15:00 Ascot
Saturday 29 July 2017
All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20
Gigaset International Stakes (Heritage Handicap)
- 3YO plus  |  Class 2  |  7f  |  Good to Soft  |  27 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 15:03Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 1m 28.89s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Back-to-back winner last year and gave the impression his revised mark was in reach with two smart efforts over C&D towards the end of last year as well as a third placed effort here in the Balmoral Handicap on Champions Day. Not returned in quite the same form this year but each-way claims if he puts it all together.
Won a Class 3 conditions race at Chelmsford last year but struggling in handicap over the last year. Has won over C&D but hard to fancy in current form having beaten very few home on two starts this time around and needs relief from the assessor.
Balmoral Handicap winner on Champions Day here last year but not in the same form this time around. Suspicion is that he's still feasibly handicapped and well suited to big handicaps, probably better over the mile though.
Runner-up behind Yuften in the Balmoral Handicap and returned to form with a sixth of 29 at the Royal meeting before finishing runner-up at Newbury last weekend. Remains on the same mark and can't be dismissed but can compromise his chance by hanging under pressure.
Produced a career best to land the Bunbury Cup last time out at Newmarket but difficult ask to win back-to-back handicaps at this level and hasn't had a great deal of time to recover from that effort. Different ground this time around and may struggle from a higher mark.
Not won since 2014 but produced a couple of decent efforts here last year. Not been in the same sort of form this year but should get a strong pace to run at and probably on a fair enough mark.
Has bounced back to form on the AW recently but has a few questions to answer returned to turf, having not won since his debut and arrives here on a career high mark. Would probably prefer faster ground than what he will get here and entitled to need this after an absence. However, still lightly raced and can't be ruled out.
Won three times in his first seven starts, including a Group 3 over 1m on soft ground. Ran a little better last week at Newbury but no real suggestion he's well-handicapped and he's a hostage to fortune with the way he's ridden; others make more appeal.
Back-to-back winner in Meydan this winter but given no chance by the handicapper with his mark on these shores. Would probably like faster ground to be seen to best effect and needs the first-time visor to improve him.
Beaten here in hat-trick bid last time out but sure to appreciate the drop back to 7f. C&D winner of valuable contest earlier in the season and gives the impression he can still score from the mark, particularly if he gets his own way on the front end. Moore a positive booking and first-time blinkers are an interesting addition. Should go well.
Winner of an Epsom claimer on final start for Dandy Nicholls but not managed to win off his revised mark. May need a return to front running tactics to be seen to best effect and ground probably gone against him here.
Winner off a mark 4lb lower at Newbury earlier in the season and while he's struggled on his last couple of starts in deeper contests, any soft in the going description gives him an each-way chance. Needs to settle better than he did last time though.
Back on track with back-to-back wins at Chester and York, beating a well fancied Godolphin rival, Jungle Cat in Listed company last time. Very interesting runner if he can reproduce something like that performance and better suited to this course; yard in excellent form.
Has proved a revelation this season and won four of his last six starts. Beaten off a revised mark last time and softer conditions a concern here but he can't be discounted if he can take another step forward.
Not won since landing this contest two years ago but certainly dropped to a lenient mark and won't mind conditions here. Tailed off last time at York though and a bit to prove after that effort; seemingly down the order on jockey bookings.
Just struggling to get his head in front from his revised mark after an easy win at Beverley last summer. Won't mind a bit of rain though and he's an ultra-consistent sort so not without place claims if he gets away on terms (can break slowly).
Rattled off a hat-trick last year and not disgraced on two starts this season. Still lightly race and the type to carry on progressing so handicap mark could prove a little lenient and fit from his latest effort at Newmarket.
Won five times last year and getting back down to a more reasonable mark now after some below par efforts. Probably better over shorter further than this tough.
Four-time winner last year and after taking a hike in the weights and under-performing he shaped a lot better last time at the July meeting. On a handy mark and could go well with 7lb claimer booked.
Improving this term and followed up a smart win at Newmarket with a runner-up effort at that same course last time. Sire got better with age and good chance this gelding could still be improving. Well in at the weights and gets the services of De Sousa; likely to go well in conditions he'll enjoy.
Runner-up behind the progressive Mittens last time out but still yet to win in 10 attempts on turf and not sure to appreciate the drop back in trip.
Well beaten on all four starts this season and virtually tailed off last time. Wants soft conditions to be seen at his best but questions to answer currently and needs the first-time blinkers to help him return to form.
Recorded back-to-back wins at Ayr earlier in the year, a course his trainer does well at, but up against off his revised mark in a deeper contest here and probably wants faster ground and drop back in trip not sure to suit.
Gained first win here on Friday since 2015. Probably wants genuine soft ground and he's better over 5f or 6f. Up against it if he turns up.
Well backed on a couple of occasions this year but inconsistent sort and well beaten by several of these last time at Newmarket. Only 1lb higher than his last winning mark and will enjoy these conditions so can't be ruled out.
Appreciates some cut in the ground and probably wants even more rain to arrive to be seen to best effect but got back in the winners enclosure at Doncaster recently and won a Group 3 in his pomp so still looks on a reasonable mark.
Less exposed than most in here and won back to back races in rain softened conditions at Doncaster and Haydock this season. Bit below par in Listed company at the Curragh last time but he's an interesting runner off bottom weight and one of the few of his age group in the line-up. Could go well.
Non-Runners
28
(13)
Family Fortunes86
Weight: 8-0|Â Â Age: 3
T: S Kirk  J: Non Runner
NR
Forecasts
Makzeem (11/2), Fastnet Tempest (7/1), Remarkable (8/1), Flaming Spear (9/1), Viscount Barfield (10/1), Fawaareq (11/1), Jack Dexter (12/1), Gossiping (16/1), Havre De Paix (20/1), Yuften (20/1), Above The Rest (20/1), Withernsea (22/1), Mjjack (25/1), Johnny Barnes (25/1), Squats (25/1), Family Fortunes (25/1), Firmament (33/1), Mount Tahan (33/1), Heaven's Guest (33/1), Top Score (33/1), Burnt Sugar (40/1), Nicholas T (40/1), Sir Roderic (40/1), Swift Approval (40/1), Stamp Hill (50/1), Shady Mccoy (50/1), Buckstay (50/1), Big Time (66/1)
A typically competitive renewal of this contest and it's VISCOUNT BARFIELD who may be the one to side with after his Listed win at Chester last time out. Makzeem has an obvious chance an gets the services of Silvestre De Sousa while Mjjack is completely unexposed and there could be more to come from him. Swift Approval is one that takes the eye at bigger prices after shaping well last time out.
- Viscount Barfield
- Swift Approval
- Makzeem
Prize Money
1st: £93,375.002nd: £27,960.003rd: £13,980.004th: £6,990.005th: £3,495.006th: £1,755.00
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