St James' Palace Stakes 2021

Jim Bolger’s Poetic Flare looks a deserving favourite given his past form as a British 2000 Guineas (G1, 8f) winner last month.

The 3yo colt was however below form in the French Guineas (G1, 8f) finishing 6th before bouncing back to form in the Irish Guineas (G1, 8f) when finishing 2nd behind Mac Swiney on soft/heavy.

The son of Dawn Approach is thriving currently however this will be his 5th big run in 2 months and that may just have an effect on his performance.

Battleground represents 8 time St James’ Palace winning trainer Aidan O’Brien in the race.

The son of War Front was an extremely useful 2yo winning in Listed and Group 2 company before stepping up again to finish runner up in the Grade 1 Breeders Cup juvenile race (8f).

Newmarket didn’t suit last time out however he remains high on the shortlist if bouncing back from that run by which he’ll also strip much fitter for.

Irish raider Lucky Vega represents Jessica Harrington who is looking for her first St James’ Palace stakes win.

The 3yo colt proved his natural speed over 6f, landing a Group 1 at Curragh as a 2yo.

His reappearance run was solid with a close 3rd placed finish when upped to 8f in the 2000 Guineas (G1, 8f) although he was subsequently less convincing when going off as favourite for the Irish 2000 Guineas when finishing 4th.

Based on his most recent run, the son of Lope De Vega, has 4 lengths to find on Poetic Flare, although was much closer upon quicker ground.

Highland Avenue has a progressive profile and has now won of 3 of his opening 5 runs.

Godolphin’s colt was an impressive listed winner over 9f at Newmarket in the Feilden Stakes.

He was subsequently dropped back to 8f and finished runner up behind Mostahdaf at Sandown upon unsuited conditions.

Charlie Appleby’s entrant will be better suited by the drying, faster ground and is another with scope to progress once more here despite jumping straight from listed into group 1 company.

Mostahdaf remains unbeaten in 3 runs and looks to be progressing nicely for John and Thady Gosden.

The son of Frankel’s listed win last time out came upon soft ground, unsuited by the runner, however despite this, kept on strongly to win.

Furthermore the form of his penultimate race was boosted by El Drama who went on to win in listed company next time out.

He’ll appreciate the faster conditions and is expected to step up his progress once more here, despite the sharp raise in class.

Chindit went 3 from his opening 3 runs as a 2yo, landing listed and group 2 affairs over 7f.

Richard Hannons entrant was off the pace on soft ground in the Dewhurst (G1, 7f) on his final run as a 2yo before returning in April to land the Greenham stakes (G3, 7f).

The son of Wooton Bassett only managed 5th when upped to 8f for the first time last time out in the 2000 Guineas (G1) however he is open to progression and seemed to stay on over the distance.

Thunder Moon for Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien makes the trip across the Irish Sea to be competitive here.

The son of Zoffany was ultra impressive as a 2yo, winning the National Stakes (G1, 7f) on only his second start.

He only managed 3rd in the Dewhurst (G1, 7f) upon soft underfoot conditions and returned for his 3yo season with a last placed finish in the 2000 Guineas on his first run over 8f which was too bad to be true.

There’s high expectations for a bounce back effort here and the stiff Ascot track looks sure to suit with Frankie Dettori booked on board, however he still has it all to prove here.

Godolphin’s La Barrosa was a 750,000guineas purchase as a yearling and retains plenty potential coming into this one.

The lightly raced colt was unbeaten over 7f as a 2yo, winning the Group 3 Tattersalls stakes, before subsequently stepping up to 8f on heavy ground which didn’t look to suit.

The son of Lope De Vega went close to finish runner-up behind Master of the Seas on faster ground at Newmarket (G3, 8f) however again was unsuited by the soft/heavy conditions raced over in the Irish 2000 guineas by which he recorded a 6th placed finish.

He will appreciate the faster, drying ground and although needing to improve to take this one, it remains a feasible task.

Sir Michael Stoute is on the quest for his first St James’ Palace stakes winner and brings with him Maximal to try his hand at Group 1 glory.

A wide margin winner over 8f as a 2yo (class 4), Maximal was unsuited by softer ground on his only attempt over 8f at a higher level (G3).

The son of Galileo was subsequently stepped up to 10f this season and has recorded two respectable runner up attempts, the latest being a 2nd placed listed effort behind El Drama.

Question marks over the drop back in distance and needs to take a step forward to be involved at this level.

Aiden O’Brien trained Wembley was solid as a 2yo with runner up efforts in the Group 1 Dewhusrt and National stakes races.

The son of Galileo has been less impressive since his return however, with well beaten finishes the last twice in the British and Irish 2000 Guineas.

A tongue tie is now tried in order to eek out further improvement, whilst Ryan Moore gets off to allow for Seamie Heffernan to replace him on board.

Needs a big effort to bounce back.

Naamoos for Mark Johnston has won his last 2 races, both over today’s distance, and looks a fairly decent type despite doing his running below the level expected of a possible Group 1 winner.

His 6 length win from the front last time out was in typical Johnston fashion and was impressive to watch, albeit in a class 2 affair.

It remains to be seen what his ceiling may be with suited conditions and he is very much one of the horses we can expect to go forward as the pace to aim at in this one.

Ralph Becketts entrant, Bullace, took a huge step forward last time out to finish a close 3rd behind Highland Avenue and Mostahdaf at listed level (8f).

The son of Toronado looks to be fairly versatile ground wise and may perform better over the faster conditions.

He does need to reverse the form with the aforementioned pair who are much more fancied in the market, however isn’t completely discounted here, despite needing to give another all time best effort.

Aiden O’Briens third entrant in the race is Ontario who was highly tried as a 2yo.

The son of Galileo’s best run to date was a runner up listed effort in Tipperary (7.5f) and last time out was unsuccessful when finishing last when upped to 10f.

His level of form looks well below what is expected of Group 1 winner here.