St James's Palace Stakes Guide 2022

Andrew Balding’s charge scored at this meeting last year with a brilliant run to win the Coventry Stakes handily last season.

After taking a maiden in decent fashion, he was then unable to get the better of Angel Bleu at Goodwood and was then well beaten by Lusail in a group 2 at York. His last run of the season saw him beaten by Native Trail in the Dewhurst but he shaped well enough to be 4th.

Making his comeback run in the 2000 Guineas, he looked a little outpaced but ran on well to be 5th. He’ll come on for the run and should shape better now with a run under his belt.

A highly tried and smart 2 year old for Ralph Beckett, Angel Bleu was beaten on debut over 5 furlongs but came on bundles for the experience. Winning a novice and then a conditions race handily off the back of that teed him up for a run in the Coventry Stakes.

He looked well outclassed in a good group 2 race and only managed to come 13th. Moved up in trip thereafter, he went close over 7 furlongs in a listed race before reversing the Coventry Stakes form with Berkshire Shadow to win the Vintage Stakes.

A couple of runs in France rounded out the campaign where he won a brace of group 1 races over 7 furlongs and a mile.

His comeback run over 7 furlongs saw him a little outpaced but a return to a mile here should suit. Judging by his best 2 year old form he could have a great chance.

A precocious 2 year old out of Mehmas, Lusail scored on debut before going close behind Angel Bleu in a conditions race over 6 furlongs on soft ground.

Moving up in trip he managed to defy his penalty smartly to score again. Dropped win trip and moved up in grade he narrowly scored a group 2 event at Newmarket before backing that up with another group 2 win at York. Again over 6 furlongs.

Slightly softer ground seemed to get the better of him on the last outing of the season, he finished last of 4 runners. Beaten by Perfect Power in the Greenham Stakes, he was last seen going for the 2000 Guineas and ran well enough to be 6th behind Coroebus. He didn’t have the clearest of passages in the Guineas but ran well considering.

He’s worth another try at this level over a mile and could have place credentials with a clear run.

Jim Bolger’s raider Wexford Native made his racing debut back in March and looked a smart sort when winning over a mile comfortably to break his maiden.

Sent for a listed race after that, he was no match for the impressive Buckaroo and settled for 2nd at the Curragh. Aimed at the Irish 2000 Guineas off the back of that, he ran a much better race to be 4th but was wilting late on.

He looks like he’ll likely be well outclassed here again.

At the foot of the betting currently is Bayside Boy for Roger Varian. A smart enough 2 year old, he scored on debut over 7 furlongs impressively and just failed to step up to listed company afterwards when bumping into Masekela.

Moved up in grade again, he scored at group 2 level to beat Reach For The Moon narrowly over 7 furlongs. He put in a strong showing in the Dewhurst but looked outpaced behind Native Trail, however he ran on for 3rd.

Beaten into 3rd in the Vertem Futurity on his last outing of the season, he made his seasonal comeback in the French 2000 Guineas but looked well outclassed to only beat two rivals home.

Likely to be well outclassed again from his showing in France.

Charlie Appleby and William Buick team up here with 2000 Guineas winner Coroebus. After a smart 2 year old campaign the son of Dubawi won his novice over a mile at Newmarket stylishly before not quite getting home over a mile in group 2 company at the same venue.

Getting collared late on by Royal Patronage, he kicked for home a little too soon and wilted at the line to be nabbed by his rival. Dropped in grade next time out and ridden a little more patiently he scored a group 3 easily again at Newmarket over a mile.

Put away for the season he made his comeback in the 2000 Guineas and ground down owner mate Native Trail late on to score the first classic of the season.

The form has been franked since and he looks a very smart miler.

Aidan O’Brien sends over Aikhal here after some decent outings as a 2 year old. Beaten on his first outing over 7 furlongs at Cork on good ground, he used to experience to score as an even priced favourite at Listowel on softer ground.

Moved up in grade off the back of that saw him run well behind Coroebus in a group 3 race over a mile at Newmarket to be 4th. Last seen running over a mile in France, he found himself well beaten by Angel Bleu.

He hasn’t made an outing as a 3 year old yet and will have to be fit and ready off the back of a 234 day absence.

Only seen twice last season as a juvenile, Light Infantry scored a novice race in real fashion when scoring at York over 6 furlongs. Winning by a wide margin and quickening clear in impressive fashion.

Moved up in trip and grade off the back of that, he won a 7 furlongs race in group 3 company at Newbury on soft ground. Put away for the winter off the back of that he made his comeback in the 2000 Guineas.

He didn’t quite look of the quality to get involved and only managed to come 9th in the classic.

He looks like he needs some improvement to get involved in this race.

Making the trip over from Ireland for Sheila Lavery, New Energy looked a decent prospect when winning his maiden over 7 furlongs last season with bundles in hand.

Moved up in grade off the back of that he looked well outclassed against better opposition and only beat one rival home.

Put away for the winter off the back of that, he came back to racing in listed company over 7 furlongs at Leopardstown but shaped like the trip was slightly too sharp for him. Moved up to a mile off the back of that aggressive tactics saw him wilt late on and he only managed to come 3rd. Given a more patient ride in the Irish 2000 Guineas he shaped much better and ran a career best to be 2nd to Native Trail.

Patient tactics seemed to suit better but he’ll need to find more improvement to get near the favourite here.

Only seen once as a 2 year old, Checkandchallenge won over 7 furlongs on the all weather at Wolverhampton narrowly. Debuting late in the year, he was put away for the winter off the back of that.

Making his comeback run in listed company at Newcastle over a mile, he looks smart when powering clear under minimal effort from Danny Tudhope. Aimed for the Guineas off the back of that, he failed to step up in grade and only beat one rival home.

He was well outclassed and might be more effective on the all weather than on turf.

John and Thady Gosden’s Mighty Ulysses was only seen once as a 2 year old and scored in fine fashion over a mile to break his maiden at the first time of asking.

Making his comeback over 10 furlongs in listed company in his first run of the season, he seemingly didn’t stay the longer trip and wilted back into 5th place. Dropped back in trip and grade for his next outing, he scored with bundles in hand despite his penalty. Pulling clear of the field easily.

Moved into handicap company off the back of that he just failed in shouldering a big weight in the Silver Bowl handicap and was held off by Whoputfiftyinyou.

He’s worth a go at this level over a mile but will need to make some improvement again to get involved.

Only seen once as a 2 year old, My Prospero shaped well enough over 7 furlongs on soft ground to be 3rd of thirteen runners in a low grade novice affair.

Brought back to racing as a 3 year old over a mile in maiden company, he handily got off the mark despite looking green in the closing stages. Despite the form not looking the strongest he managed to step up to listed company on his most recent outing and score nicely again.

Beating the well touted Reach For The Moon over a mile at Sandown, he powered clear late on and looked incredibly smart.

He steps up in grade but looks well worth his place after a lethal listed win.

Another runner for William Haggas and seemingly the second string for the stable, Maljoom arrives here unbeaten after three career outings.

Debuting back in March over 7 furlongs at Doncaster, he showed plenty of pace to win over the shorter trip easily. Moved into a conditions race over a mile on the all weather at Kempton next time out, he beat odds on favourite Saga with superior stamina in the closing stages.

Last seen winning the German 2000 Guineas, he easily moved into group 2 company and again showed good late stamina to get the better of his rivals.

He finishes his races well over a mile but needs to prove he can take on this level of opposition.