14:40 Ascot

Saturday 10 May 2025

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Schweppes Victoria Cup (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 1m 23.66s

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Selected odds by:

(2)

Witch Hunter¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Joe Leavy⁽³⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 107| CD

18/1

Won the Buckingham Palace over C&D at the 2023 Royal meeting and also third in the Balmoral here (1m) last autumn. Well held in a 1m course listed in blinkers (quickly discarded) last week but his record in big-field handicaps on the straight course here makes him a dangerous to rule out.

Form: 63-6260

(18)

Roi De France²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 106

11/2

Back on the up since disappointing in the Cambridgeshire, producing a smart handicap performance when second of 14 at Newcastle (1m) on Good Friday. The return to 7f could help this smooth traveller. A must for the shortlist.

Form: 2012-32

(6)

English Oak¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: W Buick| T: E Walker| OR: 106| CD

11/1

Bolted up in the Buckingham Palace over C&D at last year's Royal meeting. Has lost his way a little since, including well held on Haydock reappearance a fortnight ago. William Buick booked but others arrive with much more compelling claims.

Form: 14629-9

(16)

Ten Pounds²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: T E Whelan| T: Harry Charlton| OR: 102| D

13/2

Most progressive, making it 4 wins in last 5 starts when seeing off 6 rivals in 7f Newmarket handicap on reappearance 24 days ago. Raised another 3 lb but likely capable of better again.

Form: 41117-1

(5)

Jumby⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 100| CD

50/1

C&D winner but 15 runs since his last win in 2023 and he hasn't offered enough in his 2 outings this season to suggest he's likely to snap that run in a race as competitive as this.

Form: 3630-64

(9)

Qirat¹⁹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 99| BF| D

5/1

Landed 2 good prizes over 7f at Goodwood last year and also a good second of 18 in the Challenge Cup over C&D (good) in October. Bold show likely if fully primed after 6 months off.

Form: 165122-

(1)

Popmaster²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Jack Doughty⁽³⁾| T: E Walker| OR: 98| C| D

18/1

Course winner. Sixteen runs since last win in 2023. Creditable fifth (Roi de France second) of 14 in handicap at Newcastle (1m) 22 days ago.

Form: 3-38345

(8)

Ebt's Guard²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 96| C

12/1

Won over 1m here last autumn and advanced his form again to land the Newbury Spring Cup (1m, good) on reappearance 4 weeks ago. Had nothing to spare so a 4 lb rise might leave him vulnerable for win purposes.

Form: 06618-1

(15)

Metal Merchant²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: David Probert| T: J Channon| OR: 96| C| D

11/1

Won the Newbury Spring Cup on his 2024 reappearance. Also a good fourth in the International over C&D last summer but he could only manage tenth of 14 to Ebt's Guard on his seasonal return in this year's Spring Cup.

Form: 27749-0

(19)

Myal¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: S H James| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 95| D

10/1

Big improver in handicaps, building on a promising reappearance third in the Spring Mile when making it 5 wins in his last 6 starts at Haydock (7f, good to firm) a fortnight ago. A 4 lb rise shouldn't prevent another bold bid.

Form: 1111-31

(12)

Gleneagle Bay^p,t⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Hollie Doyle| T: Stephen Thorne| OR: 92| BF

11/2

Went close in big-field handicaps at Leopardstown (7f, good) and the Curragh (1m, good to soft) last autumn. Travelled well long way when fifth of 27 on Curragh reappearance in March, leaving the impression the outing was needed. A respected Irish raider.

Form: 15222-5

(17)

Silver Sword⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: K Shoemark| T: Dylan Cunha| OR: 92

18/1

Back to winning ways when edging out No Retreat at Meydan (1m) in March. Has recorded respectable efforts at Newbury and Newmarket since returning to Britain but seems summed up by his mark.

Form: 540166

(10)

Noodle Mission¹⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Rob Hornby| T: E Smyth-Osbourne| OR: 88| D

28/1

Had a very productive first season with Edward Smyth-Osbourne, winning 4 times over 7f/1m. Went off the boil in the autumn but no surprise were he to bounce back to form after a break.

Form: 112160-

(3)

Tolstoy⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Tom Kiely-Marshall⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 88| D

40/1

Not the most straightforward (habitual slow-starter) but he was in top form on joining Brian Ellison last year, winning 4 times. However, never dangerous in 2 comeback runs this spring and best watched until showing more.

Form: 6180-00

(13)

Metaverse^h¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Harry Davies| T: D Menuisier| OR: 88| D

22/1

Back on the up with a 7f Kempton success 19 days ago. Looked to have a bit more in hand than the winning margin might suggest (idled) so should remain competitive off 4 lb higher.

Form: 2104-71

(7)

Diligent Resdev^v²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: Joanna Mason| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 86| D

16/1

Big improver last season, winning big-field York handicap and Ayr Bronze Cup (well on top). Creditable third of 9 in handicap at Musselburgh (7, good) on reappearance 21 days ago. The visor he wore when winning at Ayr is back on now.

Form: 15051-3

(11)

Hickory²⁰¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-4| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J A Osborne| OR: 85| D

22/1

Without a win since 2022 but he had some decent C&D form for James Fanshawe, including second in the 2023 International and fourth in this last year. Changed hands for 26,000 gns last autumn.

Form: 487802-

Non-Runners

(4)

No Retreat⁶⁴

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: George Scott J: Callum Shepherd

(14)

Mafnood¹⁸

Weight: 8-2| Age: 4

T: George Baker J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Qirat (5/1), Gleneagle Bay (11/2), Roi De France (11/2), Ten Pounds (13/2), Myal (10/1), No Retreat (10/1), Metal Merchant (11/1), English Oak (11/1), Ebt's Guard (12/1), Diligent Resdev (16/1), Popmaster (18/1), Witch Hunter (18/1), Silver Sword (18/1), Hickory (22/1), Metaverse (22/1), Mafnood (25/1), Noodle Mission (28/1), Tolstoy (40/1), Jumby (50/1)

The return to 7f could prove a good move for ROI DE FRANCE and his proven race fitness earns him the vote over reappearing Challenge Cup runner-up Qirat. Ten Pounds, Myal and Irish raider Gleneagle Bay also make the shortlist.