14:40 Ascot
Saturday 6 September 2025
All13:4014:1014:4015:1515:5016:2516:55
Schweppes Handicap
- 3YO plus | Class 2 | 7f | Good to Soft (Soft in places) | 20 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 14:42 | Winning time: 1m 26.99s
Cloth number
Odds
Star rating
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Smart performer at best for Sir Michael Stoute but has struggled for form this season, sixteenth of 17 in Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon (6f, good to firm, 18/1) 21 days ago. Tongue strap now added.
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Proved as least as good as ever when readily winning a 15-runner handicap at Goodwood (8f, good) last month but not quite in same form at long odds there a fortnight ago. Probably needs his mark to edge down before he can strike again.
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Smart performer at 2 yrs, winning the Mill Reef Stakes, before missing all of his 3-y-o campaign. Yet to make an impression this season, though wasn't seen to best effect from a poor position when fifteenth of 21 in handicap at this C&D (good to firm, 25/1) 42 days ago. Best watched now visored.
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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 in the Bunbury Cup and perhaps not 100% when only mid-field in the International last time. Bounce back not ruled out.
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Successful 4 times in Germany last season, including a listed event at Munich, and produced his best effort on these shores when second of 11 in handicap at Sandown (7f, soft, 10/1) 7 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Not taken lightly.
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Had a productive 2024 with a 4-time winner and back on song of late in blinkers, career-best when landing a double at Chepstow (7.1f, good) last month. Ran at least as well when 1½ lengths second of 12 to Darkness at Goodwood (7f, good to firm) 14 days ago and he's considered.
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Successful 3 times last year and was back to his best when second at Haydock in July. Probably did too much too soon at Chester last time and isn't handicapped out of things.
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Gained second win of year at Doncaster on penultimate start in 2024 but hasn't really threatened to add to the tally from higher marks this season, most recently finishing fifth of 13 to Native Warrior in handicap (16/1) at Newcastle (7.1f) 70 days ago. Edging back down weights but has bit to find.
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Got back on the up in a visor when cosy winner of 13-runner handicap at Newcastle (7f) in June and shaped well coming from further back than other principals when 1½ lengths third of 20 to Great Acclaim in handicap at Goodwood (7f, good) 38 days ago. Return to this track will suit and shortlisted.
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First past post in the Spring Mile at Doncaster in March only to be demoted. Made little impression back from 4 months off here on Friday.
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Regular in these big-field handicaps and proved better than ever when winning a 12-runner event at Goodwood (7f, good to firm) 14 days ago by 1½ lengths from Great Acclaim. Seen to good effect there though and will likely need to more to defy a 6 lb rise.
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Scored for his current yard at Newmarket in July and posted an excellent second of 11 in handicap at Newbury (7f, good to firm) 3 weeks ago. Little went his way when eighth of 17 in handicap at York (7.9f, good to firm) 16 days ago and he's worth treating as if still in top form from handy draw.
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Winner of first 2 starts before a good second at Windsor on handicap debut in June. Stiff task when eleventh of 21 in Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot (6f, firm, 80/1) next time and he remains with potential back in calmer waters.
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Gained reward for consistency this year when winning at Doncaster in July and has continued in good heart since, fourth of 8 in handicap at Newmarket (8f, good, 5/1) 3 weeks ago. This is hotter but he's not ruled out of making the frame.
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Added to good record at Newcastle on return and has since made the podium on turf 3 times, Rare poor effort back at Newcastle 2 weeks ago and chances are he may find this company too strong again.
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Two wins as a juvenile (both over 7f on soft ground) included a valuable prize at York in October. Wasn't disgraced in listed company first 2 starts of this season, but safely held back on a faster surface returned to York for his handicap debut last month.
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Twice a winner at 2 yrs and made a promising reappearance when ¾-length third to Teroomm in Silver Bowl at Haydock (1m, good to firm) in May. Not disgraced in the Britannia subsequently but seemed unsuited by the track when down the field at Goodwood next time. Each-way claims at likely long odds.
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Ended long losing run at Haydock in July and ran right up to that form when placed in Racing League handicaps at Chepstow and Newcastle. Fine servant to connections and he can give another good account upped in grade.
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Quirky but better than ever when making his second start for O'Meara a winning one at Leicester in June and continued in good form next 3 outings, latterly when third in the International at C&D. Disappointing both starts since, though, so others make more appeal.
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Enjoying a good season, notching a second win of the year in a Racing League handicap at Yarmouth in July. Placed in similar company on his last 2 outings and he's an each-way player in this tougher race.
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Forecasts
Native Warrior (10/3), Akkadian Thunder (9/2), Telemark (15/2), Leadman (15/2), Great Acclaim (11/1), Strong Warrior (11/1), Bobby Bennu (18/1), Sterling Knight (18/1), Mirabeau (20/1), King's Lynn (20/1), Tarkhan (22/1), Mister Bluebird (22/1), Sword (22/1), Darkness (22/1), Afentiko (25/1), Thunder Roar (33/1), Array (33/1), Rhoscolyn (33/1), Eldrickjones (33/1), Nostrum (50/1)
LEADMAN is a strong-travelling sort that should prove well suited by the test the 7f at Ascot provides and gets the verdict having shaped well in unfavourable circumstances at York last month. Native Warrior again showed plenty to like when a staying-on third at Goodwood and will benefit from the return to this track. He heads the list of dangers, with Great Acclaim and handicap newcomer Strong Warrior also considered.
- Leadman15/2
- Native Warrior10/3
- Great Acclaim11/1
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £41,232.002nd: £19,336.003rd: £9,672.004th: £4,832.005th: £2,416.006th: £1,208.00
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