vote goes to SWIFT CHARM. The daughter of Dandy Man had Albatala a place behind when finishing a creditable third at Fairyhouse last time and that might prove to be the key piece of form to focus on. Marians Gal is taking a drop back in trip and is another to watch out for.
The O'Brien family has won three of the last six runnings of this contest and are back for more with Joseph running three-year-old CHABLIS ROCK, a winner last time out at Limerick when stepped up in distance. She cruised to the front two out that day and should not have any issues with the drop back in trip here. Thrifty Of Digby is looking for her hat-trick and she could hold off the attentions of Fiver Friday in the race for second.
New Zealand drops into handicap company for the first time after racing at a higher level since winning his maiden at the Curragh as a two-year-old, but he was beaten over nine lengths over this trip at Navan and arrives with questions to answer. Huff'n'puff intrigues stepping up in trip after winning over two furlongs shorter at Roscommon and he could test BAY OF STARS the most. Dermot Weld's colt showed a willing attitude when second at Leopardstown and should appreciate the small step up in trip.
John McConnell won this with Calmafterthestorm in 2024 and seems keen to do so again with three of the runners, possibly headed by Fairyhouse second PEBBLE ISLAND, who ran on late that day and will appreciate this extra yardage. Deluca Chop lurks lower down the weights despite winning over further at Navan and is another for the shortlist alongside Jurality, who is more reliable than most and thoroughly deserved his breakout success when winning at Navan at the 25th attempt.
Steel Cut and Duvessa both stepped up on their opening bids when filling the runner-up spot on their second outings. The former is slightly more appealing stepping up in distance and he's unlikely to be far away if his stamina holds out, but DADDY LONG LEGS should prove tough to beat. Willie Mullins' gelding is a Grade 1 runner-up over hurdles and arrives here in fine fettle after scoring at Ballinrobe last month.
VAUNTINGLY built on a promising debut when chasing home a future Group winner last time so should be able to outclass this field. She can lead home Camelot Queen who has shown a decent level of form over middle distances and Wickedly Wootton who finished strongly having shown signs of greenness first time out.
This could be dominated by a pair with recent course form. Amrum was a touch unlucky here on his penultimate start before flying home to make a winning handicap debut last time. The first time cheekpieces could sharpen him up early while he still looks a fair way ahead of his mark. With the longer trip to suit he is a big player but top weight TEOLOGIA is narrowly preferred. Her runner up effort in a claimer has been boosted and she looks to have been given a generous mark judged on her recent C&D maiden win. Roaming Coyote came clear of the rest when runner up on his handicap debut and may gain the final place here.
SWIFT CHARM can gain a first victory. He has placed off this mark on both of his runs at around 10f so far and can confirm last time out placings with Albatala. The dual purpose maiden is well treated on her best form in both codes and is entitled to come on for her latest run. Cleopatra's Needle also has plenty of mileage in her mark judged on her hurdles form and should be on the premises.
CHABLIS ROCK can back up her last time out cosy victory. She looks to have been given a lenient opening mark and the drop in trip is in her favour while her yard has enjoyed recent success in this. Apercu is more exposed than most in the line up and isn't one to rely on. However she has slipped to a dangerous mark and showed she retained her ability in the spring so is feared at a big price. The steadily progressive Thrifty Of Digby has proven her stamina recently so is also respected in her hat trick bid despite a career high mark.
An open race where New Zealand sets the standard on form having been highly tried since landing his maiden. He beat some classy rivals that day and his latest run where he failed to stay 13f has been franked at Royal Ascot so he is respected. However it may be worth taking a chance with WYMAN at the other end of the weights who left his 2yo form behind when upped to 10f on his reappearance. His breeding suggests this extra distance will suit even better and his opening mark looks lenient. AW maiden winner Bay Of Stars never got a run until it was too late when runner up on his handicap debut and should also play a big part.
DELUCA CHOP snapped a long losing run in a first time visor last time and remains very well treated on his recent AW form so is expected to follow up. The headgear is retained and he's not fully exposed over this trip. Dual purpose performer Patrick Street has been in excellent form in both codes of late. He should be suited by this longer trip on his Flat return and can chase the selection home ahead of last time out winner Jurality.
DUVESSA left her debut form behind when runner up last time and a repeat of that may be enough here. She still looked green under pressure and is open to further improvement over this longer trip. Hurdles winner Joe Cool proved steadily progressive in this code in the spring and looks the main danger on form though he could probably do with some rain. Steel Cut can also threaten in the first time cheekpieces if building on his latest run.
Whilst studying the form, we have a dedicated horse racing free bets page where you can find offers on all today's racing, as well as offers to use for races on our Ante-Post Prices page, which has markets available for upcoming major meetings as well as the Grand National 2026, Royal Ascot 2026 and Cheltenham Festival 2026.
