Scoville
Scoville did well to finish as close as he did in the Royal Hunt Cup on Wednesday. Smartly away from stall nine, he was quickly into the lead on the far side, leading the group of 20 who raced on the far side and leading the entire field from early. He raced more keenly than ideal, and the far-side group led the near-side group early. Significantly, only eight of the 28 runners raced in the near-side group, and they supplied the winner and the runner-up and four of the first eight home.
Scoville lasted in front on the far side until well after they had passed the two-furlong marker and, even after he was passed, he stuck to his task well. He only finished seventh in the end, but he finished third in his group of 20, even after his early exertions, just over a length behind Indalo and just caught on the line by Cerulean Sky.
An impressive winner of a novice stakes at Windsor in May last year on his racecourse debut, Scoville's season petered out a little last year. Well beaten at Thirsk on his debut this season, he had a wind operation afterwards and that may have done the trick, because this was much more like it. William Haggas' horse is really well bred, a son of Prix Jean Romanet winner and Blandford Stakes winner Ribbons and a half-brother to Melrose winner and Melbourne Cup runner-up Soulcombe. This was just his sixth race, so he has lots of scope for further progression now. The handicapper left him on his mark of 98 after this, and that was fair. There could be a good handicap in him off that mark, he should improve again when he learns to settle better, and he has the option to move up to 10 furlongs.
Ascot, 17th June 2026
Back