UK Horse Racing Tips

Run over one mile on the Rowley mile course at Newmarket, the Royal Lodge Stakes is one of the key races of the juvenile season for colts and geldings, and it usually offers plenty of clues for next years’ classics.

History

The Cambridgeshire venue will hold its sixth Royal Lodge renewal in late September after hosting the race initially back in 2005 due to Ascot undertaking renovations. From 2011 onwards, Newmarket has now become the permanent host for the Group 2 event. First run back in 1946 – over five furlongs – the Royal Lodge event was changed to the mile distance two years later, and was open to both horse genders until 1987 when the race became male only. Past winners include Mister Baileys (1993) who went onto claim the 2000 Guineas in the following year, Benny The Dip (1996) – who won The Derby in 1997 – and the irrepressible Frankel who began his road to racing immortality back in 2010.

There are no current ante-post markets available for the race, but in this article we will look at some of the main protagonists who could take their chance.

Mob-handed

Of the 91 current entrants for the Royal Lodge, Irish super-trainer, Aiden O’Brien is mob-handed with 29 potential runners – so whichever he chooses to run, it will effectively be a tip in itself. Of his plethora of options, Deauville is likely to be one of his main chances. The unbeaten colt has won races at Listowel and a Group 3 race at Leopardstown, both over seven furlongs – beating the highly regarded Sanus Per Aquam on his latest start. O’Brien has trained five previous winners of the Royal Lodge Stakes, with Daddy Long Legs being his most recent victory back in 2011, and Deauville – provided he lines up – could improve that tally even further.

Experienced

After an opening defeat on debut over six furlongs at York, the Hugo Palmer trained, Galileo Gold has since rattled up three wins in quick succession with a notable victory in the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. Recently purchased by Al Shaqab Racing, the chestnut colt took the Group 2 event with a three-quarter length win over Ibn Malik under Frankie Dettori. With four races already under his belt, Galileo Gold already has plenty of experience which would be beneficial if Palmer decides to take one of his stable stars to his local track.

Hitting the high notes

Richard Hannon has several options to choose from for his Royal Lodge contenders, and Tony Curtis could be the one to take centre stage. A winner on debut under Cam Hardie over seven furlongs at Epsom in early July, Tony Curtis then ran a creditable third, after a tardy start in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes – again over seven furlongs – at Newmarket. The Royal Lodge is an event which is yet to be won by the Hannon yard, but hopefully Tony Curtis can provide the right tune.

One and only

Platitude is the sole entrant from the Sir Michael Stoute yard, and will be hoping to emulate previous winners, Mujaazif (1990) and Desert Secret (1992). The colt was sent to Doncaster for his racecourse debut and didn’t disappoint with a length and three-quarter victory. Platitude was to taste defeat on his second – and most recent outing – in the Listed Winkfield Stakes over seven furlongs at Ascot. A second place finish behind Sixth Sense – another entrant of the Royal Lodge – but it is hoped that the step up to the mile distance could bring out further improvement for the son of Dansili.

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