'He's got bags of speed and a bit of quality' - all the key quotes for the Palace of Holyroodhouse

The Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes was established in 2020, so there are few trends worthy of mentioning to help you find the winner. 

The closest we may have is that, apart from Pilgrim last year, all winners had won on the all-weather before this race. That makes sense, given the known links between Ascot and artificial surfaces, and how much emphasis this race puts on speed despite the stiff track.

Another, perhaps less significant trend is that all winners bar Art Power – who went on to be Group 1 class anyway – had previous handicap experience.

Favourite Realign falls down on both trends, although it is hard to deny his talent after his impressive win at Salisbury last month. He is also drawn in stall nine, and no winner has yet broken from a single-figure stall.

There will be pace all over in this race, but the guarantee is middle to high. Hammer The Hammer is in stall 17, and Ruby's Profit in 21. The latter was too quick for Epsom, last seen overdoing it in the 3yo 'Dash'. She is still interesting, but Hammer The Hammer has been one of the revelations of the year on the Flat.

He made his handicap debut in a Sunday Series race at Southwell when he turned in two lengths clear and just kept extending, winning by six. He then made light of stall ten at Chester's May meeting, winning by more than four lengths.

Both of those races were over six furlongs, but such is Hammer The Hammer's speed that dropping to this trip is most unlikely to be an issue. In a madcap sprint in which so many are of genuine interest, he is a neck in front.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

What they say

Kevin Ryan, trainer of Hammer The Hammer
He loves his racing and is in great order. He's going to encounter different ground down here so that's a question mark, but he's a very good-moving horse so we're hopeful he'll handle it.

Richard Spencer, trainer of Candy
He likes a strong pace, which he'll get, and hopefully he can run a big race. Dropping back in class will suit him.

Karl Burke, trainer of King Of Light and Miss Lamai
It's a tough handicap but they're both in good form so fingers crossed one of them will show.

Adrian Nicholls, trainer of Maw Lam
She goes into the race in good form and Jack Nicholls takes off 7lb, so it’s the lowest weight she has run off in a handicap. She ran her heart out in the Queen Mary last year and I’m hoping for a similar kind of run.

Clive Cox, trainer of Redorange
He ran very nicely at Chester, beating Ruby’s Profit, who’s won since so the form is good. I’m very pleased he’s trained well going in here and I think five furlongs will suit.

William Haggas, trainer of Realign
He's an interesting runner. He's never raced over five furlongs but he's got bags of speed and a bit of quality, so hopefully he'll make up in talent what he lacks in experience.

Ruby's Profit (right): will have to reverse Chester form with RedorangeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Jamie Insole, joint-trainer of Ruby’s Profit
She’s been really consistent this year and deserves her place. She’s going to be very fast and being drawn in the middle, which is running a bit faster, is favourable to us. If she carries her form through she should be in the top seven.

Julie Camacho, trainer of Vingegaard
We purposely decided to keep him back for this. He ran a good race last year in the Windsor Castle and he has some reasonable course-and-distance form, but we're hoping for a good show in what is a very competitive race.

George Boughey, trainer of Englemere
She should give a good account of herself. It's possibly a bit difficult for fillies against the boys but she ran better on her second start and improved with racing last year. She really comes into her own in the summer, and if she jumps respectably and gets into the right position she can run a creditable race at a big price.

Paul Attwater, trainer of Brosay
I think we’ve got a really good chance – the best of our three runners at Royal Ascot. We ducked a race at Windsor to come here and we’ve got him in off a low weight. Edward Greatrex knows him well and the draw seems reasonable.
Reporting by Oliver Barnard

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