16:25 Ascot

Friday 28 July 2017

All13:4014:1014:4515:2015:5516:2516:55

Neptune Investment Management Handicap

Off time: 16:26 | Winning time: 1m 1.42s

(12)

Just Glamorous³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: S W Kelly| T: R Harris| OR: 105| D

25/1

Winner of a Group 3 last year, getting the better of Marsha but beaten out of sight on three starts this year and clearly not right currently. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 310-090

(13)

Verne Castle^h¹⁰⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 99| D

50/1

Five-time winner on the AW but yet to win in eight starts on turf and finished well beaten on AW Championships Final's Day at Lingfield when last seen. May need this run after a break.

Form: 511360

(7)

Copper Knight¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 101| D

8/1

Has returned to form dropped in class since joining this yard but struggled in Listed company the last twice. Will appreciate the drop in class and this jockey was on board for his last win at York but suspicion is that his handicap mark is a little high.

Form: 0-21130

(2)

Monsieur Joe⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 9-1| J: R Winston| T: P T Midgley| OR: 96| D

14/1

Dropped quite some way in the handicap and shaped like a return to form was imminent last time out at Newmarket. Getting a little long in the tooth now but could run well if he turns up in the right mood and jockey is useful over sprint trips.

Form: 574502

(10)

Robot Boy^h1¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Barron| OR: 95| D

12/1

Very best effort have come on faster ground than this and finished tailed off here last time out after missing the break. First-time hood applied but there's a feeling he's vulnerable off this sort of mark in a race of this quality. Useful 5lb claimer booked at least.

Form: 328650

(6)

Afandem¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Charlie Bennett⁽³⁾| T: H Palmer| OR: 98| D

8/1

Won a Listed contest and a Group 3 last year but well beaten on three starts this year. Shaped a little better last time out but needs to prove he's going to be as good as a three-year-old as he was at two.

Form: 144-808

(5)

Soie D'leau¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: J Fanning| T: Kristin Stubbs| OR: 92| D

15/2

Running okay this year without managing to get his head in front but 4lb lower than the mark he won off at the end of last year and has won on soft ground before. Should go well and tends to run better as the season progresses.

Form: 755264

(8)

Shamshon^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Jim Crowley| T: S C Williams| OR: 90| CD

7/2

Bounced back to form last time out and only up 3lb for that effort. Won off higher marks in the past and gets the services of the Champion Jockey again today. No obvious reason why he won't go close again.

Form: 875031

(11)

Coolfitch¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Shelley Birkett⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 93| D

9/1

Clearly still progressing for this yard and stayed on well to finish runner-up at York last time out. 2lb rise for that probably a little lenient and will go well again provided they go quick up front.

Form: 152152

(4)

Exceed The Limit^p³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: M Dwyer| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 88| D

33/1

Not managed to get his head in front for this yard yet and best effort came when runner-up on the AW. Trainer excels with his sprinters and is likely to find the key to this gelding at some stage but there looks to be likelier winners in the line up.

Form: 08-2907

(1)

Jack Dexter⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-6| J: William Carson| T: J S Goldie| OR: 87| C| D

5/1

Losing run now stands at 14 and not managed to win since 2015. Probably wants softer ground than what he'll get here and he's better over 6f.

Form: 860454

(9)

Pettochside⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-3| J: Hollie Doyle⁽³⁾| T: J J Bridger| OR: 84| D

11/1

Justified favouritism at Salisbury a couple of starts back but seemingly back in the handicapper's grip for now and likely to struggle in a race as deep as this.

Form: 732143

(15)

Top Boy^v¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-1| J: Aaron Jones⁽³⁾| T: D Shaw| OR: 82| D

16/1

Just one win from 45 starts and very inconsistent sort. One of his better efforts when just touched off at Newmarket last time out and 1lb rise for that looks lenient but no certainty he's going to back that up.

Form: 865562

Non-Runners

(14)

Yalta³⁵

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: C & M Johnston J: R L Moore

(3)

Gravity Flow¹⁴

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: W J Haggas J: P Cosgrave

Forecasts

Shamshon (7/2), Jack Dexter (5/1), Gravity Flow (7/1), Yalta (7/1), Soie D'leau (15/2), Copper Knight (8/1), Afandem (8/1), Coolfitch (9/1), Pettochside (11/1), Robot Boy (12/1), Monsieur Joe (14/1), Top Boy (16/1), Just Glamorous (25/1), Exceed The Limit (33/1), Verne Castle (50/1)

SOLE D'LEAU may be worth chancing and he normally gets better as the season goes on, after a promising run last time, he could be the one to beat. Shamshon looks the main danger after a lenient rise for his win last time out while Coolfitch could be the danger if they go hard enough up front.