Last year’s race Winner: Perfect Power Jockey: P Hanagan Trainer: R A Fahey Owner: Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum Age: 2 Weight: 9st 1lbs Starting Price: 14/1 Season Form Figures: 31 Previous Best: 1st - Class 5 Maiden, Hamilton (June 2021) By Paul Jones After the Coventry, the Norfolk Stakes is the best two-year-old race at Royal Ascot for punters to get really stuck into with nine of the last 19 runnings going the way of the favourite or second-favourite.  In winning as the 5/1 second-favourite three years ago, A’Ali became the first maiden to win the Norfolk in 29 years having finished second on his debut at Ripon. Last year’s winner, Perfect Power, was also beaten on debut but later added to Group 1 successes after taking this Group 2. Just four winners since 1991 had tasted defeat on their previous start and 17 of the last 28 winners were unbeaten (nine of which won their only start). All seven winners since 1997 that had run more than twice were beaten first time out. Eight of Wesley Ward’s Royal Ascot victories were two-year-olds including two in the Norfolk (though what he considers to be the best he has ever trained, Golden Pal, was only second here) but perhaps more significantly, nine were achieved in races over 5f. Richard Hannon last took the honours eight years ago with Baitha Alga and supplied the second and third in 2015. His father secured victories with Niche (1992), Lucky Lionel (1995) and Baron's Pit (2002) in addition to saddling two runners-up going back to 1994 so Team Hannon have to be very much respected.  Peter Chapple-Hyam has won this race on three occasions and also respect also note William Haggas who has saddled two winners. Mark Johnston’s Eye Of Heaven was a disappointing favourite two years ago so couldn’t add to the stable’s sole success in 2003 with Russian Valour, though they have supplied three runners-up. This 5f Group 3 contest is very much for precocious types and, as such, very few winners have made a serious impact the following season. Of winners since 1997, just six had previously been tried at further than 5f but, interestingly, that does include three of the last seven winners, two of which were trained by Aidan O’Brien. The recent Roll of Honour of winning sires is packed with sprinters so it is no surprise that 23 of the last 26 winners were by stallions with a Sire Index of no bigger than 8.3f with nine of those being the produce of stallions with a Sire Index of less than 7f (even as short as 5.5f last season with Ardad being the winning stallion) as there aren't too many of them.  Windsor form has come to the fore with five of the last 16 British-trained winners either winning or finishing second at the riverside track.  At a glance summary: POSITIVES The favourite or second-favourite By a stallion with a Sire Index of less than 7f Undefeated To have run over 5f in all starts (except if trained by Aidan O’Brien) Trained by Richard Hannon, Aidan O’Brien, Mark Johnston, Peter Chapple-Hyam or William Haggas NEGATIVES Beaten last time out By a stallion with Sire Index of more than 8f