Royal Ascot: John and Thady Gosden's runners

John Gosden has in recent seasons teamed up with son Thady to operate a dual training licence from their base at Clarehaven and, typically, success has continued to flow.

The Gosden operation is synonymous with success and Royal Ascot has proved a happy hunting ground down through the years.

Here we take a look at some of their possible Royal Ascot contenders in 2023, with a reminder that every race across the five days from Tuesday 20th June – Saturday 24th June can be watched via the bet365 Sports Live Streaming service.

What	Royal Ascot 2023
Where	Royal Ascot, Ascot Racecourse
When	Tuesday 20th June – Saturday 24th June
How to watch	bet365 Sports Live Streaming, ITV, Sky Sports Racing

Queen Anne Stakes

Inspiral @ 11/4

Inspiral delivered one of the most spine-tingling Royal Ascot displays of last summer when she swept clear of the field to win the Coronation Stakes on her first start as a three-year-old.

An interrupted spring has once more ensured the Cheveley Park-owned Frankel filly is likely to reappear at Royal Ascot, this time with the curtain-raising Queen Anne Stakes over the mile trip as the intended destination.

She was surprisingly defeated in the Falmouth at Newmarket last July, a run the Gosden team believe came too soon after Ascot, before a gutsy win in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.

She didn't have her A-game on Champions Day back at Ascot when only sixth in the QEII but her supporters will be hoping she can once more begin the season with a Royal Ascot sparkler.

St James's Palace Stakes

Mostabshir @ 10/1

The overwhelming spectre of 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean (6/4) dominates the landscape in the St James's Palace Stakes but the Gosden yard will be hopeful that Mostabshir can have a role to play in Group-race company before too long.

The Dark Angel colt was a touch underwhelming in the bet365 Craven Stakes at Newmarket on his seasonal bow/second start, but has since made it two wins from three in his career when easing clear to win a York novice over a mile at the Dante Festival in May.

On that evidence a return to a higher grade will surely beckon and he's got a St James's Palace Stakes entry.

Duke Of Cambridge Stakes

Laurel @ 9/2

Laurel has won 3-5 in her career thus far, with the Juddmonte-owned Kingman filly twice beaten in Group 1 company.

The latest of those was in the Lockinge at Newbury in mid-May when she appeared to race keenly early on in the hands of Frankie Dettori before folding tamely.

She has options in the coming weeks, including the Queen Anne and the Duke Of Cambridge at Royal Ascot. This Group 2 heat on Wednesday 21st June could be the perfect scenario in which for Laurel to rebound from that Newbury defeat.

Prince Of Wales's Stakes

Mostahdaf @ 14/1

The much-travelled Mostahdaf is a winner of eight races in his 14-start career to date and they include the Altanfeethi Stakes at Riyadh this spring.

He played second fiddle last season to the likes of Bay Bridge in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown and behind Broome in the Hardwicke at this meeting, before winning the September Stakes at Kempton and then struggling in the Arc at Longchamp on very soft terrain.

He has some improvement to find in order to land a Group 1 win at this meeting but the potentially red-hot Prince Of Wales's Stakes is the race in which he holds an entry.

Ascot Gold Cup

Courage Mon Ami @ 16/1

There's no Stradivarius in the yard now to target the Gold Cup and with reigning champ Kyprios also seemingly ruled out by Aidan O'Brien, the Royal Ascot showpiece has that 'wide open' look about it.

Kyprios emerged from almost nowhere last summer to dominate in spectacular fashion in the stayers' series and perhaps Courage Mon Ami could try and do something similar for the Gosdens and owner Anthony Oppenheimer now.

He landed a 1m6f Goodwood handicap on his seasonal bow in May and is now 3-3 all told and is clutching an entry in the Gold Cup.

Jockey Rab Havlin believes a step up in trip is next for him, as he suggested after his Goodwood win: "We went a married man's pace there, but he has been on a steep upward curve and he'll have a couple of entries at Royal Ascot, although I'll leave that to John and Thady to decide on. He's an exciting prospect."

Given the nature of the Gold Cup this season, will the team at Clarehaven be sufficiently tempted to roll the dice?