Just six months after taking sole ownership of the licence at his family’s yard in Middleham, North Yorkshire, Charlie Johnston will complete one of the finest training feats ever at Royal Ascot on Thursday if Subjectivist takes the Gold Cup, the meeting’s showpiece event, for the second time in three years.
Subjectivist was just four years old when he beat a field that included Stradivarius, one of the best stayers of recent decades, in the 2021 Gold Cup, and seemed poised to dominate the division for several seasons to come.
He suffered a career‑threatening tendon injury soon afterwards, however, and had been off the track for 618 days when he returned to action in Saudi Arabia in February, finishing 12th of 13 runners.
But Subjectivist (4.20) seemed much more like his old self in the Dubai Gold Cup a month later, when he briefly looked the likeliest winner in the straight before fading late on.
His rivals on Thursday inevitably bring much stronger recent form to the table, including a Classic victory in last year’s St Leger in the case of Eldar Eldarov.
The fact remains, however, that Subjectivist’s emphatic success here two years ago is the best piece of form on offer, and if his stable has indeed nursed him back to his best for the race on Thursday he could be significantly overpriced at around 10-1.
Ascot 2.30 The US-trained American Rascal and No Nay Mets need to be taken seriously after Crimson Advocate’s Queen Mary win on Wednesday, but Elite Status could not have been any more impressive in the National Stakes last time and is surely the one to beat.
Ascot 3.05 Valiant King led on the bridle before pulling nearly six lengths clear in a useful time to break his maiden at Navan in May, and has looked sure to benefit for the step up to 12 furlongs on both his starts this season.
Ascot 3.40 A huge field for the Ribblesdale but Al Asifah was hard‑held when winning by six and a half lengths at Goodwood 10 days ago and can take this Group Two on the way to even better things.
Chelmsford 1.30 Fly Pass 2.05 Munificent 2.40 Huda Star 3.15 Kodias Sangarius 3.50 Court Of Session 4.30 Thefastnthecurious 5.05 Idee Fixee
Ripon 1.45 Sameem 2.15 Barg 2.50 Hurstwood 3.25 Twelfth Knight 4.05 Lough Leane 4.45 Rievaulx River 5.15 Barrolo
Royal Ascot 2.30 Elite Status 3.05 Valiant King 3.40 Al Asifah 4.20 Subjectivist 5.00 Physique (nap) 5.35 Caernarfon 6.10 Baradar (nb)
Uttoxeter 5.25 Tip Top Tonto 6.00 Ma Belle Noire 6.35 Gold In Doha 7.10 No No Maestro 7.40 Captain Tom Cat 8.10 Arbennig 8.40 Baby Jane
Lingfield 5.50 Alfred Cove 6.25 El Bodon 7.00 Big Time Maybe 7.30 No News 8.00 Protest Rally 8.30 Royal Athena 9.00 Lady Bryanston
Ascot 5.00 This is always one of the most wide-open handicaps all year so it could be worth chancing Physique at around 33-1. He was nearest at the finish in a well-run race at Goodwood this month and the excellent apprentice Mohammed Tabti takes off what could be a very useful 7lb.
Ascot 5.35 Caernarfon’s third‑place finish in the Oaks last time seems to have been dismissed as a fluke in the betting, but Jack Channon’s filly has several solid runs to her name and catches the eye at around 12-1.
Ascot 6.10 The Victoria Cup form over track and trip in May looks significant and Baradar, who had a difficult run into sixth, is a big price at around 16-1 to gain compensation.
