16:00 Ascot

Saturday 13 May 2017

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Totescoop6 Victoria Cup (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 16:02 | Winning time: 1m 27.14s

(10)

Gm Hopkins²¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: T P Queally| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 108

25/1

Well beaten on all recent starts but has a good record here generally. Won a Listed contest over a mile on seasonal reappearance last year and won a handicap at Royal Ascot the previous year. Versatile ground wise but handicap mark only fair and others hold stronger claims.

Form: 803400-

(13)

Remarkable^b²¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: K Shoemark⁽³⁾| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 105

15/2

Progressive profile and finished a fine second over the mile here on final start of 2016 behind the well-handicapped Yuften. 2lb rise for that could underestimate him and he won on his seasonal bow last year.

Form: 112502-

(19)

Outback Traveller¹⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: M Harley| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 105

33/1

Just one win since 2014 but that did come here over 6f. This mark looks a little beyond him at present though and better handicapped sorts likely to be in the mix.

Form: 701950-

(6)

Squats²²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Georgia Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: W J Haggas| OR: 104

16/1

Placed three times over C&D last year and this jockey gets on well with him and worth her 5lb claim. No reason why he won't go well again but his running style leaves him a hostage to fortune somewhat.

Form: 4/02443-

(22)

Hors De Combat²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: D J Coakley| OR: 103

10/1

Consistent performer at this level for James Fanshawe and fair form on three starts for this yard including a couple of efforts in Meydan. The fact he's not won since 2014 isn't a fair reflection of how well he's performed in recent times and has to pop up in a race of this nature at some point. All his best form is on fast ground; leading claims with Champion Jockey booked for the first time and race-fitness on his side provided the rain stays away.

Form: 205-232

(24)

Bossy Guest²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: W Buick| T: M R Channon| OR: 103

12/1

Fair effort at Newbury on return but largely been disappointing since stepped up to this trip and further and others will be on a better mark.

Form: 77600-5

(5)

Above The Rest^h¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Fran Berry| T: T D Barron| OR: 101

12/1

Raised 9lb for finishing last season with a 7L win at Chester (7f, good to soft). Far from disgraced off his revised mark at Ripon last time and while this is no doubt a deeper race, he should give another good account.

Form: 23501-4

(3)

Kadrizzi^p¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: R Winston| T: D K Ivory| OR: 98

25/1

Has looked better suited to sprint trips and hard to fancy in a race as competitive as this having shaped like he didn't stay 7f on both of his starts over the distance.

Form: 65-6952

(11)

Zhui Feng^p1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: M Dwyer| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 98

25/1

Likely front-runner once again and should give another good account. Should get the run of the race from his side with not much pace drawn low but cheekpieces need to bring some improvement if he's going to get off the mark and possibly a little more effective over further.

Form: 550-480

(17)

Steel Train⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Shelley Birkett⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 96

40/1

Lost his way since winning at Newcastle at the end of last year. Needs a strong pace and the rain stay away if he's to be seen to best effective, both far from guaranteed.

Form: 000708

(14)

Heaven's Guest²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Sammy Jo Bell⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 96

20/1

Enjoyed a great season in 2015, recording three wins at this trip, but couldn't quite find the target last year. Has won over C&D twice in his career and looks like he's on a very fair handicap mark now. Any rain would be a bonus and he's versatile tactics wise so there's a lot to like.

Form: 0000-07

(2)

Withernsea⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Barry McHugh| T: R A Fahey| OR: 96

33/1

Just one win since 2014 and all his best efforts have come on soft or heavy ground. Hard to fancy from 7lb above his highest winning mark.

Form: 0028-90

(23)

George William²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 95

8/1

Appears to be getting better with age and not done progressing just yet judged by his excellent fourth at Newbury last time after missing the break and not getting the clearest of runs. Best efforts have come on fast ground so unlikely to want rain but certainly looks capable off this sort of mark.

Form: 8551-14

(16)

Miracle of Medinah²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Lulu Stanford⁽⁵⁾| T: M D I Usher| OR: 94

40/1

Not won since 2013 and still only 4lb below his last winning mark so not particularly well handicapped. Poor on his two efforts at this course and hard to fancy in this line-up.

Form: 64528-4

(27)

Holiday Magic²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁷⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 94

50/1

Has made excellent progress for this yard through the winter, rattling off a hat-trick at the turn of the year. The fear would have to be that the handicapper has caught up with him and the booking of an inexperienced 7lb claimer perhaps backs that up. However, drawn on the paint and loves front-running so not dismissed if his apprentice gets the fractions right on the front end.

Form: 142307

(1)

Stamp Hill¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 93

50/1

Won over this trip at Doncaster last year but hasn't backed that effort up. Disappointing on his reappearance and best efforts have come with plenty of cut in the ground so needs a deluge.

Form: 52910-8

(8)

Chestnut Fire¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: William Carson| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 92

33/1

Has looked more effective on the AW than he has on turf and struggled at Lingfield last time on yard debut so hard to fancy back on the grass.

Form: 23-4414

(20)

Charles Molson⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Charlie Bennett⁽⁵⁾| T: P R Chamings| OR: 92

16/1

Not an easy horse to catch right and has generally struggled in this class of race. Versatile ground wise at least and probably drawn where the pace will come from so not dismissed out of hand.

Form: 5691-30

(15)

Bertiewhittle²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 8-7| J: Rowan Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Barron| OR: 91

50/1

Mercurial type who is clearly difficult to catch right but this apprentice has built up a good relationship with him. A strong pace is essential to his chance, as he loves running through beaten horses and he has options from this draw. Versatile ground wise and has race fitness on his side so plenty to like.

Form: 3612-76

(7)

Taurean Star¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: J P Spencer| T: M L W Bell| OR: 91

8/1

Three wins from 10 starts and only raised 2lb for his win at Yarmouth last time. May come on for that run but needs a good pace to aim at and most of the front-runners are drawn high.

Form: 19355-1

(18)

Fastnet Tempest^p²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: Josephine Gordon| T: W J Haggas| OR: 89

5/1

Lightly raced sort who was just run out of it at Newbury last time having looked like the winner a furlong from home. Only raised 1lb for that effort having travelled the best throughout the race; should go well provided his jockey can get the fractions right from the front or just behind the pace

Form: 21214-3

(26)

Shady Mccoy³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-5| J: J Quinn| T: Ian Williams| OR: 89

33/1

Still looked a shade progressive last season having worked his way up through the handicap ranks but shown nothing on his most recent starts and has developed a habit of missing the break; tough to fancy in current form in a race as competitive as this.

Form: 62940-0

(25)

The Warrior^e/s⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: George Wood⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 88

12/1

Caught the eye on a couple of occasions last season and similar story last time at Goodwood where he probably would have won with a clear run. Still looks very well handicapped with a 2lb rise and 5lb claimer is a talented prospect. Plenty to like and drawn near the expected pace.

Form: 321453

(12)

Noble Peace¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-0| J: Richard Oliver⁽⁵⁾| T: H Candy| OR: 84

50/1

Returned from a gelding operation to win over 7f at this course last season and later followed it up with a similar performance on turf at Leicester. Not in the same form on two starts either side of a winter break though and handicap mark could only be described as fair.

Form: 04018-5

Non-Runners

(4)

Ride Like The Wind⁴²

Weight: 9-4| Age: 5

T: K A Ryan J: Non Runner

(9)

Donncha²¹

Weight: 9-2| Age: 6

T: R Eddery J: Andrea Atzeni

(21)

Professor¹²

Weight: 8-2| Age: 7

T: M J Attwater J: Danny Brock

Forecasts

Fastnet Tempest (5/1), Remarkable (15/2), George William (8/1), Taurean Star (8/1), Hors De Combat (10/1), Bossy Guest (12/1), The Warrior (12/1), Above The Rest (12/1), Donncha (14/1), Ride Like The Wind (14/1), Charles Molson (16/1), Squats (16/1), Heaven's Guest (20/1), Zhui Feng (25/1), Gm Hopkins (25/1), Kadrizzi (25/1), Professor (25/1), Shady Mccoy (33/1), Outback Traveller (33/1), Withernsea (33/1), Chestnut Fire (33/1), Miracle of Medinah (40/1), Steel Train (40/1), Holiday Magic (50/1), Noble Peace (50/1), Bertiewhittle (50/1), Stamp Hill (50/1)

Fastnet Tempest looked like the winner for a long way at Newbury last time and the drop back in trip could work perfectly for him, with Holiday Magic likely to tow him a long from their high draws. However, it's THE WARRIOR who is most likely to benefit and he looked an unlucky loser at Goodwood last time. Bertiewhittle needs everything to drop right and he's another who would benefit from a strong pace while Heaven's Guest looks like a well-handicapped runner. Hors De Combat's consistency should hold him in good stead and he may be chief threat to the selection with his turn likely to be coming sooner rather than later.