The Middleham maestro has the ante-post favourites for the Queen Mary and Albany respectively as he bids for another successful Royal Ascot raid in 2025.

By Tony Elves

Older Horses

ALMOSH’HER

Winner of three of his 4 starts and currently rated 98. Having his first outing for the stable when scoring by a head from Stressfree in the Yorvik Handicap at York (1m 4f) in May off a mark of 93.

“He won well at York, and he is a very good horse who will go for the Duke Of Edinburgh. I think he is very well handicapped.

By Tony Elves

The old gold and peacock blue silks, which were carried to victory four times at Royal Ascot last year, will be sported by a host of leading chances next week.

Older Horses

ENGLISH OAK

Paul Lally:

R1 7-3-5-12

R2 2-3-8-4

R3 5-3-1-9

R4 9-10-1-7

R5 1-9-5-2

R6 4-8-5-2

R7 2-3-6-5

R8 8-4-2-7

R9 9-1-8-4

Best R9 N9 Everstar

Longshot R4 N9 Legend Star

Play R8 QQp 2-4-8

Nick Child:

R1 | 7-5-4-12

R2 | 3-2-4-6

R3 | 4-8-5-3

R4 | 2-1-3-11

R5 | 4-8-1-2

R6 | 4-8-5-9 (WIN 4)

R7 | 1-6-5-2

R8 | 3-8-2-6

R9 | 8-4-1-2 (Q/QP 1-4-8)

by Declan Schuster

Hong Lok Golf (127lb) passed the grade test in style last start and on Wednesday night (11 June) Chris So’s classy galloper heads to Happy Valley for the first time to contest the HK$3.12 million Class 2 Cheung Sha Handicap (1650m) after exclusively racing at Sha Tin across his initial six starts.

Happy Valley Selections
(Wednesday, June 11, 2025)

By Leo Schlink

David Eustace added further lustre to a burgeoning Hong Kong debut season when emerging talent Light Years Charm swept to victory in the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Lee On Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (8 June), presenting the young trainer with his 30th winner of the campaign.

By Rubick, Light Years Charm (121lb) gave Eustace his first Class 2 triumph and collected a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million – plus prizemoney of HK$1.59 million – after Zac Purton patiently piloted the four-year-old to his third win from eight starts.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien landed this 11th Derby on Saturday at Epsom Downs and did so with the longest price among his three runners. Lambourn set out for the lead straight from gate, appeared to set a strong pace, and never had an anxious moment, crossing the line a 3 3/4-length winner under Wayne Lordan, a longtime fixture in the O’Brien orbit who won his first Derby.

Minnie Hauk, making her fourth start, outdueled stablemate Whirl in the final furlong to win Friday’s Group 1 English Oaks at Epsom Racecourse in Britain, giving trainer Aidan O’Brien an 11th career win in the historic race.

Minnie Hauk, ridden by Ryan Moore, won by a neck over 6-1 Whirl, who set the pace. Desert Flower, previously unbeaten in five starts, including the Group 1 English 1000 Guineas at a mile at Newmarket on May 4, finished third, beaten 4 1/4 lengths in her first race beyond a mile.

By Leo Schlink

Aiming to close an impressive first season in Hong Kong with a flourish, David Eustace hopes Light Years Charm can handle a rise in grade when he tackles the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Lee On Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (8 June).

Eustace, 32, has saddled 29 winners from 297 starters in a fine Hong Kong debut season and the Englishman is optimistic Light Years Charm can maintain the stable’s momentum with a third victory at Sha Tin.

Paul Lally: 
R1 1-2-5-9 
R2 8-5-7-10 
R3 1-2-7-10 
R4 5-4-3-14 
R5 3-5-10-1 
R6 2-7-3-10 
R7 7-5-4-3 
R8 1-6-14-9 
R9 2-8-1-14 
R10 10-8-11-1 
Best Bet R2 N8 Team Team Folks 
Longshot R6 N2 Star Satyr 
Play Race9 QQP 1-2-8