16:55 Ascot

Saturday 3 September 2022

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Fever-Tree Handicap

Off time: 16:56 | Winning time: 1m 15.48s

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Selected odds by:

(4)

Popmaster³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: R L Moore| T: E Walker| OR: 100| CD

2/1

Winner of this race 12 months ago and produced a terrific effort back here when going close in the Wokingham at the Royal meeting in June. Below par at Goodwood next time, but no surprise were he to bounce back with a bold show now reunited with Ryan Moore.

Form: 7-90220

(9)

Silver Samurai¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: N Callan| T: M Botti| OR: 97| D

11/2

Vastly improved when scoring at Newbury and Haydock in May. Wasn't seen to best effect in the Wokingham here in June and latest third of 17 off this mark at York (6f, good to firm) represented a step back in the right direction, so there's cause for optimism.

Form: 311073

(2)

Mums Tipple¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: D Tudhope| T: R Hannon| OR: 97| BF| CD

10/1

Snapped a long losing run from a career-low mark when landing a five-runner handicap at Newmarket in good style last month. Probably best not to read too much into his subsequent York defeat, but others are more appealing all the same.

Form: 003410

(5)

Danzeno³³

Age: 11| Weight: 9-6| J: Ray Dawson| T: M Appleby| OR: 94| C| D

22/1

Proved that plenty of ability remains intact when second at Windsor in June, but he has followed that with two lesser efforts and you have to go back to July 2017 for when this veteran last landed a handicap.

Form: 95-6200

(6)

Willem Twee¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 95| D

11/4

Off the mark at the third attempt in a 6f Doncaster maiden in June and winner of both subsequent starts in handicaps. Up 11 lb for latest success at Kempton, but he had any amount in hand there and appears to be a sprinter going places.

Form: 42111

(1)

Lethal Nymph³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: J P Fahy| T: C G Cox| OR: 86| D

12/1

Winner of his first two starts in novice company during the spring, but it's fair to say that he hasn't really progressed since switched to handicaps and remains on what looks a tough mark.

Form: 113347

(3)

Ivasecret²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Harry Davies⁽³⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 82| D

25/1

Winning start to the season at Lingfield (7f, AW) in April and runner-up on his last two completed starts, both at Kempton. Yet to prove himself on turf, though, and a question mark also remains with regards the suitability of this trip.

Form: 3-162U2

(7)

Spirited Guest⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: David Probert| T: G G Margarson| OR: 82| C| D

40/1

Tasted success three times during a consistent 2021, including a 7f female amateur riders' handicap at this course. However, rather in-and-out during the present campaign and his latest effort was disappointing.

Form: 636298

(8)

Sound Of Iona¹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 77| CD

13/2

Won three on the bounce within a two-week period in July and continues to thrive on her racing, going in again on her second run in 24 hours in C&D fillies' handicap on Friday. This is much tougher.

Form: 255321

Forecasts

Popmaster (2/1), Willem Twee (11/4), Silver Samurai (11/2), Sound Of Iona (13/2), Mums Tipple (10/1), Lethal Nymph (12/1), Danzeno (22/1), Ivasecret (25/1), Spirited Guest (40/1)

It may appear somewhat premature to predict that WILLEM TWEE will, like a number of James Fanshawe-trained sprinters over the years, graduate from handicaps to Pattern company. However, there's little doubt that he is firmly on the right path and he is hard to oppose in his bid to complete the four-timer, despite having gone up 11 lb for his recent Kempton victory. Last year's winner Popmaster will be a threat if on-song, but Silver Samurai is preferred for forecast purposes.