Now that the dust has settled after a seismic edition of Royal Ascot, Neil Morrice shares a couple of the festival runners you should be adding to your notebook.
ROYAL ASCOT FALLOUT
BEST SECRET
The ploy of using Wathnan Racing’s retained British Jockey James Doyle backfired on BEST SECRET, who was the best horse in this Golden Gates Handicap and should have won. Having landed a Longchamp handicap with a sweeping run round the field, Doyle gambled by contenting to remain at the back after his mount crucially missed the break. With his mount hanging left, there ensued a series of shutting doors which meant the heavily backed raider was allowed only limited time to get out of jail, resulting in him finishing with a wet sail only for the birds to have flown. The defeat was not down to jockey error, because the horse is clearly tricky, and basically lost it when he missed the start.
URBAN LION
Royal Ascot Notebook horse URBAN LION sneaked into the Royal Hunt Cup courtesy of a 5lb penalty for scoring at Sandown, but that additional weight ultimately cost him. He travelled well in a small group on the far side, but was intimidated by a rival at a vital moment when trying to get through against the rail. He then stayed on valiantly when seeing some daylight to reward each way backers who supported him on the day or the day before. His sights are now set on the Golden Mile at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
SPY CHIEF
SPY CHIEF went into the Jersey Stakes as a lightly raced and unexposed outsider, and for much of the 1400 metres journey looked like winning. It was only in the final furlong when he hung left under pressure that he succumbed to fellow roughie Noble Champion, with the pair finishing clear. On this evidence John Gosden might consider pulling him back to 1200 metres as he appears to be all about speed, while there are only limited opportunities in Group races over seven furlongs.
APOLLO ONE
A creditable seventh place in this fiercely competitive sprint handicap on only his second outing of the year tells me APOLLO ONE is on the cusp of regaining the winning thread. He was in second place entering the final furlong which is when his big weight told. The handicapper has had his say with the chestnut since he won the Group 3 Bengough Stakes at Ascot but everything from this very solid run suggests he’s going to pay his way in the second half of the season.
NORTHERN EXPRESS
After three underwhelming efforts in 2025, NORTHERN EXPRESS put in a much more encouraging effort to finish seventh of 27 in this Buckingham Palace Handicap over the final 1400 metres of the straight course. He was ridden more aggressively, and after contesting the lead in the favoured group on the stands side only weakened inside the final furlong. The chestnut loves Ascot, and looks in good order ahead of his bid to gain back-to-back triumphs in the International here at the end of next month.
REGIONAL
I will eat my hat if REGIONAL doesn’t pick up a Group 1 sprint, and after his creditable third in the King Charles III Stakes connections can look at races such as the July Cup, the King George Stakes at Goodwood and the Nunthorpe. He has a good all round game that includes natural speed combined with a will to win. This can stand him in good stead for the remainder of the season.
