The Commonwealth Cup is a Group 1 contest run over 6f. It takes place at 15:05 on Friday 21st June, which is the fourth 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

14⁽²⁾

51-222

Classic Flower

J: Mickael Barzalona

T: P Cottier

8-13

106

121

Consistent in Listed and Group 3 races at Chantilly this spring, again runner-up on latest occasion; has raced only on good or softer; improvement required if she's to give her French Oaks-winning yard a second notable success in a week.

NR⁽⁴⁾

3178-1

Elite Status

T: K R Burke

9-2

111

130

Failed to build on a French Group 3 win (6f, soft) last term, but showed a jolt of improvement on reappearance to win warm Listed race at Newbury (6f, good) in May in course-record time; that form is working out well (last weekend's big-race winners Adaay In Devon and James's Delight were third and eleventh) and he may not have reached his limit just yet; major player.

5⁽⁵⁾

1189-1

Jasour

J: Jim Crowley

T: Clive Cox

9-2

110

123

Disappointing in 6f Group 1 races on final two starts last season but got his career firmly back on track with a ready C&D success in the Group 3 Pavilion Stakes seven weeks ago, with Starlust back in sixth; seems equally effective on good to firm and good to soft ground; 2-2 for Jim Crowley; retains untapped potential and might be the answer.

3⁽¹⁴⁾

434-12

Givemethebeatboys

J: Shane Foley

T: Mrs John Harrington

9-2

108

120

Solid juvenile form included fourths in the Coventry here and the Middle Park; has continued his progress this year, rallying to win Navan Listed race (6f, good/yielding) and only just denied by the smart Bucanero Fuerte in Group 3 at Naas (6f, good); others look likelier winners but he's a reliable sort who should give his running once more.

9⁽¹²⁾

1264-4

Malc

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

9-2

102

112

Runner-up in the Group 2 Norfolk at this meeting (5f, good to firm) in 2023; made a pleasing reappearance when 5l fourth of 14 to Elite Status in competitive Listed race at Newbury (6f, good; 22-1) five weeks ago, keeping on well from midfield; has work to do to turn the tables with the winner but may well come on for the run and has each-way possibilities.

13⁽⁶⁾

3-2361

Starlust

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

9-2

114

127

Came up well short behind Jasour in the Pavilion Stakes but found a chunk of improvement to win handicap at York three weeks later in emphatic style; that makes him one of the leading contenders on the figures, but the drop back to 5f seemed to suit that day and he's not certain to prove quite so effective back at 6f; first-time blinkers add another unknown to the mix.

7⁽⁸⁾

12417-

Lake Forest

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

9-2

108

119

In and out in five outings as a 2yo, the highlights being a second to Jasour in the July Stakes at Newmarket and a strong-finishing victory in the Gimcrack at York (again 6f, good to firm); disappointing in the Middle Park on final start; he's the only contender without a run this season, and he'll need a personal best to make a successful reappearance.

10⁽⁹⁾

43-544

Military

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

9-2

100

112

Unplaced in handicap, Listed and Group 3 contests this season, including in blinkers/tongue-strap; held by Givemethebeatboys on form of last two races and opposable despite top-notch connections.

12⁽¹⁰⁾

115

Pocklington

J: Harry Russell

T: Geoff Oldroyd

9-2

116

Lost his unbeaten record when fifth to Elite Status in Listed event at Newbury (6f, good; 18-1; no extra final 1f) last month, but emerged with his reputation intact and this well-bred colt may yet have untapped potential; previous wins had come on the AW at Newcastle; visored for the first time.

2⁽¹⁵⁾

1429-1

Evade

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Michael J Maker

9-2

108

121

Useful as a 2yo in France for Andre Fabre; took his form to a much higher level when making winning start for new yard in Listed race at Epsom (7f, good to soft; unraced on good or firmer) three weeks ago, the first two pulling 9l clear; races freely and should be at least as effective back at 6f; hard to pin down but the Epsom run suggests he's smart and he's one to consider.

11⁽¹¹⁾

233202

Orne

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-2

102

117

Has made the frame on five of his six outings this term, most recently chasing home Inisherin at a respectful distance in the Sandy Lane at Haydock; will probably run to form again but hard to recommend for win purposes.

4⁽¹⁾

2-161

Inisherin

J: Tom Eaves

T: Kevin Ryan

9-2

113

129

Front-runner; looked worth dropping to sprint trips when sixth in 2,000 Guineas and duly posted a clear personal best to win 6f Group 2 Sandy Lane at Haydock last month with plenty in hand; that was on soft ground but he also shaped well on good to firm on only start last year; the Haydock run gives him leading form claims and he's open to further improvement; big chance.

8⁽⁷⁾

3-9

Louis Barthas

J: J F Egan

T: Ollie Sangster

9-2

Half-brother to the smart sprinter Rogue Lightning; shaped with promise when third at Kempton (6f, AW) on only 2yo start, but came up well short behind Elite Status in Listed race at Newbury (50-1) on reappearance and faces another stern assignment.

15⁽¹³⁾

21-111

Pandora's Gift

J: Sean Levey

T: Stuart Williams

8-13

101

118

Confined to 6f on the AW thus far and hasn't looked back since finishing second on debut, completing four-timer in fillies' Listed race at Chelmsford without much fuss; today's assignment is tougher and the surface is an unknown, but the Chelmsford form has worked out well and she cannot be discounted.

6⁽³⁾

Kind Of Blue

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Fanshawe

9-2

105

Lots to find on form after winning a pair of 6f novices at Kempton (AW) and Doncaster (good to firm) in the spring; however, he was pretty impressive on the second occasion and his pedigree (he's by Blue Point out of an unraced sister to the Wokingham and British Champions Sprint winner Deacon Blues) gives real hope that he'll be up to making an impact in Group races in due course; impossible to rule out.

RACING POST TIP

Jasour

What seemed likely to be a notably strong Commonwealth Cup has been diluted by the late defections of Group 1 winners Vandeek and Bucanero Fuerte, but we're still left with a competitive affair featuring several unexposed types. Among them are the front-running Inisherin, who proved well suited by the switch to sprinting in the Sandy Lane, and Elite Status who accounted for three of today's rivals in a warm Newbury Listed race last month. Top of the list is JASOUR after a ready reappearance success in the Pavilion Stakes over this C&D. He's unbeaten for Jim Crowley and his trainer Clive Cox won this race in 2020 with Golden Horde. Most of the others have a bit to find on the figures, but Kind Of Blue and Pandora's Gift arrive on a roll and could be anything.

Verdict

Past Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2023	Shaquille [4]	3	9-2	9/1	Julie Camacho	Oisin Murphy
2022	Perfect Power [1]	3	9-2	7/2	Christophe Soumillon	Richard Fahey
2021	Dragon Symbol [18]	3	9-0	4/1	Archie Watson	Oisin Murphy
2020	Golden Horde [10]	3	9-0	5-1	Clive Cox	Adam Kirby
2019	Advertise [4]	3	9-3	8/1	Martyn Meade	Frankie Dettori
2018	Eqtidaar [3]	3	9-3	12/1	Sir Michael Stoute	Jim Crowley
2017	Caravaggio [5]	3	9-3	5/6F	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2016	Quiet Reflection [8]	3	9-0	7/4F	K R Burke	Dougie Costello
2015	Muhaarar [8]	3	9-3	10/1	Charles Hills	Dane O’Neill

Key race stats 2024

Key trends

At least one top-two finish within last two starts, 9/9
Distance winner, 9/9
Adjusted RPR of at least 128, 8/9
Rated within 4lb of RPR top-rated, 8/9 (three top-rated)
Group-race winner, 7/9
Drawn in single figures, 7/9
Top-three finish at the track, 6/9

Other factors

Three winners contested the Coventry the previous season, finishing 125. One had won the Queen Mary, while another landed the Norfolk.

Two had run in the 2,000 Guineas and one in the French Guineas (all comfortably beaten).

34 fillies have run, finishing 3900014570002525000986431357903460.

What happened in the Commonwealth Cup last year?

SHAQUILLE has met with defeat just once in seven starts, when too keen over 7f behind subsequent 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean in last year’s Acomb. He announced himself as a major player in the sprinting division when winning a Listed race at Newbury last time and backed that up on this first crack at the top level, overcoming a poor start to run down the red-hot favourite Little Big Bear who was a well-backed and ran well having been ideally placed. Swingalong ran a big race, pinging the gates and making them all go to get past.

Commonwealth Cup

15:05 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past Winners

Key race stats 2024

What happened in the Commonwealth Cup last year?

All Races