13:30 Ascot

Wednesday 3 May 2023

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Howden Manny Mercer Apprentice Handicap (Str)

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 1m 43.01s

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Selected odds by:

(14)

Bear Force One^p³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Billy Loughnane⁽³⁾| T: R A Teal| OR: 93| D

11/1

Quirky sort but he knuckled down better is sometimes the case when resuming winning ways at Kempton (1m) 32 days ago. Has the services of Billy Loughnane but wouldn't be an obvious type to follow up, though.

Form: 8/59-731

(8)

Helm Rock^t³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: William Carver| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 92| D

16/1

Won at Carlisle and Wolverhampton in August before notching a third win of the campaign at Haydock (1m, good) in September. However, he's finished well held on his last couple of starts (latest on return in Lincoln) but better anticipated in this grade.

Form: 16910-0

(12)

Chasing Aphrodite¹⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin| T: Harry Eustace| OR: 92| DWS

8/1

Produced a useful performance to follow up his Leicester debut success at Newmarket in July. Disappointed on handicap debut but more like it on his next couple of outings on the AW. Makes return after 5 months off (had wind op in interim) and probably best watched.

Form: 11038-

(3)

Yaanaas²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Aidan Keeley⁽³⁾| T: R Varian| OR: 92| D

85/40

Has an excellent pedigree and looked a good prospect when scoring in Newcastle maiden (1m) on debut in March. Followed up in a much better race at Kempton (8f) 3 weeks ago (doing well under the circumstances) and looks one to keep firmly onside now handicapping switched to the turf.

Form: 11

(11)

Baltimore Boy³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Joe Bradnam⁽⁷⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 90

8/1

Got off the mark at Newcastle last June and ran a cracker on his turf debut when runner-up to Raising Sand in minor event over C&D last September, faring best of those held up. Undone by the draw/run of race on return at Doncaster last month so one to look out for.

Form: 31202-0

(4)

Raising Sand^p¹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 9-10| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J A Osborne| OR: 89| CD

14/1

Dual 1m winner at Newcastle and over C&D last autumn and performed well above market expectations (sent off at 50/1) when fourth in the 22-runner Spring Mile at Doncaster returning from a break. Not so good at Newmarket since so must bounce back.

Form: 198-640

(2)

Al Marmar^b1²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Harry Davies| T: A M Balding| OR: 85| CD

25/1

Gained his sole win on turf over C&D last July but below that level on 3 outings on the all-weather this year. Now 2 lb below his last winning mark and he could be ready to strike if this new headgear (first-time blinkers) does the trick.

Form: 527-003

(6)

Sagano¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Anna Gibson⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 83

125/1

Fairly useful in France but offered little on reappearance/first outing for his new yard (sold for €90,000) at Kempton (8f, 33/1) just over 2 weeks ago. Will need to leave that effort well behind.

Form: 4/1643-0

(9)

Fantasy Believer²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Hutchinson| T: E Walker| OR: 83| CD

25/1

C&D winner last July who is still seemingly working his way back, finishing mid-field at Kempton 3 weeks ago. Back on the turf and interesting to see what the mark says having dropped 2 lb below last winning mark.

Form: 1959-98

(1)

Keyser Soze^b²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Harry Russell| T: R Spencer| OR: 82| CD

40/1

C&D winner back in 2021 who is proving tough to catch right, scoring at Kempton in January but then producing a couple of below-par efforts since. This a rare outing on turf nowadays and percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form: 707-180

(5)

Repertoire¹⁸⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Olivia Haines⁽⁷⁾| T: D M Simcock| OR: 82| CD

11/1

Landed this corresponding event 12 months ago but failed to go on from that effort, not seen to best effect under this inexperienced claimer on final 2022 start at Newmarket (8f, soft). Clearly goes well fresh so would be folly to discount.

Form: 349837-

(15)

Global Esteem¹⁹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Kaiya Fraser⁽⁵⁾| T: J Gallagher| OR: 81| CD

10/1

Previous C&D winner who scored a couple of times in 2022 and final outing that season easily excused at Newbury (ad no chance from his position). Mark eases a shade, but this looks a tough starting point for his 2023 campaign.

Form: 313630-

(13)

Devasboy¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Joe Leavy⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 76| D

33/1

Won twice for the Johnston team last year and not far off that level when runner-up at Windsor (8.1f, heavy, 20/1) just over a fortnight ago, running on. Task is now building on that effort in a better contest.

Form: 275-902

(7)

Two Tempting¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: A J Farragher| T: J G Portman| OR: 76| D

7/1

Sole success came at Kempton a year ago and he ran well after 8 months off back there (8f) recently, having his work cut out with a smart prospect. Could step forward from that effort so certainly not discounted.

Form: 55234-2

(10)

Diffident Spirit¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Tommie Jakes⁽⁷⁾| T: T Kent| OR: 74| BF| D

12/1

Handled the extreme conditions well to come out on top after 8 months off at Leicester (1m, heavy) on reappearance last month and ran well when runner-up at Nottingham 8 days later, coming from further back than ideal. Each-way claims.

Form: 7269-12

Forecasts

Yaanaas (85/40), Two Tempting (7/1), Chasing Aphrodite (8/1), Baltimore Boy (8/1), Global Esteem (10/1), Repertoire (11/1), Bear Force One (11/1), Diffident Spirit (12/1), Raising Sand (14/1), Helm Rock (16/1), Fantasy Believer (25/1), Al Marmar (25/1), Devasboy (33/1), Keyser Soze (40/1), Sagano (125/1)

Having made an impressive winning debut at Newcastle, YAANAAS improved a chunk to remain unbeaten at Kempton 3 weeks ago, and with further progress on the cards, Roger Varian's charge gets the nod to make a winning turf/handicap debut. Baltimore Boy didn't get the chance to show what he could do on return at Doncaster last month so he may emerge as the main threat, with Diffident Spirit and last year's winner Repertoire another couple worth considering.