16:40 Ascot

Saturday 15 July 2023

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

Village Hotels Fillies' Handicap (Str)

Off time: 16:47 | Winning time: 1m 45.15s

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Selected odds by:

(12)

Belhaven²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽³⁾| T: Harry Eustace| OR: 90| D

6/1

Won 3 times in 2022 and continues to steadily go the right way, adding to her tally at Nottingham in May. Wasn't beaten at all far in the Kensington Palace at the Royal meeting here (1m, good) last time but will need to pull out more if she's to take this.

Form: 51-9129

(10)

Farhh To Shy²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: T P Queally| T: G G Margarson| OR: 88| CD

7/2

Third to Belhaven on return at Nottingham in May prior to getting the better of that re-opposing rival over C&D on penultimate start. Again finished in front of Belhaven off this mark at the Royal meeting and should make her presence felt.

Form: 496316

(14)

One Morning^t1¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Saffie Osborne| T: M L W Bell| OR: 82

25/1

Low-mileage filly who won a 7f maiden at Newmarket last spring. Creditable reappearance fourth behind Farhh To Shy and Belhaven over this C&D in May but she ran no sort of a race at Newmarket a fortnight ago and now tried in a tongue strap.

Form: 213-45

(1)

Mountain Song⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 86| D

6/1

Found just one too good on first 3 starts in maiden/novice company (all at around 1¼m) during the winter prior to scoring on handicap bow at Southwell (1m). Only seventh in the C&D race (soft) won by Farhh To Shy since but probably worth another chance with faster ground forecast.

Form: 22217

(2)

Prenup³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Billy Loughnane⁽³⁾| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 76

14/1

Made winning start for this yard at Wolverhampton in March and improved when opening turf account at Newbury (7f, firm) last time. More needed up 4 lb in what is a much stronger handicap but couldn't rule out with star apprentice Billy Loughnane doing the steering.

Form: 84-1341

(6)

Leitzel³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: David Egan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 83| D

20/1

Winner of first 2 starts at Haydock last season prior to finding Group 2 company too much at Newmarket. Looked badly in need of the run when well held on return/handicap bow at Beverley (1¼m, good to firm) and this drop back in trip is probably a good move.

Form: 110-0

(13)

Spring Dawn¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Harry Davies⁽³⁾| T: C Appleby| OR: 83

7/2

Runner-up in 7f maidens on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket prior to making all in a novice event on the July course there (7f, good) recently. Likely to benefit from this step up to a mile now handicapping and, like stablemate Mountain Song, she needs considering.

Form: 221

(5)

Mountain Queen⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Jim Crowley| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 70

8/1

AW maiden winner in November and placed all 3 starts in handicaps since returning to action in March, most recently over 9f at Sandown (good to soft). Looks capable of picking up a race off this sort of mark but there will be easier opportunities than this.

Form: 751-233

(11)

Roarin' Success²³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: B A Curtis| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 76

8/1

Improved with each of her 3 starts as a juvenile, getting the better of a subsequent winner at Wolverhampton (7.2f) when last seen in November. Well worth a second look now pitched into a handicap for her in-form yard.

Form: 541-

(9)

Puntarelle²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: George Rooke| T: J G Portman| OR: 75

40/1

Winner at Chelmsford in April but has since come up short in handicaps at Chepstow and Sandown. Others make more appeal.

Form: 4-32137

(8)

Bernadine³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Georgia Dobie⁽³⁾| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 73| D

11/1

Dual AW scorer earlier this year and raised her game when opening turf account at Nottingham (8.3f, good to firm). 6 lb rise fair enough given the manner of that success and while more is needed in this higher-grade handicap, she has to enter calculations.

Form: 72-1191

Non-Runners

(7)

Wind In Your Sails¹⁵

Weight: 8-13| Age: 3

T: R M Beckett J: H Crouch

(3)

Five Towns³¹

Weight: 8-13| Age: 3

T: W J Haggas J: R Kingscote

(4)

Sonemos²⁸

Weight: 8-8| Age: 3

T: K P De Foy J: Benoit D L Sayette

Forecasts

Spring Dawn (7/2), Farhh To Shy (7/2), Mountain Song (6/1), Belhaven (6/1), Five Towns (13/2), Roarin' Success (8/1), Mountain Queen (8/1), Bernadine (11/1), Sonemos (12/1), Prenup (14/1), Wind In Your Sails (14/1), Leitzel (20/1), One Morning (25/1), Puntarelle (40/1)

The vote goes to FIVE TOWNS, who found just one too good upped to this trip at Haydock and she is taken to provide the William Haggas yard with further success in this handicap. Wind In Your Sails shouldn't be judged too harshly on her latest effort at Chester and she is next on the list ahead of the Godolphin duo Spring Dawn and Mountain Song. In truth, cases can be made for the majority of these, with the likes of Bernadine, Farhh To Shy and Sonemos also worthy of consideration.