4.20 1m. 3f. 211yds. 7 Declared. Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1 ) of £250,000.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €141,775.00 2nd - €53,750.00 3rd - €26,900.00 4th - €13,400.00 5th - €6,725.00 6th - €3,375.00
Formscan - Hukum lowered the colours of the unbeaten Derby hero Desert Crown last time at Sandown in the Brigadier Gerard, and that was a mighty performance considering he was returning from a 356-day break over a trip that may have not been ideal. He is likely to be a warm favourite for this but, at the prices, he can be taken on with PYLEDRIVER. The son of Harbour Watch is no stranger to Royal Ascot as he took the King Edward VII in 2020 over C&D and that gives a big boost to his claims. The six-year-old is officially the top-rated in the contest with a mark of 124 and was last seen taking the King George VI here 11 months ago, which shows he goes well fresh. Free Wind is a lightly-raced five-year-old on the up and the form of her Middleton Stakes victory at York last month was franked by Rogue Milennium (second) securing the Duke Of Cambridge here on Wednesday, so she is also worthy of consideration.