Racecards
15:50 Ascot
John Guest Diadem Stakes (group 2) (Class 1)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 6f
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £90,000 added
- Form 9-55170
- Age 7
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer M H Tompkins
- Jockey J Fanning
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, soon outpaced and beaten
- Form 361501
- Age 6
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer H Morrison
- Jockey S J Drowne
held up in touch, headway on rails but ridden when not clear run approaching final furlong, ran on to take 2nd final strides, no chance with winner
- Form 015594
- Age 7
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D Allan
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no impression final furlong, lost 2nd final strides
- Form 202410
- Age 5
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer R Hannon
- Jockey Richard Hughes
held up, always in rear
- Form 351-833
- Age 8
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer J E Hammond
- Jockey P Robinson
slowly into stride, held up in rear, ran on final furlong, no chance
- Form 510442
- Age 6
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey K Darley
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 060255
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer B W Hills
- Jockey Michael Hills
raced keenly, tracked leader, led over 1f out, in command when veered badly left final furlong
- Form 30-3123
- Age 5
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer J R Fanshawe
- Jockey J P Spencer
held up in touch, ridden 2f out, soon beaten
- Form 42-9010
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 107
keen hold, held up, ran on final furlong, no chance
- Form 024162
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer C E Brittain
- Jockey Kerrin McEvoy
Withdrawn
- Form 043682
- Age 7
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 114
Nonrunner
- Form 212437
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey Doubtful
Nonrunner
Verdict
The Diadem Stakes can go to Ashdown Express, while Baltic King and Red Clubs might prove to be his biggest dangers. Once again, we have a good line-up this season for a Group-rated contest. Steenberg may have been disappointing in the Sprint Cup last time, but he has scored at Group 2 level this season. Ashdown Express comes here as the highest-rated runner in the field, and a repeat of his runs when fourth in the Golden Jubilee Stakes over course and distance or when second in the July Cup would make him a major player today. Baltic King also scored over course and distance in this season's Wokingham Stakes, so he is respected too, while Ratio was very useful - he landed the Wokingham back in 2003 - but has something to prove coming into this race, although connections are very canny. Somnus showed with his York Group 2 second to Iffraaj last time that he can still compete at this level, while having been placed fifth in both the Nunthorpe and the Sprint Cup on his last two starts, Red Clubs can go well on going that should suit better today. Finally, the York Group 3 winner in July, La Chunga, would hold claims if managing to put it all together, although she has two ways of running at times it seems, and progressive handicapper Firenze is not witout a chance. Overall, though, we will stick with Ashdown Express.
Formwatch
Steenberg (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Mid-division, ridden halfway, weakened 2f out, last of 11, 32l behind Reverence (9-3) at Haydock 6f Grp 1 (1) hvy.
Baltic King 7-2 (9-0) In touch, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on to lead close home, won at Beverley 5f lst stk (1) gs in Aug beating Pivotal's Princess (8-9) by a hd, 12 ran.
Fayr Jag (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on final furlong, 4th of 11, 1 1/2l behind Celtic Mill (9-9) at York 5f lst stk (1) gd.
Presto Shinko (IRE) (9-2) In touch, effort and every chance over 1f out, one pace, 10th of 17, 6l behind Marchand D'or (8-11) at Deauville 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in Aug.
Ratio 11-2 (9-1) Held up, stayed on well final furlong, 3rd of 8, 1l behind Indian Maiden (8-11) at Deauville 6f Grp 3 (1) hvy in Aug.
Somnus 20-1 (9-2) In touch, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Iffraaj (9-6) at York 7f Grp 2 (1) gd.
Assertive 33-1 (8-12) In touch, ridden 2f out, no impression, 8th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Sleeping Indian (9-2) at Newbury 7f lst stk (1) gd.
Red Clubs (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Led, ridden 2f out, headed 1f out, soon edged left and weakened, 5th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Reverence (9-3) at Haydock 6f Grp 1 (1) hvy.
Firenze 5-1fav (9-1) Mid-division on far side, ridden and no impression over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, snatched 3rd final stride, 3rd of 27, 1/2l behind Borderlescott (9-5) at Goodwood 6f hcap (2) gf in Aug.
La Chunga (USA) (8-8) In touch, disputed lead briefly 2f out, weakened 1f out, 11th of 17, 7l behind Marchand D'or (8-11) at Deauville 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in Aug.
Excusez Moi (USA) 15-2 (9-0) In touch, effort to chase leaders over 1f out, ran on under pressure to take 2nd final 75 yards, not reach winner, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Dixie Belle (8-10) at Newbury 5f Grp 3 (1) gd.
Ashdown Express (IRE) 11-4 (9-0) Held up, smooth headway over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 5, nk behind Tax Free (9-0) at Goodwood 6f lst stk (1) gd.
Beckermet (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Chased leaders, 3rd early, 4th under pressure 2f out, soon no extra, 5th of 8, 8l behind Beauty Bright (8-12) at Curragh 6f Grp 3 (1) gs.
Kodiac 28-1 (9-3) In touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 11, 18l behind Reverence (9-3) at Haydock 6f Grp 1 (1) hvy.
Mutamared (USA) 12-1 (8-13) Chased leaders on far side, switched right over 1f out, ran on to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 27, nk behind Borderlescott (9-5) at Goodwood 6f hcap (2) gf in Aug.
Tawaassol (USA) 3-1fav (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 7, 13l behind Appalachian Trail (9-0) at Newmarket 6f lst stk (1) sft in Aug.
Paradise Isle 11-1 (8-13) Chased leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, not quicken final furlong, 4th of 5, 1 1/2l behind Tax Free (9-0) at Goodwood 6f lst stk (1) gd.