Royal Ascot not on the agenda for Hickory Lad
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Mon 8 Jun 2026
Phillip Makin will resist the temptation to pitch impressive Woodcote Stakes scorer Hickory Lad into Royal Ascot action, saying the meeting was never part of the plan.
The James Garfield colt took his career wins to two from four with an all-the-way success in the rain-softened ground on Oaks day.
But the Easingwold trainer is not keen on chasing a third at the Royal meeting later this month, preferring to wait for more suitable targets later in the summer.
“He is fine after the race and we are really pleased with him, but we are probably not going to bother with Ascot because we don’t really think there is a race for him,” said Makin.
“It wasn’t the plan to start with and although there is an outside chance he might get an entry in the Coventry he is not qualified for the Windsor Castle.”
Hickory Lad ran second in the Lily Agnes Stakes at Chester in May but improved for the step up in trip to six furlongs on the Surrey Downs, stretching three and a quarter lengths clear of Alpe d’Huez after making all.
“He was impressive at Epsom and he was obviously suited by going up in trip and slightly easier ground as well. I think if we’d dropped him in he would have still won,” said the trainer.
“I am not saying he needs soft ground or anything, but just a bit of ease. He is more suited by that than quick ground anyway.
“With regard to possible targets there is the Rose Bowl at Newbury which is a Listed race over six (July 17) and races like the July Stakes at Newmarket (July 9) and the Richmond at Goodwood (July 30).
“After that I suppose, the Gimcrack (August 21), but we will see how he progresses.”
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