Commonwealth Cup Guide 2021

French raider, Suesa, for trainer Francois Rohaut, looks the rightful favourite in the Commonwealth Cup remaining unbeaten in her opening 4 runs

The daughter of Night Of Thunder, will appreciate any cut in the ground having won upon soft underfoot conditions on all of her starts at Chantilly and looks a progressive type.

The filly stepped up on her 2yo listed win in the Prix Yacowlef (5.5f) to land back to back Group 3 victories this season over 5.5f and 6f respectively, winning the latter by a 3 length margin.

She looks a top 3yo and should progress once more here for the step up to a Group 1 thereby making her a big player in this field.

Wesley Ward's Campanelle won the Queen Mary (G2, 5f) last season here at Ascot before subsequently landing the Morny (G1, 6f) in France next time out via a 2 length victory upon soft ground.

The daughter of Kodiac, despite being US trained, is very much of European pedigree, versatile ground wise and is expected to have developed during the off season from a 2yo to a 3yo.

She lost her unbeaten tag last time out at Keeneland however when stepped up to a mile in the Breeders Cup juvenile fillies (G1) although, will be sure to appreciate the drop back to 6f.

Connections will have been keen to get a comeback run into her prior to coming to Royal Ascot, however that doesn't look to have materialised, leaving question marks over her sharpness coming into this.

Supremacy for last years race winning trainer, Clive Cox, was impressive last season, progressing well to land both the Richmond (G2, 6f) and Middle Park stakes (G1, 6f).

The son of Mehmas' return last time out under a penalty however was very below par, finishing last of 8, and for that, now faces a fair few question marks over his race sharpness and his suitability to the Ascot track.

The 3yo colt remains a leading form contender based on his 2yo exploits and wears blinkers for the first time to assist him in bouncing back from last times effort.

Dragon Symbol for Archie Watson, ran an absolute cracker last time out to finish runner up behind Rohaan upon heavy conditions at Haydock (G2, 6f), especially given he was drawn on the wrong side of the track and raced alone for the most part of the race.

The son of Cable Bay is a progressive type and his Group 2 defeat marked a major step up in class.

He has a bit to prove now upped again into a Group 1 contest and looks a real pacy type, however for that exact reason, you may be inclined to believe he be better over a 5f trip and a much stiffer Ascot 6f may just find him out.

Eve Johnson Houghton's entrant, Jumby, looks to have strong form coming into this on the back of his Newmarket handicap win, albeit being a class 2 event.

The son of New Bay looks like a Group horse in waiting and is expected to progress once more coming into this.

A draw in stall 11 may make life a little bit tricky in this one however with 5 of the last 6 winners being drawn in stall 8 or lower.

Irish raider, Measure of Magic, ran out respectable 3rd at Group 2 level in the Flying Childers Stakes (G2, 5f) as a 2yo.

The daughter of Kodi Bear has returned for her 3yo season in great form, winning on both starts at Navan (6f) and Cork (5.5f), with the latter of those runs being an impressive 3 1/4 length victory, albeit in listed company.

The jump back up to Group 1 level does ask questions of her and may just find her out, however she's in great form all the same.

Clive Cox's, Dilligent Harry, looks a smart type and has been very progressive on the all weather this season.

The son of Due Diligence has won 3 of his opening 4 runs and won well last time out at class 2 level (6f) by a 2 length margin.

This will be his first run on turf and the race marks a huge step up in class for the runner which may just find him out.

Having said this, he looks like a group horse in the making, is drawn well and will learn a lot from the run.

A Case of You looks an interesting proposition for trainer Adrian McGuiness in this one after bouncing back to form last time out at Naas (G3, 6f) upon soft ground.

The son of Hot Streak was eye-catching in his 2 wins last year for John McConnell upon soft ground (7f and 6.5f) with the latter of those runs being in Group 3 company.

He possess' a high cruising speed and if the rain does come, he's well in with a shout upon soft underfoot conditions.

Fivethousandtoone for Andrew Balding will appreciate the drop back to 6f after being outstayed last time out in the Dewhurst Stakes (G1, 7f) when finishing 7th of 14.

This will be the colts first run in 251 days and will have it all to prove on the back of that layoff.

His 2nd placed finish on his penultimate 2yo run reads well being a Group 2 (6f) although the form from that race doesn't appear to have too much substance thus far.

William Haggas' entrant, Sacred, was runner up behind re-opposing rival Campanelle in the Queen Mary (G2, 5f) here at Royal Ascot last year.

The daughter of Exceed and Excel marked her seasonal re-appearance with a good Group 3 win up at 7f in the Nell Gwynn before failing to stay on over 8f next time out in the 1000 Guineas (G1).

The drop back down to 6f is questionable, given she's bred for further and Tom Marquands mount may find it tough against the pace of some of her sprinter opponents.

Trainer Martyn Meade won this race back in 2019 with Advertise and brings with him Method in an attempt at achieving the same feat 2 years on.

The son of Mehmas showed plenty promise in his opening 2 runs as a 2yo, beating this years 1000 Guineas 3rd placed finisher, Fev Rover, by 4 1/4 lengths on debut (6f) before winning the listed Rose Bowl stakes (6f) on just his 2nd start.

His final run as a 2yo was a 3 length beating into 2nd by Winter Power (G3, 5f) on soft before returning as a 3yo back up at 6f with a 5th placed finish upon heavy ground at Haydock (G2) which isn't sure to have suited.

Richard Kingscote's mount should improve from that comeback run and a return to better ground should help his chances at building upon that earlier promise he's shown.

Miss Amulet's 2 attempts at 6f as a 2yo inspire real confidence in her ability at this distance, given that she beat Sacred in the Lowther stakes (G2) before subsequently finishing a 1/2 length 2nd to Alcohol Free in the Cheveley Park Stakes (G1, 6f).

The daughter of Sir Prancealot stayed on well when upped to 8f to finish 3rd in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) beating Campanelle by 2 lengths.

Her comeback run was less impressive however with a 13th of 14 placed finish in the Irish 1000 guineas upon heavy ground not sure to have suited.

She will need to bounce back from that effort whilst her prominent run style over 6f isn't sure to suit the Ascot track.

Past C&D winner, Dandalla, was super impressive last year at Royal Ascot when landing the Albany Stakes (G3, 6f) by no less than 6 lengths before upgrading to land the Duchess of Camridge stakes at Newmarket next time out (G2, 6f) upon soft ground.

Karl Burke's filly has since been underwhelming however with a well beaten 5th placed effort in group 1 company on her final 2yo run before finishing 7th on her re-appearance and then 6th of 6 last time out in a listed race (6f) on heavy.

Last years form puts her right in the mix but based on recent efforts, she has a huge amount to find.

Laws of Indices was a shock 2yo winner at 66/1 in a Group 2 event at Naas (6f) for former trainer Jessica Harrington beating Tuesday's St James' Palace stakes (G1, 7f) runner up, Lucky Vega, by half a length.

A switch to Ken Condon has followed and despite some respectable finishes across Listed-Group 1 company, has failed to win since.

The son of Power was a close 4th behind Case of You last time out at Naas (G3, 6f) on his 2nd run back this season and is entitled to progress again here sporting a first time tongue tie.

Mooniesta races fairly keenly for the most part, however a strong pace may just suit her here for trainer Jack Davison who crosses the Irish sea to be competitive here.

The daughter of Dandy Man was noted as the best of those coming off the pace last time out against re-opposing rivals A Case of You and Law Indices and despite causing an interference and being awarded 3rd rather than the initial 2nd placed finish, she looks to have a run style to suit Ascot.

She wasn't the best drawn in that race and now makes a step up in class from a Group 3 to a Group 1 however is drawn well in stall 1 for an early racing positions.

Looks a fair value pick despite needing to prove herself at this level.

The Lir Jet for Michael Bell has strong form here at Ascot thanks to his 2yo win in the Norfolk stakes last year (G2, 5f) on his 2nd career start.

A 3rd placed finish in the Greenham Stakes (G3, 7f) marked his seasonal re-appearance prior to running poorly upon heavy ground next time out at Haydock.

He'll need a personal best in order to take this Group 1 contest and has been equipped with a new tongue tie/visor combination in order to eek out that further improvement from the runner, drawn well in stall 5.

Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore won this race in 2017 upon Carravagio and the pair team up once more here upon Lipizanner, a listed winner over 6f at Doncaster upon heavy conditions as a 2yo.

The son of Uncle Mo, maked his seasonal re-appearance with a respectable 3rd place finish behind re-opposing rival Measure of Magic at Navan before subsequently finishing a well beaten 6th behind alternate rivals, A Case of You, Mooneista and Law of Indices last time out.

He'll be sure to appreciate firmer ground if the lack of rain continues, however based on his latest run, he has plenty to find here.

Clive Cox's third entrant in the race, Isabella Giles, landed a respectable quickfire double last season in the Prestige Stakes (G3, 7f) by 7 lengths and the Rockfel Stakes (G2, 7f) upon soft and good ground as a 2yo.

The daughter of Belardo was less impressive on the drop back to 6f last time out on heavy when employing prominent tactics however and that running style is not likely to suit here.

She appears much better suited to a longer trip and looks exposed to the pace of the 6f closers in this one.

Happy Romance has strong form over 6f as a 2yo from when Richard Hannon's filly beat Group 1 winning, Alcohol Free, at Salisbury (G3).

She failed to kick on from that race however and the form was reversed next time out in the Cheveley Park stakes (G1, 6f) as Happy Romance only managed a 4th placed finish.

The daughter of Dandy Man has won a listed race on the all-weather this season (6f), however failed to back that up when switched back to turf last time out finishing 5th at Newbury (listed, 6f).

Based on those recent runs, she has plenty to find and the step back up to group 1 company looks a big ask.

Mighty Gurkha for Archie Watson and Hollie Doyle holds a Group 3 victory to his name on the all weather as a 2yo.

Patchy form has followed since and his recent class 2 win upon the all-weather looks well below the expected standard needed to land this Group 1, despite running well from the front in a Group 3 last time out before fading into a dead heated 4th.

That running style is unlikely to suit here.