Royal Lodge Stakes Guide 2021

Andrew Balding has a decent 21% win rate with his turf 2-year-olds this season and the trainer holds leading claims for the Royal Lodge, which he won back in 2014, with his runner Masekala.

Masekala, a son of El Kabeir, was edged out by a mere shoulder behind Native Trail in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes in July and was subsequently dropped back to listed level at Newbury last time out.

He kept on strongly to the line, heading Bayside Boy on the run in to the line, and shaped as though as longer trip would be sure to suit.

He has already proven his capabilities at Group 2 level and the current forecasted fast ground 8f will only further benefit his leading chances in this.

Charlie Appleby has his yard in flying form of late with a 44% strike rate across the last 14 days; including 14 winners.

He teams up with the in-form William Buick on board their well bred Dubawi colt, Coroebus.

Coroebus is 1 from 1 after winning a mile contest on the July Course here in August, travelling strongly throughout before running on well to lead inside the final furlong.

Appleby has a 32% strike rate with his turf 2yo's this season and despite having just one run under his belt and lacking in race experience in comparison to his rivals, he's not one to be taken lightly.

Mark Johnston is a 3 time winner of the Royal Lodge, most recently in 2012, and he brings entrant Royal Patronage to try his hand at a fourth race win.

A son of Wootton Bassett, Royal Patronage has progressed nicely across his 4 starts, finally getting off the mark on his 3rd run at Epsom (7f) by a dominant 5 length margin in a class 4 novice.

He was subsequently stepped up to Group 3 level last time out in the Acomb Stakes (7f) and improved to win again, making all from the front and keeping on well at shock 25/1 odds to finish an eventual 2.25 lengths ahead at the line.

He now takes another step up in grade and also steps up in trip to the 8f distance, which doesn't look like it show pose any issues given the manner he has kept on over past 7f trips.

He has possibilities here and may just have enough to step up again, however it must be noted that he may not have his own way out front again with rivals more wary of his front running tactics.

Good to firm ground may also have an effect on proceedings and may turn out to be a little lively for the runner this time out.

Aidan O'Brien is a 7 time winner of the Royal Lodge, most recently recording back to back success' in 2018 and 2019.

He is represented in this years renewal by Irish raider, Howth, who has won once across 6 career runs to date.

Howth was off mark at the fourth time of asking in an 8f nursery handicap at Killarney, keeping on well to readily land that contest.

He was subsequently to less effect back down at 7f on his penultimate start however bounced back to form with a careers best at Leopardstown last time out, finishing 4th in a blanket finish for the Group 2 Champions Juvenile Stakes.

The runner has potential to improve again here and looks overpriced given her competitiveness at this level last time out and her yards rich form in this race over the years.

Having said this, good to firm ground may prove too lively with progeny of Churchill often much preferring the good or slower conditions.

Oneforthegutter, a son of Muhaarar, is Ian Williams' representative in the race and his runner did well to get off the mark at the first time of asking with a debut win at Haydock (6f) at unfancied 25/1 odds, despite his price shooting up to 110,000gns at the breeze ups.

He was subsequently stepped up to Listed level (6f) next time out at Newbury and was a respectable 4th placed finisher, just 1.5 lengths behind the eventual winner.

A trip to France followed last time out and Oneforthegutter notably improved again, stepping up to the 7f trip for the first time and going down by a mere head in a Group 3 contest.

He shaped as though 8f wouldn't be a problem in that affair and he now takes another step up in Grade too.

He's clearly very progressive and given progeny of Muhaarar are often known to prefer firmish ground, he has clear possibilities here for improvement for the switch to the faster conditions.

A solid each way chance at a price.

Ralph Beckett is in decent form of late with a 21% strike rate across the last 14 days and he was last years winner of the Royal Lodge via New Mandate.

The trainer comes to this years renewal of the race boasting a son of Kingman, Seattle King.

Seattle King was off the mark on debut with a ready 1.5 length win at Salisbury (7f), franking plenty market support, clearly showing the right signs at home.

Nevertheless, the step up to listed company last time out resulted in a well beaten 4th placed finish at Newbury behind market leader Masekela, and despite having the potential to improve for the step up to 8f here, he still has plenty to find to get on terms with that leader.

Donnacha O'Brien sends a runner across the Irish sea to be competitive in the Royal Lodge in the form of Unconquerable who holds 1 win across his 5 career starts.

The son of Churchill was a 5.5 length 2nd behind subsequent Group 2 winner Point Lonsdale on his second start, and was off the mark on his fourth, landing a maiden at Naas.

Point Lonsdale improved to better his winning margin over Unconquerable on the runners last start in the Group 3 Tyros Stakes (7f) at Leopardstown, where Unconquerable managed a 3rd placed finish however was 6.5 lengths off the pace that day.

He now steps up to the mile and makes a step up in grade to a Group 2.

Based on what we have seen thus far, he appears out of his depth.