17:35 Ascot

Wednesday 1 May 2019

All14:1514:5015:2515:5516:2517:0017:35

Manny Mercer Apprentice Handicap (Str)

Off time: 17:39 | Winning time: 1m 40.66s

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Selected odds by:

(2)

Isomer^p³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Joshua Bryan| T: A M Balding| OR: 86| CD

10/1

Won twice last season but out of luck in six-race AW campaign this winter. Better effort on turf at Doncaster latest and slightly unlucky there. Handicap easing back gradually so not ruled out completely here.

Form: 4-47267

(5)

Enigmatic¹⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Darragh Keenan⁽³⁾| T: A Bailey| OR: 85| BF| D

14/1

Won twice for this yard over 1m last year before unsuccessfully stepped up in trip later. Return to this trip helps but doesn't appeal as particularly well handicapped on return.

Form: 423160-

(18)

Merchant Of Venice¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Scott McCullagh⁽⁵⁾| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 84| D

11/2

Landed an AW hat-trick at 1m before a fast finishing third latest when given plenty to do at Kempton. Still highly unexposed and big field over a stiff 1m could be absolutely ideal at this stage. Appealing profile.

Form: 91-113

(13)

Medieval^t1¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Cameron Noble| T: P & O Cole| OR: 83

9/1

Went 12 races without success last season and continued that run when fifth of 14 on return at Kempton (AW). Handicap within range on better pieces of form but plenty of reasons to look elsewhere.

Form: 72595-5

(20)

Mandarin³⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Gabriele Malune| T: Ian Williams| OR: 83| D

20/1

Only had the six races and just one for this stable when catching the eye with late progress at Sandown last May. Questions to answer after such an absence but interesting watching brief.

Form: 61555/6-

(7)

Key Player^p1¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Georgia Dobie⁽⁷⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 81| D

16/1

Lone win remains a Lingfield AW novice win early last season. Not disgraced latest when fourth at Kempton and interesting that usual blinkers make way for cheekpieces.

Form: 20-8284

(15)

Sea Fox¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Dylan Hogan⁽³⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 81| D

25/1

Won three times last season (1-17 before) and showed aptitude for big handicaps here when third in the 7f Victoria Cup. Yet to win over 1m however and not sure he's quite strong enough in the finish for a race such as this at it.

Form: 57-6560

(10)

Mountain Rescue¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Paddy Bradley| T: M J Attwater| OR: 81| D

50/1

Faced some stiff tasks last term after winning at Newmarket in May for Chris Wall and hasn't shown a great deal in three outings to date for his new yard. Handicap slid to within range but is he the force of old?

Form: 80675-6

(9)

Juanito Chico^h,t¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Gary Mahon| T: S C Williams| OR: 81| D

14/1

Been in decent nick throughout the winter and won on return to turf latest at Nottingham (1m½f, good to firm). Up 7lb for that easy 5L score but won off mark 1lb lower in the past so not ruled out by any means.

Form: 338721

(19)

Pour La Victoire¹⁹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Elisha Whittington⁽⁷⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 81| D

66/1

Won five times last term including twice over 1m, four of those wins came at Brighton. Handicap slid to within 2lb of last win after struggles late season but handicaps at Brighton and here a very different proposition.

Form: 111048-

(12)

Letsbe Avenue⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Seamus Cronin⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 79| D

12/1

Won twice on a fast surface last July before struggling in the autumn on soft. Encouraging return when fourth but only beaten a neck at Chelmsford and back at last winning mark and with ideal conditions he appeals plenty.

Form: 41198-4

(1)

Candelisa^p²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Laura Coughlan⁽⁵⁾| T: D Loughnane| OR: 78| D

6/1

Gained first win since 2017 and for this yard latest when battling to get on top late on over 7f at Leicester. Only been upped 4lb and will appreciate extra 1f but little doubt this is tougher.

Form: 8/6867-1

(14)

Sir Plato¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽³⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 77| D

25/1

Twice won small field races last season at Bath and Ffos Las. Only 1lb higher than latest win here but well held on return and not expectant he will fare a great deal better today.

Form: 54216-0

(4)

Motajaasid^t²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Finley Marsh| T: R Hughes| OR: 77| D

20/1

Yet to win on turf (two on AW) but placed off this mark when last seen on the surface and same story latest on AW. Still relatively unexposed and not ruled out here.

Form: 815-283

(8)

Kingston Kurrajong¹⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽⁵⁾| T: W J Knight| OR: 76| D

20/1

Did the vast majority of his running on AW in 2018 in a busy campaign. Has run well here in the past although way back in 2016. Surface suits but would have to be at his best on return to feature.

Form: 905726-

(17)

Poetic Force^t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Poppy Bridgwater⁽³⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 76

10/1

Won six of his seven races on AW so far hence the 10lb higher mark on synthetics. Did however go very close here on a similar surface last season off this mark and therefore has to merit respect under good apprentice.

Form: 99-0215

(16)

Blame Culture⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Jane Elliott| T: G G Margarson| OR: 74| BF

20/1

Won twice on AW over 7f already this year so appears to be on the up but doubts now upped to 1m and particularly on turf where he hasn't made much impact in the past.

Form: 132174

(6)

Biotic¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: Oliver Searle⁽⁷⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 73| D

50/1

Won three lesser events on fast surfaces last summer before losing his way. Low-key return last month and makes little appeal in a contest such as this.

Form: 13560-8

(3)

Ambient²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Rowan Scott| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 72| BF

20/1

Long-standing maiden has been in decent form of late with a third at Nottingham the latest sound effort to add to his CV. Will win a race this season but doubt one of this depth.

Form: 535323

(11)

First Link²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen⁽⁵⁾| T: Jean-Rene Auvray| OR: 70| BF| D

12/1

Clearly progressed well on AW having won three of her last five races at up to this trip. First ever turf start comes from 1lb out of the handicap although good 5lb claimer offsets that. AW form enough to merit respect.

Form: 511414

Forecasts

Merchant Of Venice (11/2), Candelisa (6/1), Medieval (9/1), Isomer (10/1), Poetic Force (10/1), Letsbe Avenue (12/1), First Link (12/1), Enigmatic (14/1), Juanito Chico (14/1), Key Player (16/1), Ambient (20/1), Kingston Kurrajong (20/1), Motajaasid (20/1), Blame Culture (20/1), Mandarin (20/1), Sea Fox (25/1), Sir Plato (25/1), Biotic (50/1), Mountain Rescue (50/1), Pour La Victoire (66/1)

Although yet to race on turf the improving MERCHANT OF VENICE gets the nod with his latest effort suggesting a strong run, stiff 1m could be a perfect test a this stage. Everything appears in place for Motajaasid to run a big race after getting bogged down on soft surfaces last autumn and he appeals plenty too. Juanito Chico was better than ever seemingly on return so looks another with obvious chances.