13:05 Ascot

Saturday 12 August 2017

All13:0513:4014:1514:5015:2516:00

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash (Handicap)

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 1m 1.29s

(7)

Mirza^p³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Fran Berry| T: Rae Guest| OR: 105| D

11/2

Finished runner-up in a Group 3 contest at Sandown (good-to-firm) when last in action just over a month ago. Had previously run some decent races in valuable handicaps and is an interesting contender here.

Form: 6310-52

(3)

Pipers Note²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: N Callan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 101| D

11/2

Running well so far this season completing a double when winning at Doncaster (good-to-firm) in June and finishing a close third in a valuable contest over C&D last month. Races off the same mark here and one for the shortlist in this.

Form: 301133

(5)

Willytheconqueror²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: A Pietsch| T: W R Muir| OR: 101| D

9/1

Highly tried in the main since finishing 1L third over 5f at The Curragh (good) in Listed company in May but well beaten last of seven in a conditions contest last time and contesting his first handicap since finishing fourth in this last year.

Form: 337067

(10)

Tropics²²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-9| J: Emma Jayne Wilson| T: D K Ivory| OR: 100| C

14/1

Lightly raced since finishing a nose second in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket (good-to-firm) in July 2015. Below par in three starts this season but tackles this off a mark 13lb lower than when a close fifth in the 2015 Stewards Cup.

Form: 025/604

(1)

Doc Sportello⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: A de Vries| T: A W Carroll| OR: 100| D

33/1

Successful on the AW over 5f at Newcastle in January but well beaten in three starts season and looks up against it on his debut for a new trainer here.

Form: 1-21000

(6)

Sir Robert Cheval⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Hollie Doyle| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 100| C| D

10/1

Newbury (good-to-firm) winner over 5f in April but held in two subsequent starts in Listed company. Beaten 6L at Maisons-Laffitte (good) over 5f last time and returns to handicaps today.

Form: 300-167

(4)

Green Door^v¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: U Rispoli| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 98| D

7/1

Winner at Newmarket (soft) over this trip earlier in the season and ran well when finishing 1L third at Goodwood (good) off this mark last week. Interesting to see how he fares in this contest.

Form: 6071-03

(2)

Lexington Abbey^b²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Kerrin McEvoy| T: K A Ryan| OR: 97| D

4/1

Finished runner-up on his first two outings this season including off a 1lb lower mark over 5f on the AW at Newcastle in June. Hampered prior to finishing fourth in a competitive event over C&D on good ground last time out and one to note today.

Form: 002-224

(8)

Blaine^b⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: K Tosaki| T: B Barr| OR: 97| D

20/1

Made a winning debut for this yard when successful over 6f at Newbury (soft) in May. Well held twice since and all six wins have been gained over further than he races over here.

Form: 020-100

(12)

Stake Acclaim⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: J P Spencer| T: D K Ivory| OR: 97| D

4/1

Impressed when pulling 4L clear of his rivals at Windsor (6f, good) in June and ran well on two subsequent outings in handicaps. Held in last weekends Stewards Cup at Goodwood (soft) and drops in trip today.

Form: 621260

Non-Runners

(11)

Hakam²⁹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 5

T: M Appleby J: Reserve 1

(9)

Jack Dexter¹⁴

Weight: 9-1| Age: 8

T: J S Goldie J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Stake Acclaim (4/1), Lexington Abbey (4/1), Pipers Note (11/2), Mirza (11/2), Green Door (7/1), Hakam (7/1), Willytheconqueror (9/1), Sir Robert Cheval (10/1), Jack Dexter (10/1), Tropics (14/1), Blaine (20/1), Doc Sportello (33/1)

PIPERS NOTE has been in good form so far this season and ran well when finishing third over C&D last time out. Ruth Carr's charge is flexible in terms of tactics and he can confirm form with the horse who finished one place behind him on that occasion Lexington Abbey today. Top weight Mirza ran well when finishing runner-up in a Group 3 last time and off a mark just 1lb higher than for his most recent handicap success he can claim third today.