Royal Hunt Cup
 QuinnBet
Heritage Handicap, Ascot 17:00
£175,000 guaranteed,
3yo plus,
7f 213y, Class 2   
Wednesday 18th June 2025

1 My Cloud 3/1F
2 Bullet Point 11/1
3 Bopedro 50/1
4 Greek Order 22/1
30 ran Distances: ¾l, ½l, nk
Time: 1m 38.10s (fast by 0.80s)

My Cloud continued his rise through the ranks as he snatched victory from Bullet Point, with the pair racing on opposite sides of the track.

Favourite backers were made to sweat as My Cloud raced in rear of the stands’ side group for much of the mile handicap. However, Silvestre de Sousa managed to pick his way through the field, ultimately getting up to beat Bullet Point by three-quarters of a length. Bopedro, who is owned by Brighton footballer Georginio Rutter, and Greek Order filled the minor places. 

My Cloud, who has now won four of his six starts for Roger Varian, is the shortest-priced winner of the Royal Hunt Cup in modern times. He is a half-brother to five-time Group 1 winner Palace Pier, who won the St James’s Palace Stakes and Queen Anne Stakes at this meeting.

Varian said: “We have had to be patient with My Cloud, because he had a few niggles as a young horse, so we couldn’t get as busy on a racecourse as we’d like aged two and three. He only really got racing at the end of last year, but he has done well this year and it’s a great team effort at home. There are a lot of people to thank regarding this horse, the main person is the owner, His Highness Shaikh Khalid, who has been most patient.

“I will have to watch it again. I was on the bank, watching it through the binoculars on a screen, and it was hard to tell how far back he was early. But I was at pains to tell Silvestre not to be in a rush with him, because races on the straight mile develop late and this horse has a lot of class. I thought he would move through the race well, and I’m looking forward to watching it back.

“We have to hope he will keep progressing. I thought that was a mighty performance for an inexperienced horse. We will see how he is when we get him home. We hope he is a horse who could progress out of handicaps and into Group company. He has had three races now this season and this will have taken a little bit out of him. So I think we just need to re-group, enjoy today, and we will work it out.”

De Sousa said: “I was just so pleased to be sat on a nice horse like him. You have to keep an eye on the whole race, drawn 32 but I have to look over the whole field with my eyes. He pleased me every furlong. I would say he opened the gaps for me, but he's such a nice horse and deserved this.

“I think the world of him. He’s got a lot of speed and a lot of talent. A mile is perfect for him so ideally there will be a bit more to come. I think he will take us to places, and I think Roger has big plans for him.”

Bullet Point’s jockey Tom Marquand said: “It feels like gun-point robbery – we did everything the hard way on our side and battled off the other two horses that were with us. I could see Silvestre there, but you can’t account for what’s on the other side. Bullet Point put everything in to the run.”

Greek Order’s trainer Michael Bell said: “Nick [Bell] found him and it was a very shrewd purchase. Had that horse been in the London sale on Monday, he would have made four times what these guys paid for him [$110,000]. He is going to give them a lot of fun. That was a great effort; when Soumillon hit the front two out, I thought, ‘here we go’. And then you could see the favourite in behind had too many gears and is a better horse and better handicapped. Balmoral, Cambridgeshire, all sorts of races, any decent sort of handicap over a mile, a mile and a quarter, he’s going to be in the mix.”

Royal Hunt Cup Heritage Handicap (Str)
£175,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 7f 213y, Class 2
30 runners
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (32)    My Cloud 4 9-1 Roger Varian Silvestre De Sousa 3/1F
2 (2) ¾ Bullet Point 4 9-3 William Haggas Tom Marquand 11/1
3 (1) ½ Bopedro 9 9-2 David O'Meara Daniel Tudhope 50/1
4 (30) nk Greek Order 5 9-1 Michael Bell Christophe Soumillon 22/1
5 (3) nk Urban Lion 4 9-3 5ex Jack Channon Edward Greatrex 25/1
6 (11) 2 Fox Legacy 4 9-2 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 7/1
7 (10) nse Ebt's Guard 4 9-3 William Muir & Chris Grassick Lewis Edmunds 28/1
8 (4) nk Jeff Koons 5 9-9 Hamad Al Jehani Faleh Bughenaim 100/1
9 (13) 2 Sisyphean 4 9-0 Kevin Ryan Clifford Lee 22/1
10 (20) hd Ancient Rome 6 9-8 Charles Hills Jamie Spencer 22/1
11 (5) 1¼ Talis Evolvere 5 9-3 Richard Hannon Sean Levey 66/1
12 (18) ½ La Trinidad 8 9-4 Roger Fell Rowan Scott 40/1
13 (29) nk Epictetus 5 9-7 Jamie Osborne Saffie Osborne 22/1
14 (12) shd Tony Montana 5 9-5 Michael Bell David Egan 16/1
15 (15) 1½ Toimy Son 6 9-1 David Menuisier Callum Shepherd 80/1
16 (28) ½ Popmaster 7 9-3 Ed Walker Kieran Shoemark 33/1
17 (9) nse Soldier's Empire 4 9-7 Marco Botti Neil Callan 100/1
18 (22) hd Blue Brother 4 9-6 A De Mieulle James McDonald 13/2
19 (6) ½ Hi Royal 5 9-10 Kevin Ryan Billy Loughnane 33/1
20 (19) ¾ Galeron 5 9-7 Charles Hills Jason Watson 66/1
21 (27) nk Whitcombe Rockstar 6 9-2 Keiran Burke Josephine Gordon 100/1
22 (24) 1¼ Wahdan 4 9-9 Joseph O'Brien Dylan Browne McMonagle 80/1
23 (31) 4¼ The Liffey 4 9-4 2 Joseph O'Brien Ryan Moore 12/1
24 (26) 1 Tokenomics 4 9-0 David Marnane Luke McAteer 25/1
25 (16) nk Magnum Opus 4 9-3 Simon & Ed Crisford Liam Wright 50/1
26 (33) hd Whip Cracker 4 9-0 Richard Hughes David Probert 40/1
27 (21) ½ Qirat 4 9-8 Ralph Beckett Colin Keane 10/1
28 (14) ½ Silawi 5 9-3 5ex Hamad Al Jehani James Doyle 25/1
29 (25) ½ Arabian Light 4 9-12 Charlie Appleby William Buick 11/1
30 (23) 6½ Sean 8 9-7 Jamie Osborne William Carver 80/1

Past results

2024-WINNER-WILD TIGER Saeed bin Suroor Oisin Murphy Godolphin 5-9-00 11/2JF

2023-WINNER-JIMI HENDRIX Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan Chelsea Thoroughbreds, E Lam Shin Cheung Et Al 4 9-05 22/1

2022-WINNER-DARK SHIFT Charles Hills James McDonald Craycroft Racing LLC & Riverside Bloodstock LLC 4 9-01 13/2

2021-WINNER-REAL WORLD Saeed bin Suroor Marco Ghiani Godolphin 4 8-09 18/1

2020-WINNER-DARK VISION Mark Johnston William Buick Godolphin 4-9-01 15/2

2019-WINNER-AFAAK Charlie Hills Jim Crowley Hamdan Al Maktoum 5-9-03 20/1

2018-WINNER-SETTLE FOR BAY David Marnane IRE Billy Lee McGettigans Management JLT/M Casey 4-9-01 16/1

2017-WINNER-ZHU FENG 4-9-00 Owner-John Connolly & Odile Griffith; Trainer-Amanda Perrett; Jockey-Martin Dwyer; SP-25/1
2ND-Blair House 4-8-11 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Charlie Appleby; Jockey-Mickael Barzalona; SP-16/1
3RD-Tashweeq 4-9-06 Owner-Hamdan Al Maktoum; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Dane O’Neill; SP-66/1
4TH-Ballet Concerto 4-9-02 Owner-Saeed Suhail; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-20/1
29 ran; Time-1m 37.82s; Dist-½, nk, 1¾ 13/2 Fav Abe Lincoln (15th)

2016-WINNER-PORTAGE 4-9-05 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Michael Halford IRE; Jockey-James Doyle; SP-10/1
2ND-Librisa Breeze 4-8-11 Owner-Tony Bloom; Trainer-Dean Ivory; Jockey-Robert Winston; SP-8/1
3RD-Mitchum Swagger 4-9-08 Owner- Paul Dean & the Mitchum Swagger P’Ship; Trainer-David Lanigan; Jockey-George Baker; SP- 14/1
4TH-Azraff 4-8-13 Owner-Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar; Trainer-Marco Botti; Jockey-Andrea Atzeni; SP-20/1
28 ran; Time-1m 43.01s; Dist-11⁄4, nk, 1⁄2 13/2 Fav Convey (22nd)

2015-WINNER-GM HOPKINS 4-9-03 Owner-Robin Geffen; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-8/1
2ND-Temptress 4-8-12 Owner-The Pyoneers; Trainer-Roger Charlton; Jockey-James Doyle; SP-9/1
3RD-Chil The Kite 6-9-08 Owner-Hazel Lawrence & Graham Doyle; Trainer-Hughe Morrison; Jockey-George Baker; SP-16/1
4TH-Balty Boys 4-8-12 Owner-Koo’s Racing Club, Carr & Jacobs; Trainer-Brian Ellison; Jockey-Silvestre de Sousa; SP-25/1 30 ran; Time-1m 40.30s; Dist-nk, 11⁄2, 1⁄2 7/1 Fav Ayaar (9th)

2014-WINNER-FIELD OF DREAM 7-9-01 Owner-N Jackson; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Adam Kirby; SP-20/1
2ND-Chil The Kite 5-9-09 Owner-Hazel Lawrence & Graham Doyle; Trainer-Hughie Morrison; Jockey-George Baker; SP-14/1
3RD-Steeler 4-9-06 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Charlie Appleby; Jockey-Silvestre de Sousa; SP-33/1
4TH-Sea Shanty 4-8-12 Owner-The Queen; Trainer-Richard Hannon; Jockey-Richard Hughes; SP-14/1
28 ran; Time-1m 37.88s; Dist-11⁄4, 11⁄4, sh 7/2 Fav Abseil (8th)

2013-WINNER-BELGIAN BILL 5-8-11 Owner-PJL Racing, Byrne, Baker; Trainer-George Baker; Jockey-James Doyle; SP-33/1
2ND-Premio Loco 9-9-09 Owner-Bernard Westley; Trainer-Chris Wall; Jockey-George Baker; SP- 40/1
3RD-Arsaadi 4-8-12 Owner-Sultan Ali; Trainer-William Haggas; Jockey-Liam Jones; SP-50/1
4TH-Don’t Call Me 6-9-05 Owner-Matt & Lauren Morgan; Trainer-David Nicholls; Jockey-Pat Dobbs; SP-25/1
28 ran; Time-1m 38.68s; Dist-3⁄4, 1⁄2, 1⁄2 10/1 Co Favs Two For Two (12th), Fury (18th), Stirring Ballad (22nd)

2012-WINNER-PRINCE OF JOHANNE 6-9-03 Owner-David Storey; Trainer-Tom Tate; Jockey-John Fahy; SP-16/1
2ND-Excellent Guest 5-8-11 Owner-John Guest Racing; Trainer-George Margarson; Jockey-Tom Queally; SP-33/1
3RD-Don’t Call Me 5-8-08 Owner-Matt & Lauren Morgan; Trainer-David Nicholls; Jockey-Sam Hitchcott; SP-50/1
4TH-Field Of Dream 5-9-00 Owner-Ken Gundlach; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-66/1
30 ran; Time-1m 38.24s; Dist-1⁄2, 3⁄4, nk 9/2 Fav Dimension (8th)

2011-WINNER-JULIENAS 4-8-08 Owner-Peter Harris; Trainer-Walter Swinburn; Jockey-Eddie Ahern; SP-12/1
2ND-Dance And Dance 5-9-03 Owner-Mohammed Rashid; Trainer-Ed Vaughan; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-7/1 Fav
3RD-Invisible Man 5-9-06 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-20/1
4TH-Pendragon 8-8-04 Owner-Dan Gilbert & Kristian Strangeway; Trainer-Brian Ellison; Jockey-Jimmy Quinn; SP-33/1
28 ran; Time-1m 38.53s; Dist-1⁄2, 2, ns

2010-WINNER-INVISIBLE MAN 4-8-09 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-28/1
2ND-Riggins 6-9-00 Owner-Dubai Thoroughbred Racing; Trainer-Andrew Balding; Jockey-Jimmy Fortune; SP-12/1 3RD-St Moritz 4-8-07 Owner-Renata Jacobs; Trainer-Mark Johnston; Jockey-Joe Fanning; SP-12/1
4TH-Tryst 5-8-05 Owner-Ms L A Morgan; Trainer-John Hammond FR; Jockey-Hayley Turner; SP-12/1
29 ran; Time-1m 37.16s; Dist-1⁄2, 1, 1 8/1 Fav Dandy Boy (21st)

2009-WINNER-FORGOTTEN VOICE 4-9-01 Owner-Susan Roy; Trainer-Jeremy Noseda; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-4/1 Fav
2ND-Huzzah 4-8-10 Owner-J Gale, J Finch, D Cole, Robin Dollar, David Powell; Trainer-Barry Hills; Jockey-Michael Hills; SP-25/1
3RD-Mia’s Boy 5-9-03 Owner-Iraj Parvizi; Trainer-Chris Dwyer; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-9/1
4TH-Nanton 7-8-06 Owner-Stuart Morrison; Trainer-Jim Goldie; Jockey-Daniel Tudhope; SP-16/1
25 ran; Time-1m 40.41s; Dist-21⁄4, 3⁄4, 11⁄2

2008-WINNER-MR AVIATOR 4-9-05 Owner-Sue Brendish; Trainer-Richard Hannon snr; Jockey-Richard Hughes; SP-25/1
2ND-Docofthebay 4-9-06 Owner-Paul Dixon; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Shane Kelly; SP-10/1
3RD-Royal Power 5-8-12 Owner-David Nicholls; Trainer-David Nicholls; Jockey-Adrian Nicholls; SP-25/1
4TH-Kavachi 5-8-04 Owner-Bryan Pennick & Roy Martin; Trainer-Gary Moore; Jockey-Franny Norton 33/1
29 ran, Time-1m 39.63s, Dist-nk, nk, 3⁄4 13/8 Fav Bankable (5th)