Summer Mile Stakes Guide 2021

James Tate trained, Top Rank, is a past Group 3 winner (8f) on his penultimate start as a 4yo and enjoys the softer conditions forecasted to be on display come post time.

The son of Dark Angel was a listed winner at Doncaster on his seasonal re-appearance however was a well beaten 3rd next time out when tried in Group 1 company against the likes of Palace Pier.

A 6th placed finish on his first, and only, visit to Ascot in the Queen Anne (8f, G1) next time out was probably upon ground a little to quick for Top Rank's liking and he was subsequently dropped back in class to listed company where he only managed 2nd last time out at Windsor.

He's one to consider with conditions to suit, however there's a slight aprehension that his running style of being up with the early pace won't quite suit Ascot's tendancy for the horses to come from off the pace in the races.

He will also need to improve on last time out in order to be competitive in this group 2 contest.

Sir Busker for William Knight ran a huge race last time out over C&D in the Queen Anne (G1) getting within just 2 1/2 lengths of world-class miler, Palace Pier.

That form puts the son of Sir Prancealot right in the mix in this drop down to a Group 2 contest whilst his past Ascot form of: 41433 is fairly respectable and proves his suitability to the track.

Despite a run of fine Listed and Group placed efforts he is still awaiting his first win in that type of company and although fairly versatile ground-wise, he looks to have preference for faster conditions which may ultimately hold him once more here.

Tilsit remains lightly raced for Charlie Hills, winning a group 3 on just his 3rd ever career start at Goodwood (8f), despite being badly hampered inside the final furlong.

The son of First Defence was subsequently upped to 10f for his 4yo season and he improved upon a lacklustre pipe opener to finish a head runner-up in France when keeping on strongly in the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan upon good to soft ground.

Slight concerns remain for the drop back to 8f, however if dealing with the pace of some of these out and out milers, he looks to have good claims thanks to his well suited, hold up, running style.

Simon & Ed Crisford are in great form currently and are represented in the race by last time out Listed winner, Century Dream, who got the better of re-opposing rival Top Rank at Windsor.

The now 7yo, son of Cape Cross, has a prominent run style and looked at his absolute best when readily winning the Group 2 Celebration Mile by 4 1/2 lengths at Goodwood last season upon soft ground, beating re-opposing rival Sir Busker.

Having said this, that prominent run style has often left him exposed to the late closers here at Ascot and is likely to experience the same fate this time around.

Surprisingly, Sir Michael Stoute, has only won this race once as a trainer, all the way back in 1987, however he comes into this years renewal with his yard in great form and he's represented in the field by Regal Reality.

The son of Intello has plenty stamina in the locker, signified by his Group 3 win up at 10f as a 4yo, however more recently has dropped back down to the 8f distance winning the Group 3 Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury last August.

His form behind Kameko, whilst beating Tilsit, in the Shadwell Joel stakes (8f) at Newmarket on his final start last season looks strong form and he was clearly in need of the run when returning fresh last time out in the Queen Anne on the back of a 9 month layoff.

He's entitled to have come on for that run, his ground versatility and stamina look set to suit a stiff 8f trip and his hold up style of running should all pay dividends to his chances in this.

High on the shortlist.

Andrew Balding won the Ascot Summer Mile Stakes back to back in 2018 and 2019 with Beat The Bank and will be looking to kick start another streak here with entrant, Happy Power.

It's difficult to tell as to what Happy Powers optimum trip may be, as the progressive 5yo racked up 3 straight wins last season over 7f from Class 2 to Group 2 level before dropping back down to 6f to finish an eventual 9th/16 in the Group 1 Champion Sprint.

He returned this season up at 8f, albeit to little reward when finishing well beaten 3rd and 5th in Group 1/2 company, before taking on 6f once more at Ascot with a very decent 4th placed finish in the Diamond Jubilee (G1).

The overall consensus is that a stiff 8f at Ascot may just stretch him, particularly upon softer ground.

Both, trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey, Patt Dobbs are in fantastic form of late, with both individuals boasting a 25%+ strike rate in the last 14 days.

The pair are represented in the race by Al Suhail who was impressive on his seasonal return in a Group 1 (9f) at Meydan, finishing a 1/2 length 3rd, although did go off as evens favourite on that occasion.

The 4yo was poor last time out however, finishing last of 12 and has now been gelded on the back of that 2nd attempt at Group 1 meaning the yard are making attempts at

Prior to racing in the Middle East, the son of Dubawi was an emphatic 6 length listed winner at Newmarket (8f) bettering his runner-up effort in a Group 3 at the same venue the season previous.

It must be noted that Newmarket often favours prominent runners up with the pace throughout and the switch to Ascot is unlikely to play to those same traits in Al Suhail's running style.

John & Thady Gosden and Rab Havlin are both operating at a super impressive 30%+ strike rate over the last 14 days and that puts them in excellent stead heading into the Ascot Summer Mile with sole representative Haqeeqy.

The son of Lope De Vega landed the class 2 Lincoln handicap (8f) at Doncaster on good ground to mark his seasonal re-appearance however was unable to follow up next time out when going off as favourite for the Listed Queen Anne's stakes trial (8f) over C&D upon fast ground, albeit only 1 length off the pace.

A line could possibly drawn through last time out at the Royal Meeting when dropping back into handicap company in the Royal Hunt Cup by which Haqeeqy lost momentum when short of room 1f out.

He may improve for the step back up into Group company and for the forecasted rain softened ground thereby standing as a decent each way shout in this.

Richard Fahey entrant, Space Traveller, was the Leopardstown Boomarang Stakes Group 2 winner (8f) on his penultimate start as a 3yo however was only seen once as a 4yo in the Queen Anne (G1, 8f) when finishing 4 lengths off the pace back in 6th.

The son of Bated Breath was clearly in need of the run on this years seasonal reappearance at Doncaster (8f) and he subsequently stepped up to be listed winner last time out at York upon fast ground in the Ganton Stakes (8f).

Exactly how good the form of that listed win was last time out however does appear to be a bit underwhelming and it's hard to gauge whether Space Traveller is back to his best.

Regardless, he will need to take another big step forward to land this Group 2.

Duke of Hazzard, for Paul & Oliver Cole, finished 3rd in last years Ascot Summer Mile, 4 lengths off the pace behind Mohaather on good ground.

Recent 4th and 3rd placed finishes in 8.5f/8f Group 3 races this season look respectable however interweaving form with Century Dream and Space Traveller do have him as a couple lengths off the pace in this.

Place claims in this race, however has plenty to find on those above him in the market.