16:10 Ascot

Saturday 25 July 2020

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

betfred.com Handicap

Off time: 16:13 | Winning time: 2m 34.6s

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(6)

Sandret³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Dane O'Neill| T: B Haslam| OR: 90

22/1

Improved for the step up in trip when successful at Doncaster ((1m2½f) in September. Entitled to improve fitness-wise from low-key reappearance effort at Ayr last month, and promises to resume progress now stepping up in trip again.

Form: 24214-7

(5)

Look Closely⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 88| D

7/1

Off the mark at the fourth time of asking on final start last term in a 1½m Leiceter novice, and possibly in need of the run when only ninth of 12 to Holy Kingdom on handicap debut at Newmarket last month. Bit to prove on balance, though.

Form: 5321-9

(10)

Just The Man²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 87

9/1

Better effort this season when 3½L sixth of 12 to Tribal Craft at Kempton last time, and might have been closer under different tactics. Handicapper has given him a chance, and he's hard to rule out.

Form: 1015-76

(12)

Western Duke⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Tom Marquand| T: Ian Williams| OR: 84| CD

16/1

Registered a couple of decent efforts over 2m late last year including when 9L fourth at Kempton in December. Excuses for a below-par run on return at Wolverhampton last month, but needs to come on significantly for that run.

Form: 41054-0

(9)

Mankayan^v²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: S Donohoe| T: C Fellowes| OR: 84| D

4/1

Has improved for having a visor fitted, finishing third at Sandown and then winning at Doncaster last time from Heart of Soul. Up in class now, however, and needs to pull out more to maintain his good run of form.

Form: 1240-31

(11)

Arabist²⁷⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: M Harley| T: Ian Williams| OR: 79| BF| D

50/1

Made his mark when landing the odds (8-15f) from stablemate Swift Wing in a 1m3½f Haydock maiden in September for John Gosden, but left that yard quite cheaply after finishing down the field on his sole handicap start for that yard.

Form: 5219-

(1)

Mascat¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 90

9/2

Second to Palace Pier on debut before winning a 1m maiden at Newmarket in September. Stiff task behind Russian Emperor in Hampton Court Stakes here before a creditable fourth on handicap bow at former track last time. May well have more to offer.

Form: 21-74

(4)

Power Of States^b,t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: H Palmer| OR: 78

8/1

Turf form is patchy, but he put his best foot forward when third of 17 to Mankayan at Doncaster last time. Claims on that, but he's not certain to reproduce it.

Form: 3820-63

(7)

Edinburgh Castle¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 78

15/2

Only win to date came over 1¼m in heavy ground at Epsom last year, and he's been a little expensive to follow. Failed to stay 2m at York last time having travelled well, and should benefit from the return to this trip.

Form: 2/13-496

(8)

Media Storm²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: M Dwyer| T: D M Simcock| OR: 82

10/3

Winner on Wolverhampton debut for James Tate in February, despite running green. Made a pleasing start for current yard when short-head second of 10 to Inherent in a 1½m novice at Kempton last time. Opening mark fair, and he should progress again.

Form: 12

Non-Runners

(3)

Frontispiece¹⁴

Weight: 9-10| Age: 6

T: Mrs A J Perrett J: R L Moore

(2)

Dreamweaver³⁰

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: E Walker J: L Morris

Forecasts

Media Storm (10/3), Mankayan (4/1), Mascat (9/2), Look Closely (7/1), Edinburgh Castle (15/2), Power Of States (8/1), Just The Man (9/1), Frontispiece (10/1), Dreamweaver (10/1), Western Duke (16/1), Sandret (22/1), Arabist (50/1)

Handicap debutant Media Storm has not been harshly assessed, and is respected for David Simcock, while Mascat's latest effort was franked when Arthurian Fable won at Sandown on Thursday, but a chance is taken that SANDRET will improve again stepping up in trip having improved all the time as his stamina has gradually been drawn out in the past year. He needed the run on his return, and is an interesting raider from Ben Haslam's yard.