The Copper Horse Stakes is a handicap run over 1m6f. It takes place at 18:15 on Tuesday 18th June, which is the first 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

5⁽¹⁷⁾

-21052

Tyson Fury

J: J M Sheridan

T: Denis Gerard Hogan

9-11

104

111

Kept on well, beaten about only 5l, in mid-division in 1m4f handicap at last year's Royal meeting (good to firm); reverted to turf with short-head defeat at the Curragh (1m6f, good) two weeks ago and might not be far away.

10⁽³⁾

1-3350

Lucander

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: George Baker

9-7

100

112

Not quite at his best on final few starts in Bahrain early this year and well beaten at Epsom recently when back from a break; however, he's reliable in the main and is 3lb lower than when staying on into mid-division in 1m4f handicap at last year's Royal meeting (good to firm; beaten about 5l); this first crack at 1m6f is an interesting move and he's no forlorn hope.

8⁽¹⁴⁾

/6843-

Belloccio

J: William Buick

T: W P Mullins

9-7

100

112

Listed winner (1m4f, AW) in 2022 for David Menuisier; didn't hit same heights last year but won easily in this tongue-tie on last month's hurdle/stable debut at Punchestown; top Irish jumps trainer saddled the one-two last year and this 6yo is a key player if the ground suits (unraced on good to firm).

14⁽¹⁵⁾

11-3

Party Central

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Gordon Elliott

9-3

101

Talented hurdler who won last year on her first two Flat starts and good Listed third at Down Royal (2m, good) last month; she may have more to offer in this code but such improvement is necessary off her opening mark.

15⁽¹⁰⁾

/163/2

Gentleman Joe

J: W J Lee

T: Henry De Bromhead

9-3

111

His 13 runs have yielded two wins, in an AW maiden (2021) and a novice hurdle (2023); ran well in second at Dundalk (1m4f, AW) in April on first Flat outing since 2021, when clear with the odds-on winner, but that form may flatter him (he was clear at one stage) and he could be vulnerable today.

16⁽¹²⁾

2/715-

My Mate Mozzie

J: Gary Carroll

T: Gavin Cromwell

9-3

107

Classy sort over jumps, finishing third in last August's Galway Hurdle and runner-up in Grade 1 novice chase last December; has also shown considerable ability on the Flat and fifth in the Irish Cesarewitch last September when 2m1f seemed to stretch him; a possible now back in this code.

3⁽⁵⁾

1336/6

Beamish

J: Luke Morris

T: Archie Watson

9-11

104

109

Missed 2023 and has to prove he retains his old ability; however, he was a Listed winner at Roscommon in 2022 (1m4f, soft to heavy; has also won on fast ground) and shaped as though he would improve for his comeback run at Newbury in April (yard debut); not discounted in first-time cheekpieces.

12⁽¹⁾

12-742

Kihavah

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

9-4

114

Progressive last May/June with three Flat wins (1m4f/1m5f, good/good to firm); returned to form when runner-up at York (1m4f, good) last month when no match for the thriving winner but each-way shout today.

6⁽¹¹⁾

113-36

Naqeeb

J: Jim Crowley

T: William Haggas

9-10

103

115

He has to produce more than he's managed in Group 2 and Listed races on his last three runs; however, this beautifully bred 4yo looked one to follow when winning on his handicap debut at Haydock (1m6f, good) last September and he may be the type to benefit from cheekpieces (has tended to hang right).

4⁽⁸⁾

/1-114

Maxi King

J: David Egan

T: Raphael E Freire

9-11

104

109

Made it 3-3 for this yard when upped in trip in Newmarket handicap (1m4f, good) last month; fair fourth in Group 3 at Newbury (1m4f, good) since; ran well on fast ground early in career; he's 14lb higher than two starts ago and further improvement is needed, but he has a progressive profile.

1⁽¹³⁾

117-63

Alsakib

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

9-12

105

112

Won here last September (1m4f, good to firm) on second handicap start and followed up in Newmarket handicap (1m4f, soft); unable to threaten in Group 3 races this spring and has a lofty mark to defy, but this lightly raced 4yo is not ruled out now back in a handicap, with this new trip a possible plus.

9⁽⁴⁾

1334-1

Fox Journey

J: Ryan Moore

T: Sir Michael Stoute

9-7

100

115

Looked exposed towards end of 3yo campaign but trainer excels with late-maturing types and he found a chunk of improvement to make all easily on last month's return at Newmarket (1m4f, good); also fine at 1m6f and on fast ground; a 9lb rise might not stop him if he confirms that latest promise.

7⁽¹⁸⁾

4141-1

A Piece Of Heaven

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

9-8

101

108

Lightly raced 6yo who easily made all at Dundalk (2m, AW) last December and did likewise at Leopardstown (1m4f, good) last month on final run for Barry Fitzgerald (has changed hands since); unraced on fast ground; repeating those tactics from his wide draw might be tricky on stable debut, but he's clearly thriving and it remains to be seen where his limitations lie.

11⁽²⁾

36-133

Intinso

J: Hollie Doyle

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-6

111

Gelded then reappeared with an improved effort to win at Wolverhampton (1m4f, AW) in March and kept on for third at Kempton (1m3f, AW) next time in a race that favoured those ridden more prominently; another good third at Newmarket (1m6f, good) latest, when this headstrong sort led at a steady pace and perhaps wasn't seen to best effect; retains potential at 1m6f and connections won this in 2021 with his half-brother Amtiyaz; tongue-tie added.

2⁽¹⁹⁾

66414-

Drawn To Dream

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

9-12

105

110

Two-time German winner (good/soft), the latest a 2m4f Listed race last September; good fourth in fillies' Group 3 (1m3f, soft) in October and sold for 180,000euros in December; however, she makes her stable debut in a hot race and the handicapper has taken no chances.

13⁽¹⁶⁾

4534-9

Lmay

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-3

112

Lightly raced 4yo whose career highlight was her third in a fillies' Group 2 at Doncaster (1m6f, soft) last September; won her maiden on fast ground; she may have needed last month's comeback run in Group 3 at York but she was well beaten and it's hard to be confident on the back of that; handicap debut.

RACING POST TIP

Belloccio

Willie Mullins saddled the one-two in this race 12 months and BELLOCCIO earns the vote today, having comfortably made a winning start for the yard in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown last month. Intinso remains unexposed and is feared most, with his half-brother Amtiyaz having won this in 2021 for the same connections. A Piece Of Heaven and Fox Journey impressed last time out and could still have more to offer, while Tyson Fury and Lucander kept on well over 1m4f at this meeting last year and are interesting at bigger odds.

Verdict

Past Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2023	Vauban [7]	5	9-8	EvensF	W P Mullins	Ryan Moore
2022	Get Shirty [7]	6	9-6	16/1	David O’Meara	Daniel Tudhope
2021	Amtiyaz [9]	4	9-1	33/1	John & Thady Gosden	Hollie Doyle
2020	Fujaira Prince [16]	6	9-4	3/1F	Roger Varian	Andrea Atzeni

What happened in the Copper Horse Stakes last year?

VAUBAN, a high-class hurdler controlled a pace to suit himself, and once asked to stretch in the straight he powered clear, justifying major market confidence. Stablemate Absurde had won easily on easily on his hurdling debut last month, and despite racing keenly back in the pack, the steady gallop not ideal, so there was plenty to like about the way he stayed on in the straight. Cemhaan, up 9lb for his win at Kempton last time, ran well, saving ground on the inner and just denied second on the line.

Copper Horse Stakes Handicap

18:15 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past Winners

What happened in the Copper Horse Stakes last year?

All Races