The Norfolk Stakes is a Group 2 contest run over 5f. It takes place at 14:30 on Thursday 22nd June, which is the third day of Royal Ascot 2023. 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

12⁽¹²⁾

224

Shayekh

J: Kieran O'Neill

T: Alice Haynes

9-3

Demoted from first place on 5f Yarmouth debut (soft) after causing interference; seemed wiser to the job at Wetherby (good) next time but couldn't deal with a 20-1 newcomer and was no match for Elite Status in the National Stakes at Sandown since; first-time cheekpieces need to make a big difference.

13⁽¹³⁾

2141

The Fixer

J: Mickael Barzalona

T: F-H Graffard

9-3

106

Improved form for racing away from testing ground for the first time when seeing off his seven rivals in a 5f Chantilly Listed race (good) 18 days ago; first-time cheekpieces worn on that occasion are retained; that bare form still leaves him with something to find.

6⁽¹⁶⁾

His Majesty

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

9-3

115

Overcame greenness to see off Valiant Force and make a winning debut in Listed race at the Curragh (5f, soft) at the beginning of May; advanced his form when a close third to Coventry fourth Givemethebeatboys (Noche Magica second) in 6f Group 3 there on good ground later in the month; the way he went through that race doesn't obviously suggest he'll benefit from the return to the minimum trip but he can't be discounted given who trains him.

9⁽¹¹⁾

Noche Magica

J: W J Lee

T: P Twomey

9-3

115

Comes from a speedy family and he ran out an impressive winner on his debut over 5f at Cork (soft to heavy); improved when edged out by Coventry fourth Givemethebeatboys (His Majesty close up in third) in 6f Curragh Group 3 (good) 26 days ago, travelling powerfully for a long way; the return to 5f looks the right move and he ought to be in the shake-up.

4⁽⁴⁾

Elite Status

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

9-3

119

Impressive on soft-ground Doncaster debut and looked a very smart prospect when a striking winner of the Listed National Stakes at Sandown (5f, good) four weeks ago, readily pulling 5l clear and marking himself down as very much the one to beat in this.

1⁽¹⁾

American Rascal

J: Joel Rosario

T: Wesley A Ward

9-3

115

Out of connections' Queen Mary and King's Stand winner Lady Aurelia and looks to have inherited plenty of her speed judged on his 10.5l debut success over 4.5f on Keeneland's dirt in April; blinkers worn on that occasion are retained and a tongue-tie is added; fascinating contender for trainer who has won this twice since 2013.

16⁽⁵⁾

Valiant Force

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Adrian Murray

9-3

100

Runner-up to His Majesty in Curragh Listed race (5f, soft) on debut; further behind that rival (and Noche Magica) in 6f Group 3 there since but may not have been helped by doing a solo towards the far side of the track and it was only in the closing stages that he faded; return to 5f could help.

2⁽³⁾

Baheer

J: Pat Dobbs

T: Richard Hannon

9-3

5-4 favourite for his 6f Newbury debut (good) five weeks ago but couldn't live with 150-1 winner Zoulu Chief, who was well beaten in the Coventry on Tuesday; evidently well regarded by his good 2yo stable but he'll need to leave that bare form well behind to figure prominently here.

3⁽⁷⁾

Devious

J: Gavin Ryan

T: Donnacha Aidan O'Brien

9-3

105

His trainer mentioned this race as a target after he was pushed out to justify favouritism comfortably on his 5f Naas debut (good to yielding) at the beginning of May; looks at least useful and could play a part.

NR⁽¹⁰⁾

117

Hala Emaraaty

T: Alice Haynes

9-3

Raced at 5f, winning Ripon maiden (soft) on debut; had Big Evs behind in second when defying his penalty at Redcar (good to firm) 17 days later but unable to live with that much improved rival in Wednesday's Windsor Castle here, albeit running creditably to finish seventh of 23; more will be needed if turned out again.

10⁽¹⁵⁾

No Nay Mets

J: Frankie Dettori

T: George Weaver

9-3

Looked very speedy when making all in a 5f Gulfstream conditions event on firm-ground debut last month; stable won the Queen Mary on Wednesday; this son of No Nay Never (who took this prize back to USA in 2013) changed hands for £800,000 at the eve-of-meeting sale on Monday.

8⁽⁹⁾

Mon Na Slieve

J: Tom Eaves

T: Kevin Ryan

9-3

101

Showed bright speed when making all on 5f York debut (good) five weeks ago; early indications are that may not have been a strong race for the track (the sixth has won since but the second, third, fourth and fifth have all been beaten) but he's in good hands and is entitled to progress.

7⁽⁶⁾

Malc

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

9-3

Calyx colt who was a stylish winner on his 5f Carlisle debut (good to firm) one month ago; not passed over lightly for a trainer who has won the last two runnings of this and also sent out the second in 2019.

14⁽⁸⁾

Thunder Blue

J: Kevin Stott

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

9-3

103

Only just held after meeting trouble on Haydock debut and made no mistake at Goodwood 11 days ago (both 6f, good to firm); travels powerfully enough to think the drop to 5f won't inconvenience him; capable of better again.

15⁽¹⁴⁾

Toca Madera

J: Sean Levey

T: Brian Meehan

9-3

Both outings on firm ground at Bath, building on his debut third when scoring over an extended 5f 13 days ago; plenty to find on form but the stable's Radiohead won a Bath novice before taking this race back in 2009.

11⁽²⁾

Reveiller

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

9-3

Soldier's Call colt who ran out a comfortable 3l winner on his 5f Salisbury debut (good to firm) 26 days ago; that bare form is some way off the required standard but there should be more to come from him.

RACING POST TIP

Elite Status

Very impressive National Stakes winner ELITE STATUS has already achieved an RPR which would have been good enough in eight of the last ten runnings. He has to be the call with further improvement likely, but wide-margin Keeneland winner American Rascal, the first foal of dual Royal Ascot winner Lady Aurelia, is a potentially dangerous opponent for a stable that knows what it takes to win this. The way that Noche Magica travelled in a 6f Curragh Group 3 last time out suggests he may have more to offer back over shorter and he's best of the rest.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2022	The Ridler [2]	2	9-3	50/1	Richard Fahey	Paul Hanagan
2021	Perfect Power [10]	2	9-1	14-1	Richard Fahey	Paul Hanagan
2020	The Lir Jet [1]	2	9-1	9/2	Michael Bell	Oisin Murphy
2019	A’Ali [9]	2	9-1	5/1	Simon Crisford	Frankie Dettori
2018	Shang Shang Shang [4]	2	8-12	5/1	Wesley A Ward	Joel Rosario
2017	Sioux Nation [2]	2	9-1	14/1	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2016	Prince Of Lir [10]	2	9-1	8/1	Robert Cowell	Luke Morris
2015	Waterloo Bridge [8]	2	9-1	12/1	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2014	Baitha Alga [7]	2	9-1	8/1	Richard Hannon	Frankie Dettori
2013	No Nay Never [8]	2	9-1	4/1	Wesley A Ward	Joel Rosario
2012	Reckless Abandon [12]	2	9-1	4/1	Clive Cox	Adam Kirby

Key race stats

By a sire with a stamina index between 6.7 and 8.3f, nine winners in last ten runnings
Lost maiden tag, 9/10
Won last time out, 8/10
Adjusted RPR of at least 100, 7/10
Recorded a Topspeed figure of at least 74, 6/10 (two exceptions were unrated US winners)

Other factors

Five were once-raced winners. The other five were all beaten on their debuts.
Only five winners had scored over 5f. Two winners who had yet to score over the trip had won over 4½f and were trained by Wesley Ward.
Six winners had prevailed on their most recent start by at least two lengths.

What happened last year?

A race full of controversy as 50-1 outsider The Ridler hung badly to his left entering the final furlong, causing interference in behind before winning the race from favourite Walbank. Crispy Cat, who finished third, was challenging fast before being halted, while the fourth-placed Brave Nation was also forced to be snatched up when making his effort. The stewards didn’t reverse the placings, and Amo Racing, owners of the second and third, lodged an appeal that ultimately proved unsuccessful.

Norfolk Stakes

14:30 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats

What happened last year?

All Races