The Britannia Stakes is a heritage handicap run over a mile. It takes place at 17:05 on Thursday 20th June, which is the third day of Royal Ascot 2024. View the runners here, and also make sure to check out the odds and tips on offer for this race.

NO.DRAW
FORM

HORSE

ODDS

JOCKEY& TRAINER

AGE

WGT

RPR

NR⁽⁷⁾

83-165

Grey Cuban

T: Hugo Palmer

8-9

108

Record of 1-8 with sole success in an AW novice (8.6f); subsequent handicap form isn't good enough to strongly consider him here.

13⁽²⁰⁾

310-11

Watcha Matey

J: Colin Keane

T: Hugo Palmer

9-0

112

Has gone 2-2 since being gelded and he took the 7lb hit for beating The Camden Colt at Newmarket in April in his stride when following up at Musselburgh (1m1f, good); the same rise spells danger in this deeper race.

11⁽¹⁷⁾

121-30

Dragon Leader

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Clive Cox

9-2

112

Won four of his five starts as a 2yo, the highlights being a valuable sales race at York (good to firm) and Redcar's Two-Year-Old Trophy (good); all that was at about 6f and he's not convinced over 7f this season on the switch to handicaps; has even further to go this time.

17⁽³³⁾

210-12

Mission To Moon

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Roger Varian

8-13

112

Has been held in some regard whilst a work in progress; both handicap wins have been at Goodwood over 7f on soft ground (the reappearance off 4lb lower); probably his best form yet when coming up shy behind a battle-hardened 6yo at Epsom 20 days ago (good to soft) and there was no disgrace in that; can go well if he stays (a nagging concern on pedigree).

10⁽¹⁸⁾

16950-

Bobsleigh

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

9-3

110

His first campaign started well, making it 2-2 in Epsom's Woodcote Stakes before finishing sixth of 20 here in the Coventry; that was as good as it got and he signed off with a heavy defeat on nursery debut; now having his first race in ten months and on his first venture beyond 6f, so there are some serious questions to confront.

28⁽²⁶⁾

052-23

The Camden Colt

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

8-10

113

Has solid form in 1m handicaps at Newmarket (on good or quicker) but there were no excuses behind Volterra and Skukuza the last time and that's probably where he is right now after ten career starts.

7⁽¹⁰⁾

93-106

Watch My Tracer

J: Hayley Turner

T: George Scott

9-5

110

Career best when getting up late on in a 7f Listed event on the AW in March but he has beaten just one rival in his two subsequent appearances, in the Group 3 Greenham (7f) and a 6f handicap at Newmarket; not a lot went right last time but this stiff 1m could trouble him, as might a tough-looking mark; hood added.

23⁽¹⁵⁾

43-11

Mickley

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Edward Bethell

8-11

111

Progressive gelding who won his AW maiden without any fuss and didn't appear to be doing a lot in front when following up on handicap debut at Doncaster (7f, good to soft); that was a Class 4 off 7lb lower but he has his tail up this season and shouldn't be fazed by today's longer trip.

NR⁽²⁴⁾

35-115

Bergamasco

T: Jack W Davison

9-6

108

Non-runner

22⁽²⁾

26-163

Air Commander

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

8-11

111

Aidan O'Brien's previous Britannia winner had been running in Group races whereas this colt has won only an AW maiden and been beaten in two handicaps (1m on yielding and good); this looks no masterplan and he needs help from the new headgear.

29⁽¹²⁾

70-1

Monkey Island

J: Harry Davies

T: Brian Meehan

8-10

107

Down the field in his 2yo races but a gelding operation appears to have turned him inside out as there was no fluke about his 80-1 success at Newbury (7f novice, good), where he was in the front rank throughout and found plenty late on to repel a progressive horse who ran well to be a close third off this mark at Sandown on Saturday; more to offer and possibilities.

15⁽¹⁾

15-2

Cogitate

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Charles Hills

9-0

111

All runs at 7f; beat a respected rival (Jersey bound on Saturday) on 2yo debut (good) before finishing fifth of six when one of the favourites for the Group 3 Acomb at York, performing below expectations after getting hot under the collar; couldn't cope with a class act on his return at Southwell (AW) but was some 14l clear of the others and apparently needed the run; scopey colt who is bred to stay 1m; stall 1 muddies the waters but he's interesting on handicap debut.

NR⁽⁴⁾

5-81

Miletus

T: Charles Hills

8-10

110

Non-runner

5⁽²²⁾

149-47

Starlore

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Sir Michael Stoute

9-5

114

Has been set some tough tasks since his debut win but there were signs of finding his level when an unlucky-in-running seventh in the 7f handicap at Goodwood last month won by Qirat; he was beaten a smidgeon over 2l and could easily have threatened on another day; worth a second look off an untouched mark; bred for this far.

8⁽⁸⁾

37-624

Blue Lemons

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Richard Hannon

9-5

112

0-5 since his successful start as a 2yo; has twice gone close, including over this far at Sandown two runs back on his handicap debut; failed to build on that at Haydock and this will be his first time on turf quicker than good to soft; has the benefit of Jamie Spencer's straight-course prowess but other runners are more intriguing.

24⁽¹⁶⁾

23-621

Skukuza

J: William Buick

T: Ed Dunlop

8-11

113

Shaped well in maidens and hit the ground running in handicaps, following his second to Volterra at Newmarket (1m, good) with a comfortable defeat of Lautrec on return visit when he made up his ground takingly from off the pace (raised 5lb today); should be suited by this bigger-field scenario and the booking of Buick takes the eye; stable won this in 2009.

14⁽²¹⁾

4-1281

Vercors

J: Aurelien Lemaitre

T: F Chappet

9-0

112

Seven starts in France, the last six in cheekpieces; won his only handicap there and the RPR he posted last time in a conditions race at Angers (7f, very soft) suggests this mark might be okay; should stay on his first tilt at 1m but this will be the quickest ground he's encountered.

3⁽²⁷⁾

445-11

Follow Me

J: Shane Foley

T: Ross O'Sullivan

9-7

100

109

Useful French form in defeat from 6f to 1m, including a Group 3 effort; has gained narrow verdicts on two visits to the Curragh for current trainer, in a 6f maiden (soft to heavy) and a 7f good-ground handicap in which he would have been an unlucky loser having travelled best; triple-digit handicap mark looks warranted and he has a chance.

1⁽²³⁾

13-2

King's Gamble

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: Ralph Beckett

9-9

102

108

Newmarket novice winner who was then beaten only 2l in the Group 2 Gimcrack at York's August meeting (6f, good to firm); wasn't seen again until 19 days ago when second to a dark one when penalised at Doncaster (7f, good); has some class about him but topweights have a poor record in the Britannia.

19⁽²⁹⁾

312-1

Qirat

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

8-13

113

Gelded after doing well as a 2yo; returned from 233 days away to make a successful handicap debut at Goodwood (7f, good) and, although helped by the runner-up veering left late on, he had to do some sidestepping himself to seek daylight before staying on strongly; a 4lb hit seems a small price to pay and this extra 1f will be up his street; same connections won this in 2019.

6⁽⁶⁾

12175

Cuban Tiger

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

9-5

111

Beat the Derby fifth in a 1m Listed race at Newcastle in March but has since dropped his guard, disappointing in an AW conditions race and a Sandown handicap on turf debut (good to soft); this is no easy race in which to rebound.

26⁽¹³⁾

314513

Safwan

J: Edward Greatrex

T: J-C Rouget

8-10

104

Had seven races in these colours when based in France, winning over 1m3f (AW) and 1m1f (very soft); faster conditions are a grey area and the chances are that this mark is a tough one.

21⁽³⁾

431-1

Volterra

J: Neil Callan

T: Kevin Ryan

8-12

112

Nicely progressive at two and reappeared with a striking defeat of subsequent winner Skukuza at Newmarket's Guineas meeting (1m, good) when leading 2f out and merely kept up to his work; the handicapper was sufficiently impressed to raise him 9lb but it's hard to gauge the ceiling of his ability.

12⁽⁹⁾

735-02

Son Of Man

J: David Egan

T: Jim Boyle

9-0

112

Not disgraced in Group/Listed company last year after a winning debut; quiet on his reappearance (handicap debut) but then ran well behind one who got loose on the lead over Goodwood's 7f (good); can win races off this mark but perhaps not this one.

25⁽³¹⁾

32-41

Native Warrior

J: James Doyle

T: K R Burke

8-11

111

Wasn't beaten all that far behind the 2,000 Guineas winner Notable Speech at Kempton in April before bossing a Nottingham maiden from the front (8.5f, good), with the clear second flattered to close within a neck; thrown into the furnace here for handicap debut but he smacks of a horse with plenty more to offer (smart pedigree and cost 260,000gns).

9⁽¹⁹⁾

12-32

Involvement

J: Callum Shepherd

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

9-3

113

Maiden winner (on good to firm) who looks open to improvement in just his second handicap but he'll need some, as the assessor harshly raised him 6lb for getting beaten at Haydock (1m, soft); that was a fine run from a bad draw but debatable whether it warranted such a rise.

2⁽²⁸⁾

21-23

Whip Cracker

J: Jim Crowley

T: Richard Hughes

9-8

101

112

Impressive 2yo winner on the AW; had none other than Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly behind when second in the Listed Feilden Stakes at Newmarket (1m1f, good) and, for whatever reason, he never gave his running at the same level on his return there (late rain may not have helped); big weights are never welcomed in this race but he could have the class to take a hand.

16⁽⁵⁾

1124

Cracking Gold

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Clive Cox

8-13

112

Progressive over 7f on the AW, winning minor races before a near miss on handicap debut; wasn't beaten far when fourth of five on his switch to turf at Sandown (1m, good to soft; Blue Lemons runner-up) when ridden with more restraint than previously; could benefit from a test of this nature.

18⁽²⁵⁾

1-2341

Dashing Darcey

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Roger Varian

8-13

113

Has higher mileage than many of these after eight runs and he headed to Haydock 12 days ago as a maiden on turf (dual AW winner) but he put that right in no uncertain terms by quickening away in what had looked a competitive handicap (1m, good); this is tougher and he has to square up to a 6lb rise, but he comes here hot.

30⁽¹¹⁾

31-10

Sir Les Patterson

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Harry Eustace

8-9

109

The stable won this last year but with a horse firmly on the upgrade, whereas this colt has to bounce back from a subdued handicap debut at Haydock (1m); however, soft ground may have troubled him there and he had been coming along well on the AW; no forlorn hope.

31⁽³²⁾

1-42

Lautrec

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: John & Thady Gosden

8-9

113

Not sure what happened second time out when sunk at odds of 1-4 but he looked nice on his debut and didn't do a lot wrong in the new cheekpieces when succumbing to only Skukuza on handicap debut at Newmarket (1m, good); cost 600,000gns and is closely related to a 2,000 Guineas winner, so may yet do better with blinkers tried this time.

20⁽³⁰⁾

5-141

Arctic Thunder

J: David Probert

T: Andrew Balding

8-13

109

Not disgraced behind none other than top-class Notable Speech on his final AW run (1m) and then made a successful turf/handicap debut over 7f here (good) last month, albeit by the skin of his teeth when only four took him on; the 7lb rise could be an overreaction and that may find him out.

RACING POST TIP

Cogitate

This is the typical Britannia conundrum full of horses who have yet to reveal their true level of ability to the handicapper and there's sure to be a Group horse lurking somewhere. This year it might be COGITATE, who failed to do himself justice when one of the favourites for last year's Acomb (Group 3) and on his only subsequent sighting he bumped into one who might yet turn out high class. A three-month absence is of no concern and probably a blessing with a view to rocking up here off what might be an underrated mark. While historically it goes against the grain to consider horses towards the summit of the handicap, Whip Cracker's penultimate effort when ahead of Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly marks him down as a serious contender and his last run can be forgotten. Others on the shortlist are Volterra, Native Warrior, Monkey Island, Skukuza, Qirat and Starlore.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2023	Docklands	3	9-2	6/1F	Harry Eustace	Hayley Turner
2022	Thesis [10]	3	8-11	14/1	Harry & Roger Charlton	Ryan Moore
2021	Perotto [19]	3	9-3EW5	18/1	Marucs Tregoning	Oisin Murphy
2020	Khaloosy [19]	3	9-2	9-2	Roger Varian	Jim Crowley
2019	Biometric [29]	3	8-8	28/1	Ralph Beckett	Harry Bentley
2018	Ostilio [15]	3	8-9	10/1	Simon Crisford	Silvestre De Sousa
2017	Bless Him [3]	3	8-9	25/1	David Simcock	Jamie Spencer
2016	Limitless [12]	3	9-1	13/2	Jamie Osborne	Jamie Spencer
2015	War Envoy [11]	3	9-6	10/1	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2014	Born In China [26]	3	8-4	14/1	Andrew Balding	David Probert

Key race stats 2024

Key trends

At least one top-three finish within last two starts, 9/10
Drawn in double figure, 9/10
Officially rated between 90 and 99, 8/10
Carried no more than 9st 2lb, 8/10
Won in current season over 7f or a mile, 7/10
Rated within 6lb of RPR top-rated, 7/10 (three were top-rated)
Previously contested a handicap, 6/10

Other factors

Four winners had previously won a handicap, while another four were making their handicap debut.

The Gosden yard hasn’t won this for a while, but was successful four times between 1996 and 2001.

What happened in the Britannia Stakes last year?

DOCKLANDS tanked through the race, before pulling 6l clear of the next best in his group, albeit that one met traffic, and he just denied another strong traveller who raced away from him. Well backed, he was completing a hat-trick, defying a 14lb higher mark than when winning with ease over C&D on soft last time. New Endeavour, up 11lb for a 7f Class 4 AW success, travelled about as well as the winner but away from him. He ran on well to readily beat those he was racing with. Urban Sprawl came under pressure before some but saw it out well. Thunder Ball fared best of those who pushed the pace over this longer trip.

Britannia Stakes

17:05 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats 2024

What happened in the Britannia Stakes last year?

All Races