15:25 Ascot

Friday 14 July 2017

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:40

Close Brothers Property Finance Handicap

Off time: 15:27 | Winning time: 3m 4.67s

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Selected odds by:

(3)

Shabeeb^p²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Dane O'Neill| T: R Varian| OR: 96

8/1

Has failed to get competitive in two hotter races this term and tackles a new trip. Handicapper has given him a chance and stable are operating at a 33 percent strike rate.

Form: 1156-00

(5)

Getback In Paris³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: S W Kelly| T: R Hughes| OR: 92| D

5/1

Has looked better with some cut in the ground recently and handicapper has not been too harsh following his Goodwood victory. Rydan and Parliamentarian were behind and he is closely matched with those rivals. However, there is the prospect of better ground and a faster pace to muddy the waters.

Form: 252421

(1)

Parliamentarian^b1³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: A Kirby| T: C Appleby| OR: 88| BF| D

7/1

Winner at Hamilton and Sandown in 2016 when he looked a better horse on quicker ground. Shaped well under the circumstances at Goodwood last month when conditions turned against him. Blinkers are fitted and rider engaged who is 18-49 on the stable's older horses for a 30 point profit.

Form: 1126-54

(8)

Marmajuke Bay^p³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: S J Drowne| T: M D I Usher| OR: 88

14/1

Made all to beat a pair of in form horses at Haydock last time and he now holds a record of four wins and four frame finishes from 13 starts. Not unduly punished for his latest win and steps up in trip. Two previous runs over this trip have been in tactical affairs and he has improved since. Looks the type who will stay and he looks a much better horse in these smaller fields.

Form: 71-2201

(7)

Jelly Monger²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: S De Sousa| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 88

16/1

Still not managed to win since her two-year-old days although the handicapper is starting to give her a chance. Still doesn't look an easy ride though but gets skilled handling from the jockey who got her close last time.

Form: 564-422

(9)

Mark Hopkins²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: David Egan⁽⁵⁾| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 88| BF| D

8/1

Lightly raced sort made all to score at Salisbury and then less effective when having less use made of him last time from his current mark. Good claimer, who rode him at Salisbury, is back on board and he gets a chance to prove his York form was an aberration.

Form: 06-7415

(2)

Calvinist^p²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: L Morris| T: Ian Williams| OR: 87| D

33/1

Has gone backwards with each run this year but is nicely handicapped if his capable handler can bring him back. The market will be the best guide and and he has been a better horse in the autumn.

Form: 61-5579

(4)

Rydan³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Hector Crouch⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 86

11/1

Just the one win since 2014 and he looked a bit awkward under pressure behind Get Back In Paris last time. Stable are going through a quiet period and others have more persuasive claims.

Form: 535-232

(6)

Mount Moriah⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 93

6/4

Much improved performer who has handled soft ground well on his last two starts but probably acts on any. Up in trip, class and the weights and bidding to be the first three-year-old to land this.

Form: 51421-1

Forecasts

Mount Moriah (6/4), Getback In Paris (5/1), Parliamentarian (7/1), Shabeeb (8/1), Mark Hopkins (8/1), Rydan (11/1), Marmajuke Bay (14/1), Jelly Monger (16/1), Calvinist (33/1)

Getback In Paris and Marmajuke Bay are recent winners on easy ground recently and both would be feared if conditions remain good-to-soft as forecast. The prospect of drier weather raises hopes that PARLIAMENTARIAN can reverse Goodwood form with Getback In Paris and Rydan if the ground dries out sufficiently. He ran a good race at Goodwood on ground that worse than ideal and the rider is a significant booking. Mount Moriah is a progressive type but this is a race where four-year-olds hold a dominant record.