Rose Of Lancaster Stakes Guide 2021

Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor has been in fantastic form of late, operating at a 35% strike rate across the last 14 days whilst also boasting 2 past wins in the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes, most recently in 2012.

He enters well fancied favourite, Real World, for this years contest, who ran home a highly impressive 4 3/4 length winner of the Royal Hunt Cup Heritage Handicap at Ascot (8f) in June upon good to firm.

The son of Dark Angel relished the 10f distance last time out to improve once more for the step up into listed company at Newbury and won going away in imposing fashion signifying plenty more to come from the runner.

The only concern here is that the runner is untried on ground defined as anything less than 'fast' however if dealing with conditions come race day, he holds leading claims for stepping up once more for the entrance into Group company with the in form Marco Ghiani booked in the saddle.

Euchen Glen went close for trainer Jim Goldie last time out at Goodwood and just missed out by an eventual neck in the Group 3 Queens Plate Glorious Stakes (12f), ever closing on the leader on the run up to the line.

The 8-year-old gelding now drops back down to the 10f distance by which he recorded an emphatic 3 1/4 length victory over on his penultimate run in listed company at Sandown.

Paul Mulrennan's mount has already recorded Group 3 success this season over the 10f trip at Sandown upon soft ground in May and he'll be sure to appreciate any give in the ground come post time.

He remains in good form and is turned out quickly in order to keep up to that level of performance shown in recent starts, although he does carry a 3lb penalty for the affair thanks to his aforementioned Group success.

Andrew Balding is yet to land the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes as a trainer however he is in good form currently, operating at a 23% strike rate across the last 14 days and whilst he doesn't send too many to Haydock, his strike rate at the track this season is a notable 33%.

The son of Zoffany was possibly thrown into listed company too early on just his 3rd ever career start, finishing a well beaten 5th at Chester (10f).

His handicap form the last twice though, an emphatic win at Ascot (10f) prior to a head 2nd placed finish at Newmarket last time out (10f), have signified a level of ability possibly now good enough to be competitive at this level, despite a sharp raise in class.

This will be his first time taking on the older horses.

Last years winner, Extra Elusive is entered again here for a second crack of the whip for trainer Roger Charlton.

The son of Mastercraftsman was an emphatic 2 1/4 length winner of last years contest upon good ground and replicated that Group 3 success next time out at Windsor (10f) upon soft.

Having said this, his form since those runs has been well below par, including finishing 10 lengths behind Euchen Glen last time out at Sandown (10f).

The return to Haydock should suit and may spark some sort of revival, however usual rider Hollie Doyle looks to have it all to do to here.

Ed Walker is one of the leading trainers at Haydock boasting a 23.6% strike rate at the track across the last 3 years and him, along with jockey Richard Kingscote, are in great form currently, each operating at 20%+ strike rates in the last 14 days.

His entrant, now 8-year-old, Stormy Antaractic, appears to be in good nick of late thanks to a ready 3 1/4 length listed win last time out at Goodwood (10f) ahead of Desert Encounter who was subsequently far from embarrassed when 5th in Group 1 company despite being short of room.

The son of Stormy Atlantic will appreciate any give in the ground come race day and looks a solid each way proposition in the race.

John Gosden is a twice winner of the Rose of Lancaster Stakes and he and Thady will be looking to replicate those success' through entrant, Forest Of Dean.

The son of Iffraaj recorded a Group 3 victory over the 10f trip on the all-weather in February however was unable to follow up for the drop back into a class 2 conditions stakes next time out.

He was well below form for the switch back to turf last time out in the listed Wolferton Stakes (10f) and he now steps back into Group company carrying a 3lb penalty for his last Group success at Lingfield.

Needs to significantly bounce back here to be involved.

Brian Meehan is looking for his first Rose Of Lancaster Stakes success, however boasts a respectable 14% strike rate at Haydock and backing his runners to a £1 level stake at the track has returned a +£20 profit.

He brings with him entrant, Palavecino, who has a fair level of form across listed up to Group 2 level without quite getting his head in front, however was below form last time out when finishing 10th in the Wolferton Stakes behind Euchen Glen on fast ground.

This level of form look to leave him with a fair bit to find on those horses at the top of the market whilst Meehan is also 0-11 across the last 14 days.

Richard Hannon has surprisingly never won the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes and boasts a respectable all time 13% strike rate at Haydock although his strike rate this season has been stepped up to a highly commendable 24% return.

Fancy Man won a listed affair over 8f on soft on just his 3rd ever start as a 2yo and was subsequently stepped up to middle distances as a 3yo although is yet to land much of a blow at this level to date.

He travelled well for a long way when finishing 3rd in the Group 3 Chester Vase up at 12.5f on good to soft, however was well off the pace back down at 10f in listed company at Newmarket, 6 lengths behind John Leeper who Euchen Glen subsequently beat by an almost 5 length margin at Sandown more recently.

Based on that form, he looks to have plenty to find here taking on the older horses for the first time.

Paul & Oliver Cole don't send many to Haydock, only 3 horses in the past to be exact, so its an interesting proposition for them to send Majestic Dawn equipped with the in-form Jim Crowley in the saddle who boasts a 22% strike rate at the track across the last 3 years.

The runner bolted up on his final run last season in the 27 runner Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket (9f) on good ground by an almost 5 length margin however was unable to replicate that class 2 success back down at 8f off top weight on his seasonal re-appearance.

It was a respectable 5th behind Migration at Goodwood, albeit 4 lengths off the pace on heavy ground in the Chesterfield Cup last time out however he must now deal with a sharp raise in class stepping into Group company.

The son of Dawn Approach should be primed ahead of his third run back this season and isn't completely ruled out for a place if dealing with the step up in class with forecasted better ground than the bottomless conditions he had to deal with at Goodwood.