The Golden Gates Stakes is a handicap run over 1m2f. It takes place at 17:40 on Saturday 22nd June, which is the fifth 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⁽¹⁾

83-165

Grey Cuban

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Hugo Palmer

8-11

106

Gelded prior to his 8l romp in Wolverhampton novice event (8.6f, AW; ridden up with the pace) in April on seasonal debut; ran respectably since in handicaps at Chester (7.5f, good) and Epsom (1m2f, good to soft) but he's a free-going sort and others are likely to see this out more strongly.

13⁽¹³⁾

25-311

Old Faithful

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

8-12

111

Tricky customer who seemingly needs to be played late with hands and heels; upped to 1m2f on good at Naas and Navan (handicap debut) last two outings and in those races he had his head in front, narrowly, where it matters; this race is much tougher but it's possible he's kept a bit in reserve.

12⁽¹⁴⁾

5-81

Miletus

J: James Doyle

T: Charles Hills

8-12

108

Very much a work in progress on first two starts and he left that form miles behind when making all at 16-1 in a 13-runner novice at Windsor (1m, soft) early last month; still looked inexperienced but kept finding and the form has been boosted; useful prospect and should stay.

NR⁽¹⁵⁾

126-48

Arabic Legend

T: K R Burke

9-7

106

Won debut and his Listed second at Salisbury (1m, good) last August was his best form; fair fourth in Listed race at Epsom (1m2f) on seasonal/stable debut, before well beaten at 20-1 in the Lingfield Derby Trial (11.6f, again on good); even if the latter trip stretched him, fair bit to prove.

9⁽²⁾

U35-13

Palace Green

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Richard Hughes

8-13

113

Gelded after the last of his three soft-ground races as 2yo; justified favouritism by 5l in novice at Kempton (1m2f, AW) in April, making all, and improved again with waiting tactics when third of eight in handicap at York (1m4f, good) last month; quickened from last to first at York before rather running out of steam in the final 1f, so this return to 1m2f may well help.

10⁽⁶⁾

9-221

Approval

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

8-13

112

Runner-up in two 8.6f novice events at Wolverhampton (AW) this spring; made most in the latter and much improved when making all in 15-runner novice at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) 12 days ago, seeing off a strong challenger from 2f out and drawing clear late on; this looks a competitive mark for handicap debut and he brings significant promise.

15⁽¹⁹⁾

331-P7

Whiskey Pete

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

8-11

110

Half-brother to Royal Ascot 1m4f handicap winners Candleford and Atty Persse; won handicap debut at York (1m, soft) as 2yo; favourite for reappearance at York (1m4f, good) but refused to settle and eventually pulled up; put that shocker largely behind him at Epsom (1m2f, good to soft) just 16 days later but in only seventh of 12 and he needs vastly better today.

1⁽¹⁸⁾

312-44

Cambridge

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O'Brien

9-9

100

107

Narrowly won a Salisbury novice (1m, good to firm) on second start and has been a quiet improver in defeat in Group events since; this season he's been fourth on good ground in the 1m Craven at Newmarket and 1m2f Dante at York, but this handicap debut seems to demand a chunk more.

2⁽⁸⁾

31-619

Black Run

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Paul & Oliver Cole

9-7

110

Front-runner for his two wins, latterly against six rivals in handicap at Newmarket (off 6lb lower) in May; tongue tied that day and when well beaten in the London Gold Cup at Newbury (also 1m2f on good) five weeks ago, when he raced in mid-division; others bring more compelling claims.

8⁽¹⁷⁾

451-1

Hand Of God

J: William Buick

T: Harry Charlton

9-0

113

Impressive in a Newmarket maiden (1m, good to firm) last October; much harder pressed to follow up from the front in a tight three-way finish to five-runner handicap at Sandown (1m, good to soft; evens) in April on reappearance but he seemed to be crying out for 1m2f, which he gets today, and has been raised just 3lb; very much one to note.

6⁽¹⁰⁾

3-125

Nerano

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

9-1

108

5l winner of a Dundalk maiden (1m, AW) in February on second start and good second of three in a conditions event over that same C&D in March; 8-1, creditable fifth of 13 at the Curragh (7f, good) on handicap/turf debut nearly three months later, front rank long way, which he needs to improve on markedly but he's an appealing prospect for 1m2f.

16⁽³⁾

54-122

Portsmouth

J: Hayley Turner

T: Andrew Balding

8-10

111

Comfortably won 8.5f handicap at Epsom (good; unraced on firmer) in April; good second over 1m2f at Goodwood (heavy; made most) ten days later and back at Epsom (good to soft) on Derby Day; raced freely in mid-division for the latter race, so he should be able to find extra if settling better but having such a low draw again may not help.

NR⁽¹¹⁾

14-1

Dambuster

T: Andrew Balding

8-13

106

Narrow winner of a Sandown maiden (1m, good to soft) last September; came up short in a Group 3 (1m2f, soft) the following month, after which he was gelded, but justified 5-4 favouritism in novice at Beverley (1m2f, soft) in April; carries his head a bit high but found plenty to deliver strong late bids for his two wins and, if he goes on this ground, can still do better.

NR⁽⁴⁾

42-811

Primo Lara

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

9-0

111

Much improved when making a winning start to his handicap career at Chelmsford (1m2f, AW) in May; again held up under 3lb claimer when justifying favouritism without much difficulty in seven-runner race at York (1m2f, good to soft) 16 days later, which sees him 9lb higher today but even that may underestimate how much he had in reserve.

4⁽⁹⁾

1-40

Treasure

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

9-4

104

Dam half-sister to 1m2f Group 1 winners Mandaean and Wavering; justified favouritism in a maiden at Nottingham (1m, heavy) in October; beaten just under 2l in the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial (11.6f, good) in May, which looked a promising return, but she started to backpedal turning for home when tailed off at 22-1 in the Oaks at Epsom (1m4f, good to soft) three weeks later; early days but cheekpieces are enlisted.

NR⁽⁵⁾

3-113

Balmacara

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

9-3

108

Gained front-running wins in 7f soft-ground novices at Doncaster on first two starts this season, impressive on second occasion; disputed the lead long way when below-form third in Listed race at Epsom (7f, good to soft) three weeks ago; has an extra 3f today and while he's bred to stay, he's been racing exuberantly and needs to rein himself in a bit; hood is now fitted.

RACING POST TIP

Hand Of God

Palace Green and Primo Lara have delivered taking handicap performances but will need some luck to find their way through from a low draw, which might also make it tricky to settle Portsmouth but should help Approval if his jockey again decides on forcing tactics up front. A great deal, however, seems to be in place for HAND OF GOD to run well, with his step up in trip and a fast-ground win already on the board, and the likely ground conditions earn him preference over Dambuster who is a handicap debutant but impressed with his strength at the finish for his wins on good to soft and soft. Nerano could be dangerous on his step up from 7f.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2023	Burdett Road [9]	3	8-13	20/1	Michael Bell	Neil Callan
2022	Missed The Cut [13]	3	9-3	5/2F	George Boughey	James McDonald
2021	Foxes Tales [13]	3	8-11	13/2	Andrew Balding	Oisin Murphy
2020	Highland Chief [16]	3	9-7	20/1	Paul & Oliver Cole	Rossa Ryan

Key race stats

What happened in the Golden Gates Stakes last year?

BURDETT ROAD has progressed again since stepping back up in trip and tackling fast ground, finding another chunk of improvement to defy an 8lb rise for Newbury. Lion Of War relished the return to 1m2f, keeping on strongly from off the pace. Local Dynasty, ran a cracker from his lofty mark, making good headway from well back in the straight before his effort understandably flattened out late on.

Golden Gates Stakes Handicap

17:40 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats

What happened in the Golden Gates Stakes last year?

All Races