14:40 Ascot

Saturday 11 May 2024

All13:3014:0514:4015:1015:4516:2016:55

Lavazza & Ascot 10 Year Anniversary Victoria Cup (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 14:43 | Winning time: 1m 26.58s

Settings

Selected odds by:

(17)

Popmaster²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Brandon Wilkie⁽⁵⁾| T: E Walker| OR: 109| C| D

12/1

Back on the scoresheet at this track last summer and in fine form in the second half of 2023 campaign, twice going close in valuable handicaps here either side of a 7f listed success at Newbury. Shaped as if retaining ability on recent return to action so he's one to consider.

Form: 02212-6

(5)

Jumby⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: W Buick| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 107| CD

18/1

Better than ever when winning Group 3 John of Gaunt at Haydock last June and backed that up when second in Criterion at Newmarket in July. However, he ended the campaign in a bit of a lull, and it was a similar story on return (gelded) in Saudi Arabia 11 weeks ago. Back in a handicap.

Form: 12959-9

(18)

Ramazan^v²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Joe Leavy⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 105| D

14/1

Big improver towards the end of last season, landing a valuable Chepstow handicap before finding only one too good in Ayr Gold Cup and Redcar listed event final 2 outings. Looked rusty when second on return in minor event at Thirsk (7f, heavy) 3 weeks ago and should be much closer to form.

Form: 19122-2

(23)

Streets Of Gold²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Georgia Dobie⁽³⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 105| D

12/1

Unbeaten in 5 starts as a 2-y-o and posted his best effort last season when third in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. Not in the same form in 2 subsequent appearances last term but encouraging effort on return in a Group 3 at Newmarket recently. Can get back on track as a 4-y-o.

Form: 63305-9

(19)

Mostabshir^b⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Jim Crowley| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 103

7/1

York novice winner at the Dante Festival last year but failed to live up to that early-season promise last year. However, he forced a smart course specialist to pull out all the stops to fend him off on return at Kempton (7f) in March and that bodes well for this campaign.

Form: 16475-3

(7)

Carrytheone^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: K Stott| T: M L W Bell| OR: 101| D

28/1

Placed 3 times last season for John Patrick Murtagh, including when third in Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown. Ended the year with a creditable sixth in a big-field handicap and shaped as if retaining ability for his new yard when mid-field at Newmarket (7f) last month.

Form: 33266-9

(16)

Ropey Guest^v²⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: T P Queally| T: G G Margarson| OR: 101| D

33/1

Bagged a second success of 2023 with a career best in 19-runner handicap at York (1m, good to firm) in August and ended his campaign with cracking runner-up effort at this course (8f, soft), acknowledging he enjoyed a positional advantage. May need this on seasonal return.

Form: 201062-

(12)

The Wizard Of Eye^p²³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: C Fellowes| OR: 99

7/1

Signed off 2022 with a listed success at Kempton but never really scaled those heights last year, well held at Newbury (7f, heavy) when last seen 7 months ago (lost a shoe). He's been gelded since and having joined a new yard, he's one to look out for (unexposed in handicaps).

Form: 696657-

(20)

Fantastic Fox⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Aidan Keeley⁽³⁾| T: R Varian| OR: 98

18/1

Proved as good as ever to resume winning ways at Lingfield (8f, AW) in January and rounded off a most productive winter campaign when a close third at Newcastle (8f) on Good Friday. Would be a danger to all if translating that form back to turf.

Form: 114-313

(13)

Bless Him^h²¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 9-1| J: P Cosgrave| T: D M Simcock| OR: 98| C| D

33/1

Still a smart operator on his day, running well in big fields in the Royal Hunt Cup and the Bunbury Cup last summer. Underperformed on his final start over C&D last season but is an each-way player in a race that will almost certainly be run to suit (comes from off the pace).

Form: 540750-

(8)

Rhoscolyn^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 98| D

25/1

3-time winner last season and ran at least as well as for any of those victories when fourth of 9 at Haydock (7f, heavy) a fortnight ago. His record appears a little in and out and this quicker ground may not play to his strengths (hard to fault on soft/heavy).

Form: 7150-54

(9)

Merlin The Wizard²²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Hollie Doyle| T: Harry Charlton| OR: 96| D

14/1

Progressive last season, notching a third win of the campaign when seeing off 7 rivals in a 1m handicap on the July Course at Newmarket (good to firm) in August. Presumably amiss to have run so poorly in Cambridgeshire 7 weeks later and not seen since. Drops back in trip.

Form: 511510-

(21)

Arabian Storm⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 93| D

17/2

Lightly-raced winner in 2023 who had his 3-y-o season cut short and shaped as if badly needing the run after 11 months off at Kempton (7f) in March. This should reveal what ability remains.

Form: 2/193-5

(4)

Mustajaab³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 93| D

20/1

Won on reappearance at Southwell last year and repeated the trick with a really taking effort after 8 months off in 12-runner handicap there (7.1f) last month, scoring with plenty in hand. Stable couldn't be in better form right and he could well kick on this time.

Form: 10745-1

(10)

Londoner²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Billy Loughnane| T: J S Goldie| OR: 92

66/1

Gelded and wasn't disgraced on first outing since leaving Aidan O'Brien for 35,000 gns after 6 months off when tenth at Kempton (11f) last month. Tailed-off last having bizarrely been dropped 6 furlongs in trip at Musselburgh just under 3 weeks ago but this very competitive.

Form: 0352-00

(14)

Pearle D'or^h²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: S De Sousa| T: D O'Meara| OR: 90| CD

9/2

Progressive in the second half of last season, scoring over C&D in July before doubling his tally for the yard at Newbury. Probably needed the run at Newmarket recently and he's very much the type to improve again this year (form figures here are 213). Big chance with the hood back on.

Form: 21313-0

(6)

Hickory^v³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 89| D

8/1

Went close in a similar event over C&D last summer and bounced back to best with headgear discarded when ¾-length second of 9 to Zero Carbon in handicap at Kempton (7f) last month, having to pick way through straight. Headgear back on and he's a must for the shortlist.

Form: 20230-2

(15)

Abduction²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: Ethan Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 89| D

33/1

Proved better than ever to narrowly resume winning ways returned to all-weather on his final 2023 start and given a considerate reappearance after 6 months off when down the field at Musselburgh (7.1f, good to soft) just under 3 weeks ago. Big outsider.

Form: 60421-0

(11)

Caragio^p³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-3| J: J F Egan| T: R A Teal| OR: 86| BF| D

22/1

Made his first start on all-weather a winning one at Kempton last October and ran up to best after 4 months off when 1½ lengths fourth of 9 to Zero Carbon there (7f) last month, no extra only late on. A place is probably the best he can hope for in this.

Form: 06187-4

(3)

Zero Carbon^p³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-3| J: George Rooke| T: R Hughes| OR: 86| D

33/1

Dual winner last year and picked up where he left off when last seen 5 months earlier to land a third C&D success at Kempton (7f) just over 5 weeks ago by ¾ length from Hickory, always holding on having led under 2f out. Others look stronger back on turf.

Form: 81254-1

(2)

King's Vanity⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Hayley Turner| T: A M Balding| OR: 84| D

40/1

Won second time up in novice at Lingfield (7f) in January. Good second in a 7f novice at Kempton next time but proved to be a disappointment back there (8f) on handicap debut 3 month ago, not looking the easiest of rides in the process. This a very tough assignment on turf debut.

Form: 5-120

Non-Runners

(22)

Wobwobwob⁷

Weight: 8-8| Age: 6

T: A Keatley J: David Egan

(1)

Good Karma²⁸

Weight: 8-5| Age: 4

T: J Ferguson J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Pearle D'or (9/2), The Wizard Of Eye (7/1), Mostabshir (7/1), Hickory (8/1), Arabian Storm (17/2), Streets Of Gold (12/1), Popmaster (12/1), Ramazan (14/1), Merlin The Wizard (14/1), Fantastic Fox (18/1), Jumby (18/1), Mustajaab (20/1), Wobwobwob (20/1), Good Karma (20/1), Caragio (22/1), Rhoscolyn (25/1), Carrytheone (28/1), Bless Him (33/1), Ropey Guest (33/1), Abduction (33/1), Zero Carbon (33/1), King's Vanity (40/1), Londoner (66/1)

A typically competitive renewal of this valuable handicap in which the vote goes to PEARLE D'OR, who probably needed the outing on his seasonal return at Newmarket last month and is very much the type to improve again this year (boast form figures of 213 at this track). Hickory went close over C&D last year and, arriving on the back of a career-best effort, he's put forward as the main threat, with The Wizard of Eye, Mostabshir and Ramazan a few others of note, too.