16:45 Ascot

Friday 8 September 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Palmer & Co Champagne Handicap (Str)

Off time: 16:52 | Winning time: 1m 40.79s

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Selected odds by:

(6)

Major Partnership^t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 102| D

5/1

Scored cosily at Nottingham (8.3f) in June and creditable efforts both starts since, second over C&D on latest. Should put up another solid showing but he's yet to win from a mark in the 100s.

Form: 958162

(2)

Aerion Power⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 95| D

7/2

Useful sort who has shown he retains plenty of ability this year, fourth in Royal Hunt Cup over C&D 79 days ago. Bold showing expected in this lesser race after a break.

Form: 7/49-434

(4)

Ouzo¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J A Osborne| OR: 94| D

7/2

Reliable sort who was quickly back on his game when a staying-on third at Goodwood last time. Should give his running once more but others look better treated.

Form: 366203

(5)

Alrehb¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: K P De Foy| OR: 89| D

11/1

Useful on AW but not as good on turf and hard to make a solid case for on the back of a poor run at Sandown.

Form: 100738

(7)

Bluelight Bay¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 93| D

13/2

Fairly useful form last year and improved when accounting for 6 rivals in a Salisbury handicap in June. Back on track when runner-up at Sandown last time, so expected to give another good account.

Form: 5-06192

(1)

Daysofourlives^p²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Stefano Cherchi| T: M Botti| OR: 85| D

14/1

Churchill gelding who has a pretty high head carriage but produced a taking finishing effort to open his account at third attempt at Kempton last November. Only effort since (at Newmarket last month) wasn't all that encouraging, though.

Form: 431-6

(3)

Man Of Eden^b²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: David Egan| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 84| D

10/3

AW maiden winner on yard debut in January. Has drawn a blank in handicaps since but there have been several good efforts, including when third at Windsor last time. Likely to be on the premises again.

Form: 442333

Forecasts

Man Of Eden (10/3), Ouzo (7/2), Aerion Power (7/2), Major Partnership (5/1), Bluelight Bay (13/2), Alrehb (11/1), Daysofourlives (14/1)

MAN OF EDEN has held his form well lately and shaped better than the result on more than one occasion, so a chance is taken on him in the hope that everything drops right. Bluelight Bay also arrives at the top of his game and Major Partner deserves plenty of respect for all that he's a lot more exposed than the aforementioned pair.