Nine three-year-old colts are St James’s Palace Stakes runners this year with the field including the winners of British and Irish 2000 Guineas, plus the runner-up from the French equivalent. Chaldean v Paddington is the kind of clash thoroughbred horse racing fans live for, and precisely what Royal Ascot is all about.Â
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Chaldean & Paddington Battle for Favouritsm Among St James’s Palace Stakes Runners
As the mount of Frankie Dettori, Chaldean is naturally popular with punters but Ryan Moore is also a top jockey and Paddington is arguably the more progressive of the pair. Nothing else is in the conversation, based on St James’s Palace Stakes odds, to be favourite.
Both colts have a Classic victory under their belt with the unknown quantity for this pair being forecast fast ground. Potential improvers against the big two in the market include the unbeaten Cicero’s Gift, John and Thady Gosden’s Mostabshir and French 2000 Guineas runner-up Isaac Shelby.
All of these St James’s Palace Stakes runners will have to step up on their existing form to trouble the big name duo, however, but that isn’t impossible by any means. Six of the last 10 favourites have obliged in this race, so whoever wins the battle to go off as the market leader has a great chance. Get the lowdown on all nine colts below…
RELATED: See the best horse racing betting sites in the UK right now.
Complete St James’s Palace Stakes Runners Guide 2023
1. Chaldean
- Sire: Frankel
- Damsire: Dutch Art
- Rating: 119
- Draw: Stall 1
- Jockey: Frankie Dettori
- Trainer: Andrew Balding
- Recent Form: 51111-U1
- Notable Career Wins: 2022 Dewhurst Stakes, 2023 2000 Guineas
- St James’s Palace Stakes Odds: 6/4
Progressed to land the Dewhurst as a juvenile and Classic glory at Newmarket latest both with some juice in the ground. Unraced on better than good going, but still sets standard on official ratings.
2. Charyn
- Sire: Dark Angel
- Damsire: Kodiac
- Rating: 109
- Draw: Stall 7
- Jockey: David Egan
- Trainer: Roger Varian
- Recent Form: 1231-284
- Notable Career Wins: Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte
- St James’s Palace Stakes Odds: 80/1
One of a few St James’s Palace Stakes runners with something to prove after shaping nicely when runner-up in the Greenham on reappearance, but missing the frame in both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas.
3. Cicerco’s Gift
- Sire: Muhaarar
- Damsire: Dikat
- Rating: 109
- Draw: Stall 2
- Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
- Trainer: Charlie Hills
- Recent Form: 1-11
- Notable Career Wins: None
- St James’s Palace Stakes Odds: 9/1
Unbeaten colt taking big step up in class and grade from impressive Goodwood mile conditions stakes victory latest. Unraced on turf on faster than good to soft going, but obviously open to further improvement.
4. Galeron
- Sire: Camacho
- Damsire: Galileo
- Rating: 109
- Draw: Stall 5
- Jockey: James McDonald
- Trainer: Charlie Hills
- Recent Form: 516641-345
- Notable Career Wins: 2022 Goffs Million
- St James’s Palace Stakes Odds: 40/1
Last successful in valuable 7f sales race at the Curragh but well held in both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas in fourth and fifth. Others have stronger claims.
5. Indestructible
- Sire: Kodiac
- Damsire: Rip Van Winkle
- Rating: 111
- Draw: Stall 9
- Jockey: Kevin Stott
- Trainer: Karl Burke
- Recent Form: 5122-10
- Notable Career Wins: 2023 Craven Stakes
- St James’s Palace Stakes Odds: 40/1
Craven winner on good ground on reappearance. Beaten three times by Chaldean in his career to date, however, and no real reason to think there’ll be a different result, for all he’s won on good to firm going.
6. Isaac Shelby
- Sire: Night Of Thunder
- Damsire: Heliostatic
- Rating: 114
- Draw: Stall 3
- Jockey: William Buick
- Trainer: Brian Meehan
- Recent Form: 117-12
- Notable Career Wins: 2022 Superlative Stakes, 2023 Greenham Stakes
- St James’s Palace Stakes Odds: 17/2
Superlative and Greenham winner that swerved Anglo-Irish Classics for a crack at the French equivalent. Only beaten by a short-neck on very soft ground and the winner placed in the Prix du Jockey Club next time out. One of the St James’s Palace Stakes runners for whom a case of hitting the frame can be made with William Buick now taking the ride.
7. Mostabshir
- Sire: Dark Angel
- Damsire: Dubawi
- Rating: 108
- Draw: Stall 6
- Jockey: Jim Crowley
- Trainers: John & Thady Gosden
- Recent Form: 1-51
- Notable Career Wins: None
- St James’s Palace Stakes Odds: 11/1
Gave weight and a beating to his rivals in what looked a useful York novice latest following a disappointing fifth in the Craven on reappearance. Knavesmire form is mixed, however, but further improvement cannot be ruled out.
8. Paddington
- Sire: Siyouni
- Damsire: Montjeu
- Rating: 116
- Draw: Stall 8
- Jockey: Ryan Moore
- Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- Recent Form: 51-111
- Notable Career Wins: 2023 Irish 2000 Guineas
- St James’s Palace Stakes Odds: 11/4
Rapidly progressive type who went from Madrid Handicap success at Naas to Classic winner in the space of just two months this spring. Disappointing fifth on racecourse debut when fifth here in September. May be a different animal now though, and much respected for top Irish yard that knows how to win this.
9. Royal Scotsman
- Sire: Gleneagles
- Damsire: Pivotal
- Rating: 115
- Draw: Stall 4
- Jockey: Jamie Spencer
- Trainers: Paul & Oliver Cole
- Recent Form: 413152-39
- Notable Career Wins: 2022 Richmond Stakes
- St James’s Palace Stakes Odds: 12/1
Ran too poorly to be true when a beaten favourite into ninth in the Irish 2000 Guineas latest after finishing third in the English equivalent previously. Nothing has come to light since that abysmal display. Third in the Coventry Stakes on this card 12 months ago. One of the St James’s Palace Stakes runners with a question mark against his name.
What Date & Time Is The 2023 St James’s Palace Stakes?
đź“…Time/Date: 4:20pm (Tuesday 20th June 2023)
🏇Racecourse: Ascot
đź’° Winner: ÂŁ340,260
đź“ş TV: Sky Sports Racing / ITV
🎲 Odds: Chaldean 6/4 | Paddington 11/4 | Isaac Shelby 17/2 | Cicero’s Gift 9/1 | Bar 11/1
Recent St James’s Palace Stakes Winners
- 2022 – Coroebus (10/11 fav)
- 2021 – Poetic Flare (7/2 fav)
- 2020 – Palace Pier (4/1)
- 2019 – Circus Maximus (10/1)
- 2018 – Without Parole (9/4 fav)
- 2017 – Barney Roy (5/2)
- 2016 – Galileo Gold (6/1)
- 2015 – Gleneagles (8/15 fav)
- 2014 – Kingman (8/11 fav)
WATCH: Chaldean Land the 2000 Guineas & Paddington Win in Ireland
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