Golden Horde can reap rewards in the Commonwealth Cup

Golden Horde can land the coveted spoils in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

Clive Cox’s son of top-class sprinter Lethal Force, from the same stable, had form at the highest level last term.

His final run of last season, in pushing Earthlight to a neck in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket, was arguably his best. He had finished further behind the same horse when third in the Prix Morny in August to suggest he had improved in the meantime.

He probably has not got to improve too much to open his Group One account, having already got a Group Two success on the board in the Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last summer. The runner-up went on to lift the Gimcrack and Champagne Stakes.

All of Golden Horde’s races were over six furlongs last year, and it is significant Cox has decided to keep him at that trip and not try him over further.

It may pay to take a chance with Elarqam on his first attempt over a mile and a half in the Hardwicke Stakes.

The immaculately-bred son of Frankel, out of Attraction, gave the impression on his latest run at Haydock that the step up in trip could well suit.

Mark Johnston’s five-yearold had to make the running in a five-runner contest – and after being headed by Lord North, he almost got back to the winner in the dying strides.

He has already shown he stays an extended ten furlongs well at York, winning the Group Two Sky Bet Stakes and looking to be an unlucky third in the Group One Juddmonte International. The extra distance could see him in an even better light at this stage of his career.

Match fitness can see Berkshire Rocco give trainer Andrew Balding back-toback victories in the Queen’s Vase. The Kingsclere handler was successful with Dashing Willoughby 12 months ago, and has an excellent chance of repeating the trick.

Berkshire Rocco gave notice he could be a smart young stayer in the making when a gutsy second to English King in the Lingfield Derby Trial, with the third horse seven lengths away.

The winner is a leading fancy for the Epsom Classic, and the runner-up can stake a claim for the St Leger with a big run stepped up to a mile and threequarters.

Roger Varian took the Albany Stakes with Daahyeh last year, and Setarhe has the right credentials to lift this Group Three heat over six furlongs.

The Footstepsinthesand filly created a fine impression when making a winning debut at Newmarket over this trip two weeks ago.

Ayr will stage the first Scottish meeting since the resumption of racing next week, following confirmation the British fixture list can begin again north of the Border.

Racing returned in England at the start of this month, following the ten-week hiatus during the population lockdown imposed to halt the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ireland and Wales are also staging meetings again, as in England adhering to strict limitations on essential attendance and social distancing, and Scottish tracks have received the go-ahead to follow suit – as of Monday, 22 June.

After the Scottish Government announced professionalsportcanresume, as part of Phase Two of its Covid-19 route map, Scottish Racing and the British Horseracing Authority issued a joint statement to confirm the resumption of racing.

Ayr’s fixture will be the first held in Scotland since a behind-closeddoors meeting at Kelso on 16 March.

BHA chief executive Nick Rust said: “I am very pleased that Scottish racingisreturningsafelyfrom next Monday at Ayr racecourse, ensuring that our truly nationwide sport can resume in line with the protocols which have been working well since our resumption at Newcastle on 1 June.

“It is a sign of horse racing’s preparedness that we are the first major sport to return in Scotland as the recovery from Covid-19 continues. We are extremely grateful for the support of the Scottish Government in enabling this risk-managed return.” ● This year’s Investec Derby will be run at 4:55pm – 25 minutes later than usual – as Epsom seeks to increase the audience for the 4 July Classic.

The Derby and Oaks will be staged on the same card next month, with racing going ahead behind closed doors due to coronavirus restrictions.

ITV will show six races live, with the Derby the sixth of seven contests on the card, which kicks off at 1:50pm with the Woodcote Stakes.