15:00 Ascot

Saturday 26 July 2025

All13:1013:4014:2015:0015:3516:1016:4517:15

Moet & Chandon International Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 1m 26.7s

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Selected odds by:

(19)

Zoum Zoum³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 105| D

12/1

Smart handicap performance when scoring over 6f at Doncaster last autumn. Resumed with a good second in 6f Salisbury listed contest in May but only midfield in the Wokingham here since. Back up in trip.

Form: 5316-20

(4)

City House^t,p1¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Darragh Keenan| T: George Scott| OR: 103| D

80/1

Won twice in Bahrain in January. Fair fifth of 8 in 6f Pontefract handicap 18 days ago but well held in the Wokingham here prior to that and doubtful whether he can win a race as competitive as this from his lofty mark. Wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 112605

(2)

Array²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 102

25/1

Useful colt who won the Group 2 Mill Reef on heavy ground as a juvenile. Has shown he retains all his ability since returning from a long absence this year but a big career best will be needed to overcome this mark.

Form: 317/356

(17)

Northern Express^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 100| CD

9/1

7-y-o is a credit to connections, including a win in this off 2 lb higher last year. Has yet to hit the same heights this campaign but latest fourth of 11 at Haydock was respectable and his yard is currently in its best form of the season. Considered.

Form: 2-58874

(12)

Golden Mind^t³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Warren Fentiman⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 100

28/1

Scored at Kempton in February. Also went close over 7f at Epsom in June but needs to shrug off a lesser run in the Wokingham at the Royal meeting here 5 weeks ago.

Form: 177920

(7)

Galeron²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: M Barzalona| T: C Hills| OR: 99| D

28/1

Back from a spell in Australia with a fine fifth of 22 in the Lincoln at Doncaster (1m, soft) in March. Hasn't enjoyed the rub of the green in his 3 outings since and his mark has come down a bit. No shock were he to go well.

Form: 00-5007

(20)

Akkadian Thunder¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 99| D

11/4

Back to winning ways at Doncaster before backing it up with an excellent second of 27 in Buckingham Palace over C&D (firm) in June. Caught on the wrong part of track when only ninth in the Bunbury Cup since and treated as if still in form. The mount of Danny Tudhope from the stable's 5 runners.

Form: 3-87129

(14)

Yorkshire^t³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: E Bethell| OR: 97| D

11/1

Enhanced already good strike rate with win number 6 in 7-runner handicap at Kempton (7f) in April. Respectable sixth of 27 in Buckingham Palace over C&D at the Royal meeting (firm) 37 days ago, running on.

Form: 11-5146

(16)

Fresh^t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 95| CD

25/1

Ascot specialist, finishing third in this last year before winning a 6f handicap and finishing fourth in the Challenge Cup in the autumn. Reasonable to assume last month's Newcastle reappearance was needed. A dangerous one to discount given his good course record.

Form: 72314-0

(8)

Cerulean Bay²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: D O'Meara| OR: 95| D

25/1

Steadily progressive in handicaps last summer. Best effort of present campaign when fifth at Chester (7f) in May (strong form). The draw made life tricky for him in the Buckingham Palace here next time but there were no obvious excuses for him at Haydock since.

Form: 7-70507

(18)

Noble Truth³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: N Callan| T: J C McConnell| OR: 94| CD

50/1

Landed the 2022 Jersey over C&D during his time with Charlie Appleby. Very lightly raced since and big doubts as to whether anything like that sort of ability remains, finishing well held in the Wokingham over 6f here last month on his first outing for John McConnell.

Form: 110/000

(15)

Billyjoh^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Tom Marquand| T: M Appleby| OR: 94

12/1

Hasn't won on turf since his debut but has racked up plenty of solid efforts in high-end handicaps, including second in Buckingham Palace over C&D at 2024 Royal Ascot. Another good effort when third (Aalto second) in Bunbury at Newmarket (7f, good) 2 weeks ago. Shortlisted.

Form: 4-83203

(6)

Kodi Lion³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Frederick Larson| T: M Appleby| OR: 92| BF| CD

11/1

Acquired by present connections for 90,000 gns after and confirmed previous promise this season when landing 16-runner handicap at Haydock in May. His run of good form came to a halt when only fourth at Salisbury last month but this former C&D winner is capable of bouncing back.

Form: 2-62214

(9)

Qazaq³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: S De Sousa| T: R Varian| OR: 92| BF| D

16/1

Won his first three starts (all AW) but his improvement has stalled the last twice, managing only sixth of 12 in 7f Newmarket handicap on his turf debut in June. A hood worn on that occasion is now left off. Needs to resume his progression.

Form: 1/11-66

(3)

Aalto^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: W Buick| T: Ian Williams| OR: 91| D

11/2

Went very close to a second successive win in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket 2 weeks ago, pulling just under 3 lengths clear of Billyjoh in third. Able to race off 1 lb lower here so holds obvious claims under William Buick.

Form: 1960-92

(21)

Lord Bertie⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: J P Spencer| T: D O'Meara| OR: 90| CD

28/1

C&D winner. Not long with this yard and caught the eye equipped with a hood when fifth of 14 in 7f Doncaster handicap (good to firm) in June. Can have a line put through a subsequent run there after the hood came loose at halfway and seemed to distract him. No hood this time. Spencer could suit him.

Form: 120-650

(10)

Two Tribes^b¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: D Egan| T: R Spencer| OR: 90| BF

25/1

Creditable third of 11 in handicap at Newmarket (7f, good to firm) 15 days ago but it's now 14 starts since his last win in 2023 and unlikely he'll snap that losing run in a race as hot as this one.

Form: 6-34403

(11)

Classic²¹^{(ex 3)}

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 87| BF| D

10/1

A change of tactics worked a treat when snapping a losing run in valuable 1m Sandown handicap 3 weeks ago, making all. Well treated under a 3 lb penalty but highly unlikely he'll be able to dominate in the same manner here.

Form: 56-3421

(1)

Pals Battalion^v⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: David Probert| T: D O'Meara| OR: 88

66/1

Ran well when third of 13 in handicap at Thirsk (6f) at the beginning of the month but only seventh of 18 at Ayr on Monday. Races mainly at 6f but he was runner-up over 7f last autumn.

Form: 225837

(13)

Al Ameen^t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: Marco Ghiani| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 85| D

80/1

Three wins over 7f at Kempton this year but not at best over 1m there on latest start 23 days go. The fact he's 0-10 on turf means it isn't hard to look elsewhere.

Form: 511518

(22)

Sword^h¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Mark Winn| T: D O'Meara| OR: 85| BF| D

18/1

Quirky but talented, winning 7f Leicester handicap on only his second start for David O'Meara. Third at Haydock next time and didn't get the gaps when he needed them at York since (still in form).

Form: 21-0137

Non-Runners

(5)

Oliver Show³⁷

Weight: 9-5| Age: 5

T: G Boughey J: Billy Loughnane

Forecasts

Akkadian Thunder (11/4), Aalto (11/2), Northern Express (9/1), Classic (10/1), Kodi Lion (11/1), Yorkshire (11/1), Zoum Zoum (12/1), Billyjoh (12/1), Qazaq (16/1), Oliver Show (16/1), Sword (18/1), Two Tribes (25/1), Fresh (25/1), Array (25/1), Cerulean Bay (25/1), Golden Mind (28/1), Lord Bertie (28/1), Galeron (28/1), Noble Truth (50/1), Pals Battalion (66/1), Al Ameen (80/1), City House (80/1)

AALTO came clear of the rest when only narrowly denied a second successive Bunbury Cup by the progressive More Thunder at Newmarket a fortnight ago and looks the pick of the weights off effectively 1 lb lower this afternoon. The Michael Dods team has really found form in recent weeks so it wouldn't be a surprise to see last year's winner Northern Express bounce back to form and provide the main threat. Billyjoh and Akkadian Thunder also make the shortlist.