Ascot Stakes
Handicap, Ascot 17:05 £110,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 3f 210y, Class 2
Tweet Tuesday 18th June 2024

Pledgeofallegiance wins the Ascot Stakes at Royal @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/aMUkSgHJRi

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 18, 2024

1 Pledgeofallegiance 20/1
2 Divine Comedy 8/1
3 Kyle Of Lochalsh 12/1
4 Get Shirty 33/1
20 ran Distances: ½l, 2½l, ½l
Time: 4m 21.99s (slow by 1.49s)

This was a third victory for Sir Mark Prescott at the Royal Meeting and his first since Pivotal in the 1996 King Charles III Stakes.

Racing in a clear second for much of the two-and-a-half mile heritage handicap, Pledgeofallegiance led as they turned into the straight and repelled the persistent challenge of eventual second Divine Comedy under apprentice Kaiya Fraser. 

Divine Comedy, who was beaten half a length, was the second runner-up of the day for trainer Harry Eustace, who saddled Docklands to fill the same position in the Queen Anne Stakes. Kyle Of Lochalsh finished third, a further two and a half lengths behind, with Get Shirty fourth.

Prescott said: “Pledgeofallegiance is a very nice horse, very sensible. The only thing he’s ever done wrong in his life is cost all that money [450,000gns] as a yearling. Then the expectation is so high on him. If he couldn’t win the Derby, the next best thing was to win at Royal Ascot for them, so I’m very grateful he has. He is a big, lovely, staying horse, very genuine. He’s a thoroughly nice, straightforward horse. Trainers don’t have enough of them!

“The tactics were right, and that’s what mattered. The Irish horse [Boher Road] – he’s such a quick starter - looked certain to carry you into the straight. It was one of those races. I can’t remember one going so well since Alborada got the pacemaker [in the Champion Stakes] and High-Rise didn’t! Everything went just to plan.

“I like feeling we have been part of the thought process; it’s not just because it’s a good horse, but you can feel you’ve had a little bit of input. It was the obvious race for him, and the owners have been very good – if that’s what you want to do, do it. I have been very lucky.

“Pivotal was a long time ago – too long. It’s great. I think when those plans go right, you’re churlish if you don’t enjoy it.”

Morris said: “Pledgeofallegiance is incredibly brave and incredibly tough. He's been a real work in progress, but he's gradually got a bit better each run and it's thanks to the faith of connections that he's eventually come good because he started off life at a pretty lowly level.

“It has been eight years since I last had a winner here, and to ride a winner here for Sir Mark means a huge amount. We’ve only got a few bullets to fire during the week, so to get one of them to land is fabulous. It’s the best week of racing in the world, so to come here with a few live chances is fantastic, and for one of them to land is even better.”

Harry Eustace said of Divine Comedy: “I got very excited turning in, just second best unfortunately. That’s handicaps, as well. I suppose if we could have asked for the ideal situation, it would probably have been to have a bit of juice in the ground, but then that brings the jumping boys into play – it’s swings and roundabouts. She has just been remarkable. She started from 67 and has just finished second in the Ascot Stakes carrying plenty of weight. She’s cool! She’s quite a big girl and it has just been a case of time and confidence, really. She’s just really started putting together how to be a racehorse and learning about the whole thing. She’s just an absolute pro now and really enjoys it. Every question we’ve asked this year in particular, she’s been there for us. She’s been a lot of fun for the guys. Ted Durcan bought her and she didn’t cost much at all from the horses in training sale. She is what everyone does it for. They’ve bought her to have a bit of fun and ended up here – and nearly got the chocolates!”

Kyle Of Lochalsh’s rider Billy Loughnane said: “I was pleased with my position. I followed the second throughout, it was a question mark stepping up in trip, so I tried to hang onto him for as long as I could, but he hit the line very well. He has a bright future and he is still off a workable mark. I’ve suggested they could go for the Northumberland Plate, but I’m not sure where he will go.”

Ascot Stakes Handicap
£110,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 3f 210y, Class 2
20 ran
Going: Good to Firm

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (1)    Pledgeofallegiance 4 8-13 Sir Mark Prescott Bt Luke Morris 20/1
2 (5) ½ Divine Comedy 6 9-9 Harry Eustace Kaiya Fraser 8/1
3 (11) 2½ Kyle Of Lochalsh 4 9-6 Hughie Morrison Billy Loughnane 12/1
4 (15) ½ Get Shirty 8 9-2 David O'Meara Daniel Tudhope 33/1
5 (12) 4½ Temporize 5 9-1 Syd Hosie Tom Marquand 18/1
6 (4) 2½ Zanndabad 5 9-6 1 Mrs C O'Leary William Buick 9/2F
7 (18) 1 Ndaawi 4 9-4 Gordon Elliott Declan McDonogh 28/1
8 (20) ½ Tenerife Sunshine 4 8-12 5ex Charlie Johnston James Doyle 25/1
9 (13) 2¾ Berkshire Rocco 7 9-6 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 28/1
10 (2) nk Pied Piper 6 9-12 Gordon Elliott Jamie Spencer 9/1
11 (8) 3½ Nusret 5 9-3 Joseph O'Brien Dylan Browne McMonagle 8/1
12 (9) ½ The Very Man 10 9-11 Mrs John Harrington Shane Foley 40/1
13 (17) nse The Grand Visir 10 8-13 Ian Williams Richard Kingscote 33/1
14 (10) 6 Boher Road 5 9-9 Jarlath P Fahey Ronan Whelan 13/2
15 (14) 2½ Law Of The Sea 6 9-1 Ian Williams Jim Crowley 20/1
16 (7) 3½ Nathanael Greene 5 8-13 Alastair Ralph Hollie Doyle 66/1
17 (3) 2 Almuhit 5 9-1 Emmet Mullins Colin Keane 18/1
18 (19) 13 Master Milliner 8 9-7 Emma Lavelle Sean Levey 100/1
19 (16) 57 My Lyka 5 9-10 2 W P Mullins Ryan Moore 17/2
20 (6) 3 Tritonic 7 9-7 Alan King Rossa Ryan 14/1

ASCOT HANDICAP WINNERS

YR/DATE WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY OWNER AGE/WGT SP

2023 AHORSEWITHNONAME Nicky Henderson William Buick D J Burke & P Alderson 8-9-08 7/1
2022 COLTRANE Andrew Balding Callum Hutchinson Mick & Janice Mariscotti 5-9-05 14/1
2021 RESHOUN Ian Williams William Buick Dr Marwan Koukash 7-9-07 66/1
2020 COUER DE LION Alan King Thore Hammer Hansen The Barbury Boys 7-8-10 16/1
2019 THE GRAND VISIR Ian Williams Richard Kingscote CLXX 5-9-10 12/1
2018 LAGOSTOVEGAS Willie Mullins IRE Andrea Atzeni John Donohue 6-9-03 10/1
2017 THOMAS HOBSON Willie Mullins IRE Ryan Moore Susannah Ricci 7-9-10 4/1F
2016 JENNIES JEWEL Jarlath Farley IRE Ronan Whelan Andrew McIntyre 9-9-03 6/1
2015 CLONDAW WARRIOR Willie Mullins IRE Ryan Moore Act D Wagg Syndicate 8-9-00 5/1F
2014 DOMINATION Charles Byrnes IRE Fran Berry Carol Cleary 7-9-07 12/1
2013 WELL SHARP Jonjo O’Neill Fran Berry J P McManus 5-9-10 9/1
2012 SIMENON Willie Mullins IRE Ryan Moore Wicklow Bloodstock Limited 5-9-10 8/1
2011 VEILED Nicky Henderson Eddie Ahern Pump & Plant Services Ltd 5-9-03 11/2
2010 JUNIOR David Pipe Seb Sanders Middleham Park Racing LI 7-9-00 17/2
2009 JUDGETHEMOMENT Jane Chapple-Hyam Richard Hughes Gordon Li 4-9-05 13/2
2008 MISSOULA Suzy Smith Sam Hitchcott M Weaver & Pollards Bloodstock 5-9-00 20/1
2007 FULL HOUSE Paul Webber Jimmy Fortune Chamberlain Addiscott Partnership 8-9-01 20/1
2006 BADDAM Mick Channon Ian Mongan Noel Martin 4-9-02 33/1
*2005 LEG SPINNER Tony Martin IRE Fran Berry Bill Moffett 4-8-12 9/1
2004 DOUBLE OBSESSION Mark Johnston John Egan Ron Huggins, R B Huckerby, Atlantic Racing 4-9-02 25/1
2003 SINDAPOUR Martin Pipe Martin Dwyer Mary Burke 5-8-03 12/1
2002 RIYADH Martin Pipe Kieren Fallon Salah Helaissi 4-9-05 7/1F
2001 COVER UP Sir Michael Stoute Kieren Fallon Lord Weinstock 4-9-10 12/1
2000 BARBA PAPA Tony Martin IRE Johnny Murtagh Glen Devlin 6-9-07 10/1
1999 HIGH AND MIGHTY John Gosden Frankie Dettori Sheikh Mohammed 4-9-06 10/1
1998 SAN SEBASTIAN Michael Grassick IRE Eddie Ahern Ricardo Sanz 4-9-05 16/1
1997 SEA FREEDOM Toby Balding Steve Drowne Bridget Swire 6-8-03 20/1
1996 SOUTHERN POWER Reg Akehurst Olivier Peslier Lucayan Stud 5-9-07 25/1
1995 HARLESTONE BROOK John Dunlop Michael Kinane John Dunlop 5-9-08 6/1
1994 SWEET GLOW Martin Pipe Cash Asmussen Marilyn Fairbrother 7-9-01 14/1
1993 BALASANI Martin Pipe Mark Perrett M D Smith 7-9-01 8/1
1992 GONDOLIER Henry Cecil Pat Eddery Lord Howard de Walden 4-9-09 7/1F
1991 CABOCHON David Morley Willie Carson Sir Piers Bengough 4-8-06 15/2
1990 RETOUCH Paul Cole Michael Roberts Simon Wingfield Digby 4-8-02 12/1
1989 ARIZELOS Guy Harwood Steve Cauthen Athos Christodoulou 4-10-00 4/1F
1988 ZERO WATT Guy Harwood Greville Starkey Sheikh Mohammed 4-9-03 7/2F
1987 INLANDER Reg Akehurst Nicky Adams Jeff Daniels 6-7-07 5/1
1986 RIKKI TAVI Barry Hills Willie Carson Alan Boon 6-7-10 7/2F
1985 MEADOWBROOK Ian Balding Pat Eddery Mrs John A McDougald 4-8-06 9/1
1984 KAYUDEE Jimmy FitzGerald Tony Murray Kenton Utilities & Developments 4-8-09 11/2
1983 RIGHT REGENT Martin Pipe Steve Cauthen S Hindle 5-8-08 6/1
1982 POPSIS JOY Mick Haynes Willie Carson Victor Morley Lawson 7-8-11 5/1
1981ATLANTIC TRAVELLER Bill Watts George Duffield C Campbell Golding 4-7-12 7/1
1980 HEIGHLIN David Elsworth Richard Fox Woodside Engineers 4-7-12 8/1
1979 MON’S BEAU Giles Beeson Walter Swinburn M Vine 4-7-07 14/1
1978 MOUNTAIN CROSS Bill Watts John Lowe Mrs A Leggatt 6-9-11 11/4F
1977 MATINALE Barry Hills Ernie Johnson Mrs Olga Thurston 4-7-08 7/1