13:50 Ascot

Saturday 8 August 2020

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

ITV Home Of Terrestrial Racing Handicap

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 1m 12.9s

Settings

Selected odds by:

(1)

Highland Dress²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Adam J McNamara| T: A Watson| OR: 98| D

9/1

Banked two wins in three after joining this yard; good efforts in defeat in the Wokingham here and at Newmarket early last month but latest Newbury sixth (6f, good; 7-2) was underwhelming; needs more to defy this rating.

Form: 211826

(5)

Dazzling Dan²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: A Kirby| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 98| D

5/1

Dual 6f winner at Newmarket last summer; improving with racing this season and was a place ahead of Highland Dress last time at Newbury (6f, good; 16-1). Now dips below previous win-mark and has a chance if maintaining momentum.

Form: 104-905

(8)

Woven³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Dylan Hogan⁽³⁾| T: D M Simcock| OR: 93

15/2

Meydan winner in the spring and competitive both starts back in the UK here in June (Silver Wokingham) and Newmarket (6f, good to soft; 8-1) last month. Runs this track well and should be competitive.

Form: 35-6164

(7)

Graceful Magic⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 95| D

18/1

3-10 on turf, most recently winning at Doncaster (6½f, good to firm; 5-1jf) in September; more do to do in order to score from a mark this high but penultimate effort at Newbury would give her place claims.

Form: 212-040

(3)

Equitation^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Marco Ghiani⁽⁵⁾| T: S C Williams| OR: 90| CD

17/2

C&D winner last year; getting better with each run this season including runner-up over 5f here last time. Return to 6f a plus and can be give claims in this field.

Form: 418-762

(4)

Will To Win¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Cieren Fallon⁽³⁾| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 94| D

12/1

Four-time winner on the AW (from five starts); held in first two turf runs this summer but eased 4lb and improved to finish second over 6f at Newmarket last time in Class 2 handicap. Yard in flying form and booking of Cieren Fallon a positive.

Form: 112682

(9)

Equiano Springs¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: T P Queally| T: T P Tate| OR: 88| D

33/1

Winner at Newcastle in March and followed up on turf at Newmarket (6f, good to firm; 4-1) in late June; not disgraced since at Ripon but more required to oblige in this field.

Form: 010-117

(2)

Chil Chil¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 85| D

7/2

Won 3-4 in handicaps last year after a wind operation; second at Bath on return on firm ground over 5½f; form looks fairly solid and contender with fitness boosted from the same mark.

Form: 71131-2

(6)

Theotherside¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 88| D

5/1

Filly has won two of her last three starts, confirming suspicion she'd still on the upgrade with Newmarket win (6f, good to firm; 9-4jf) a fortnight ago. Up 7lb for that success but very lightly raced and more to offer yet.

Form: 1-3121

(10)

Hamish Macbeth¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Jim Crowley| T: H Palmer| OR: 87| D

7/1

Finished 1¾L third in Newmarket handicap won by Theotherside 14 days ago; 7lb better off with that rival now but that might not be enough to turn the tables given their respective profiles.

Form: 35-3673

Forecasts

Chil Chil (7/2), Theotherside (5/1), Dazzling Dan (5/1), Hamish Macbeth (7/1), Woven (15/2), Equitation (17/2), Highland Dress (9/1), Will To Win (12/1), Graceful Magic (18/1), Equiano Springs (33/1)

Theotherside had Will To Win and Hamish Macbeth behind when winning at Newmarket a fortnight ago and should confirm placings despite being 7lb higher as she has plenty scope for further progress. That might not be enough to see off CHIL CHIL however. Progressive last season in this sphere, the Exceed and Excel filly made a pleasing return at Bath recently and, with fitness now boosted, looks capable of defying her current mark. This is wide open stuff and both Graceful Magic and Equitation have their merits.