HIGH HOPES

After a 150-1 winner at the royal meeting last season, Clive Cox is hoping for more of the same this week.

FEW trainers can boast an upward curve as long and consistent as Lambourn trainer Clive Cox, who produces a string of big-race winners year on year. Last season he bagged a host of top-quality contests including the Commonwealth Cup, Coventry, Richmond, Rockfel and Middle Park Stakes and his current crop has the potential to outdo the achievements of recent inmates.

The juveniles have got off to a f lyer this season (23 per cent strikerate) and several of them are in line for a Royal Ascot appearance, notably course winner Get Ahead, who has her trainer purring about her chance in the Queen Mary Stakes.

Twelve months ago the team landed the Commonwealth Cup with the f lying Golden Horde and this week there are three candidates, each with realistic claims.

“For me it’s not about numbers, but quality,” said Cox. “Thankfully we’ve been very lucky again to have such a strong team. Last year we won with Golden Horde, who was strongly fancied, while Nando Parrado stunned everyone at 150-1 and my point is that you just never know. All of our string who are heading to the royal meeting go in very good order and have varying degrees of chances. I couldn’t be happier with the team we’ve assembled.”

Cox, a shrewd and likeable trainer, has a remarkably successful partnership with Adam Kirby that has seen them unite for 365 winners in Britain. Amazingly, after 2,362 rides for the Lambourn trainer, the jockey has yielded a profit of more than £15 to a £1 stake.

With several hopefuls among the market leaders this week Cox suggested the one who could go under the radar is Dance Fever in the Buckingham Palace, providing the ground is on the quick side. Last year the stable struck at big odds – could this be the one to do so again this week?

Older horses Dance Fever 4 b g Sir Prancealot – Silk Fan

A smart juvenile who won two of his three races and ended the year on a mark of 87. He only raced twice last season, both very good efforts at Windsor and Ascot, before we had to draw stumps as the ground was always soft when we had a race for him. He simply has to have a dry surface. He loves Ascot and, if the weather continues to be nice, he’ll make his seasonal debut in the Buckingham Palace Handicap this week. The 7f is perfect for him and he certainly showed a liking for the course last time he ran. He could be one who goes under the radar, but I can report him in very good form at home and he’s worth closer inspection this week.

River Nymph 4 b c Cable Bay – Little Nymph

He gave us a huge thrill when winning the Victoria Cup at Ascot in the spring – an iconic race that’s just so hard to win – so to finally achieve that was very exciting and I was delighted for his ownerbreeder Trevor Fox. He clearly loves Ascot and dropping him to 7f here with some give underfoot proved the winning formula as he beat 26 rivals to land the great old handicap. He ran at Haydock three weeks later but didn’t have the same f luency as he had at Ascot. He didn’t disgrace himself and has earned a recharge. When the ground is really dry he prefers to be at home. Looking ahead, he has proved he’s worth the step up to Pattern company and these races will allow him to be successful with the tactical speed he possesses. As long the ground isn’t too firm I expect him to progress further.

Streamline 4 b c Due Diligence – Ahwahnee

A relatively lightly raced colt who did well as a two-year-old, winning three of his four starts, including the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes. Unfortunately, he had a leg injury last year, which meant there was a gap of 487 days between starts when he returned in January, but got his act together at Wolverhampton in March when beating Summerghand. He’s in grand form and hopefully he’ll get top of the ground this week as the Wokingham is his target.

Tis Marvellous 7 b g Harbour Watch – Mythicism

He just loves his days out to Ascot – he has been to the past four royal meetings and has run well on each occasion with form figures of 6424. Last year we thought we’d be brave and go for the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes as there was a relatively small field and he ran a cracker to be fourth, only a short head behind the third home. Two years ago he was second of 26 in the Wokingham off a mark of 101, and off the same mark this week he’ll be a live player in that race. He remains as enthusiastic as ever and I’m really looking forward to seeing him in action this week. It’s exciting to have two proper arrows to fire at this great handicap.

Three-year-olds Aratus 3 b c Free Eagle – Shauna’s Princess

He started off at Newbury last September with an encouraging second over 7f and stepped up on that when winning over 7f at Ke empton in November. The form of that race ha as worked out well with the second, third, fourth, sixth and seventh all winning since. He has si ince had a wind operation, which has held him m up a little, and that’s why we haven’t seen him m on the track since. He’s one to look forward to fo or the second half of the season and, although suc ccessful over 7f, he will get a mile. He has shown n a lot of potential and is training nicely agai in. Very much a dark horse and one to keep your eyee out for.

Breath Of Sun 3 b c Bated Breath – Heliograph

He never ran as a juvenile but made ea f lying start when winning his first t two starts at Lingfield. We then came up p against Archie Watson’s smart sprin nter Dragon Symbol when third at Kemp pton in April. Last time out back at Lingf field he was a bit keen and not quite righ ht, so you can forget that effort.

Diligent Harry 3 b c Due Diligence – Harr yana To

His career on the track only started ini January when he won nicely over 6f f. He quickly followed up at Kempton ini style before going down by a short h ead to Rohaan, who has since franked th he form at Group 2 level. He bounced backb to winning form on Good Friday at t he All-Weather Championships when an n easy winner over Mighty Gurkha. Th hose four races have seen him go up to a m mark of 105, which is quite some leap in s uch a short space of time. He has an entry in the Commonwealth Cup this week, whic ch will be his first run on turf. I’m not to oo concerned about that as he has done e plenty of work on grass at home and I think he has enough experience and talent.

Fernando Rah 3 b g Lethal Force – Lacing

He’s only had the one start, when third to Dragon Symbol, which is decent form. He has since been naughty at the stalls and we’ve had to do a lot of work with him on that front. He’ll be back in a couple of weeks. He possesses plenty of speed and talent and shouldn’t have much trouble in opening his account.

First Edition 3 bb c Invincible Spirit – Remember

He was most impressive when winning a Sandown maiden last summer and then showed a lot of speed when fourth in the Mill Reef. On his return this spring back at Sandown he didn’t run to his best form as the ground was dead. Since then he has gone forward nicely on the gallops and we’re looking at the Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap on Friday. He was only seventh in the Scurry Stakes at Sandown last weekend, but if the ground remains dry then the plan is Royal Ascot.

Isabella Giles 3 b f Belardo – Majestic Dubawi

She had a wonderful first season, winning the Prestige and Rockfel Stakes. She has to have ease in the ground and when she gets it she rarely lets me down. First time out this year she ran a lovely race in the Fred Darling when she was the last one off t the bridle. She then ran well against her elders inn the Chartwell Stakes and when we dropped her back to 6f she ran very well behind Rohaan, not beaten all that far. However, that convince ed me 7f is her trip, and in fact we might explore a mile at some point. She has an entry in the Com mmonwealth Cup because if it rains this week wee’d be regretting not having the option.

Isabel la Swan 3 b f Twilight Son – First Eclipse

She learnned as she raced last year and got it all together at Bath on her final appearance of last season ovver 5½f off a mark of 58. She progressed nicely ovver the winter but surprised us with the ease she won on her return at Bath in the spring. She folloowed up with another impressive win at Goodwood this month off a 14lb higher mark and I was ratther concerned about how the handicappper would react. He has raised her 8lb to a new high of 87, which was fair considering how well she won. Decent ground is important to her and she’ss thriving on racing. When you get a filly on the uppgrade you never know where it’ll end.

Nando o Parrado 3 b c Kodiac – Chibola

He proviided us with one of last year’s high points with his win in the Coventry Stakes, which shocked many people at 150-1, but we weren’t as surprisedd as he had worked well beforehand. He proved tthat was no f luke when his follow-up race was a ffine second on soft ground in the Prix Mornyy and he rounded off his campaign with seconnd in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Lonngchamp on ground that many said was as bad as they had raced on for many a year. His ccomeback run in the Greenham behind Chhindit was a nice effort and on his second run at Sandown he lost his penalty. Since hhen his training has gone very well and he’s spot on for the Jersey Stakes this week. The 7f looks to be his best trip and if the ground isn’t riding soft I’d be

hopeful of him reproducing the form of 12 months ago. He’s going there with a big shout.

Supremacy 3 b c Mehmas – Triggers Broom

He had a great campaign last season, winning the Richmond and Middle Park Stakes, and ended the season as the highest British juvenile over 6f with a rating of 118. He has always been very laid back at home and he was typically sanguine at home before the Pavilion, but he put in a run well below expectations, which was very disappointing. He returned home with a high white blood cell count, which wasn’t the case before he left for the track. He has really pleased me in the last three weeks and had we not been going to Royal Ascot off the back of that poor run I’d be very bullish about his chances in the Commonwealth Cup. As we had valid excuses for that poor run we’re certainly looking forward to his return to Ascot and I think he has a serious chance.

Western Alliance 3 b c Kingman – Cruck Realta

He’s an interesting colt with a wonderful pedigree, being a Kingman half-brother to last year’s Musidora winner Rose Of Kildare. This fellow was a little bit timid and hot last year hence he only made his debut in December at Wolverhampton, where he had a wonderful introduction over 1m½f to be third. He did well physically over the winter and had his seasonal introduction at Nottingham three weeks ago when beating a hot favourite over the same trip. He’s still progressing and there’s a lot of potential there. I wouldn’t want to run him on too firm ground and we won’t risk him on anything he wouldn’t like as he looks a bright hope. I have no firm plan as to where he’ll go next but we’ll go further in time, as I only used a mile for his first two runs to help him relax a little.

Two-year-olds Ascending 2 b c Awtaad – Midnight Martini

He made a pleasing debut recently at Leicester over 6f when coming home in fifth. He’ll get further and we could look at 7f next time but he wouldn’t appreciate the ground riding too firm. His dam and halfsister were both precocious enough to win as juveniles and he should have no trouble completing the family treble. He has come out of his first run very well and for a horse with his size and scope I think he has a bright future.

Caturra 2 b c Mehmas – Shoshoni Wind

We started him off over 5f at Newmarket and he had a lovely introduction, finishing fourth. With the ground a bit of a problem in May we found an opportunity at Bath, where they had the best ground on offer, and took him there for a nice opening, which he duly obliged in. He has improved with each run and stepped up again to run a very nice race to finish seventh in the Coventry Stakes on Tuesday.

Codify 2 b c Lawman – Bayja

He made a very pleasing debut at Newbury last month when third behind smart winner Gisburn. As a son of Lawman he’ll undoubtedly be better with a little ease in the ground. I was thrilled with that first run and there’ll be a lot of improvement to come. He’s a from a very good family with a high-class dam line. He started out over 6f but will improve for another furlong. Right from the off we tagged him as one for the second half of the season, so to have got a run into him – and a good one at that – is a bonus. We won’t be in a hurry with him as he’s one to look forward to later.

Crazyland 2 b f Kodiac – Imperialistic Diva

We’re having a grand time with our two-year-olds this year, which doesn’t surprise me as we have so many lovely ones in the yard. This filly did a grand job first time out, winning at Windsor when we felt she would be hard to beat. She ran another good race when third in the Listed Marygate Stakes at York. Having been up with the pace the whole way she hit the line well. She goes for the Queen Mary,as the ground looks likely to be better on Wednesday than later in the week and she appreciates a dry surface.

Get Ahead 2 ch f Showcasing – Suelita

Of all my juveniles heading to Royal Ascot this week, this filly has me most excited. Right from day one this sister to last year’s Mill Reef winner Alkumait has looked potential top-drawer material and she didn’t disappoint on her debut at Ascot in the spring when beating some nice types without too much fuss. When you consider she was born on April 27, she won only ten days after her actual second birthday. She has absolutely thrived since that run and we deliberately didn’t run her again with the intention of going straight to the Queen Mary. Her work at home has been superb and I have no doubt she’s a top-class filly.

Instinctive Move 2 b c Showcasing – Peach Melba

He was another first-time-out winner at Bath in May. We’ve had a few winners there this year, primarily because the wet weather left other tracks with unfavourable ground and our local course offered the best ground around. It has enabled them to go and enjoy a pleasant first experience and they’ve all had time to improve going into Ascot on the back of those runs. This colt is from a wonderful family with his dam Peach Melba being a Listed winner for Mark Johnston. This is her first foal and he has pleased us from the get-go. We’re looking at the Norfolk Stakes for him this week.

Vaunted 2 b f Ardad – Vallila

Another first-time-out Bath winner, she then tried to defy a penalty against some interesting sorts at Salisbury, which probably unsurprisingly proved too much. She has had some time since then and I feel sure she can progress again. It has been a pleasing start to her career and, although I have nothing major planned for her, we’ll have to box clever with this penalty as much as possible.