3 minute read

Rhythm N Hooves wins this years Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap at Royal Ascot.

Rhythm N Hooves (20/1) collared Kerdos late on in the concluding Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap, completing a double at Royal Ascot 2023 for trainer Archie Watson and jockey Hollie Doyle.

The lightly raced son of Pearl Secret had plenty to do when Kerdos (11/1) kicked clear a furlong from home but delivered a strong finishing burst to run down the leader and score by a neck, with the pair clear of the rest.

Conquistador (8/1) was a second third-placed finish on the day for George Boughey after Soprano filled the same spot in the Albany Stakes, with Radio Goo Goo (10/1) a length further back in fourth.

Watson and Doyle were on the scoresheet earlier in the week with Bradsell in the G1 King's Stand Stakes.

Watson said: "It has been fantastic. We've had the two winners now and the whole squad throughout the week has run well. I am very proud of the whole team.

"This horse was inexperienced coming into this, it was only his fifth race. He learnt a lot at York the last day. That was a big shock for him going from all-weather novices through to these 20 to 25-runner handicaps. He's shown his class today and Hollie has given him a great ride. It's nice to get a win without any sort of stewards' enquiry kerfuffle!"

He added: "Rhythm N Hooves is very enthusiastic at home. He has always been a nice work horse – he works well with our good older lead horses – so we knew we had a horse with a lot of speed. He has obviously shown a high level of ability here, so hopefully we can either go to more of these high-grade handicaps, but I wouldn't put it past going for a Listed race with him at some point."

Doyle said: "It is another great result for the yard and thankfully I'm just in the driving position because it's all down to Archie. His horses are so well and in top form, and this is a tough little horse.

"I was very lucky to get the association with Archie when I lost my claim and he took me under his wing. We've progressed together and it's gone from strength to strength. The Cool Silk Partnership [owners of Rhythm N Hooves] have been huge supporters of the yard. Year in and year out, they're putting in a few two-year-olds and this lad has done them proud."

Reflecting on yesterday's win by her husband, Tom Marquand, on The King and Queen's Desert Hero in the King George V Handicap, Doyle said: "I couldn't get him off his phone last night [watching replays of the race]. I was just as relieved as he was to ride that winner – it was a great result. Bradsell was another huge result and training performance to get him back from injury to Group One-winning ways.

"I am really lucky to have come here in the past few years and ridden winners. I underplay it a little bit and hope I'm lucky enough to ride a winner rather than set myself up for disappointment."

6.10pm Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap 
1 Rhythm N Hooves (The Cool Silk Partnership) Archie Watson 3-8-08 Hollie Doyle 12/1
2 Kerdos (John Connolly & Alan Spence) Clive Cox 3-9-01 Rossa Ryan 11/1
3 Conquistador (The Inver Park Partnership) George Boughey 3-8-07 Andrea Atzeni 8/1
4 Radio Goo Goo (Brian Mould, Richard Kent & Partner) David Evans 3-8-13 Ben Curtis

26 ran               5/1 fav Jer Batt (12th)

Archie Watson – 4th Royal Ascot winner
Hollie Doyle – 5th Royal Ascot winner