15:25 Ascot

Friday 12 July 2019

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:45

Close Brothers Property Finance Handicap

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 2m 7.5s

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Selected odds by:

(5)

Breath Caught⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Jason Watson| T: D M Simcock| OR: 93

6/1

Progressive throughout the course of 2018 (132215); best suited by front-running tactics as evidenced with a decisive win at Kempton (1m3f) last September; 2lb higher; could easily fare better than on seasonal reappearance at Epsom (1m4f).

Form: 32215-8

(3)

Hortzadar²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Harry Bentley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 93

11/2

High enough in the weights, now 7lb higher than when winning at Redcar (7f) in April; is yet to compete beyond an extended mile (does have a stamina influence in his pedigree) so all things considered rates as a watching brief only.

Form: 8-11657

(2)

Wafy⁹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Dane O'Neill| T: C Hills| OR: 90

12/1

Lightly raced for his age; rear-division (25th of 26) in Newbury's Spring Cup in April and absent since; 5lb lower than when a close third to National Army at Doncaster (1m) in June 2018; stamina?

Form: 17/634-0

(4)

American Graffiti²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: B Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 94| D

6/4

Backed up his 6L February Newcastle novice win (1m2f) when returning from a four-month break to make a winning handicap debut at Newmarket (1m2f, good to soft), beating Takumi by 3L; has to contend with a subsequent 9lb rise; remains of interest.

Form: 2211

(7)

He's Amazing²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: L P Keniry| T: E Walker| OR: 84| D

12/1

4lb higher than when beating Allegiant by 2L on debut for this trainer at Windsor (1m2f, good) in April; has suffered a couple of setbacks since, although soft ground was a possible negative at Sandown latest; stablemate of Duckett's Grove.

Form: 569-1P7

(6)

Duckett's Grove⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: H Crouch| T: E Walker| OR: 92| D

11/4

Added to his debut Irish win (for Emmet Mullins) when taking a 1m2f Chelmsford novice by a short head (from a trio of subsequent winners); far from disgraced in a Goodwood Listed contest since; an interesting handicap debutant.

Form: 16-15

Non-Runners

(8)

King's Slipper¹⁶

Weight: 9-10| Age: 4

T: C G Cox J: Non Runner

(1)

Nayel⁵⁶

Weight: 9-4| Age: 7

T: R Hannon J: S M Levey

Forecasts

American Graffiti (6/4), Duckett's Grove (11/4), Hortzadar (11/2), Breath Caught (6/1), King's Slipper (6/1), Wafy (12/1), He's Amazing (12/1), Nayel (14/1)

Duckett's Grove had a trio of subsequent winners behind when taking a Chelmsford novice by a short head in May, and he acquitted himself well enough (fifth) in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood on his very next start. Switched into handicap company (debut) he's an interesting option and rates as the clear pick of the Ed Walker pair. However, the Charlie Appleby-trained AMERICAN GRAFFITI is on a roll and is fancied to cope with a 9lb rise for his recent Newmarket win. He remains open to further progression and ultimately this €320,000 yearling (son of Pivotal) could well progress beyond the handicap ranks.