16:00 Ascot

Saturday 12 August 2017

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

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint (Handicap)

Off time: 16:02 | Winning time: 1m 15.99s

(9)

Repton³¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: Hollie Doyle| T: R Hannon| OR: 98

25/1

Successful at Salisbury (5f, good) on his second start last year and highly tried subsequently including when 15th of 20 in a valuable Listed contest at Redcar (good-to-firm) over this trip in October. Making his seasonal and handicap debut here.

Form: 21580-

(12)

Smokey Lane¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: Emma Jayne Wilson| T: Christian Williams| OR: 98| D

20/1

Victorious at Leicester (good-to-soft) over 6f back in May but well held in three subsequent starts including on his debut for this trainer at Newmarket (6f, good-to-soft) last time out. Remains on a mark 6lb higher than for that Leicester success.

Form: 571070

(4)

Nobly Born¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-13| J: A de Vries| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 97| BF| D

5/2

Winner at Yarmouth (good-to-firm) over 6f in June last year but had just three starts since. Put in a couple of creditable efforts so far this year including when beaten ½L into fourth over 6f at Newmarket (good-to-soft) last time out and he races off the same mark today.

Form: 312-34

(3)

Golden Apollo¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Fran Berry| T: T D Easterby| OR: 95| BF| D

4/1

Completing a double when winning a valuable 6f contest at York (good-to-firm) in June and ran well when beaten 1L at Newmarket (good) over this trip subsequently. Slightly disappointing over the same C&D last time out but remains of interest here.

Form: 431149

(8)

Private Matter^h1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Hayley Turner| T: R A Fahey| OR: 94| D

8/1

Ended his two-year-old campaign with a Listed success on soft ground over 6f at Maisons-Laffitte back in October. Well held in five starts since being gelded during the winter though hampered when finishing seventh at Newmarket (good-to-soft) last time out. Wears a hood for the first time today.

Form: 1-48007

(5)

Goodwood Crusader⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: N Callan| T: R Hughes| OR: 93| D

9/1

Registered a five-timer culminating in a win at Newmarket (good-to-firm) over this trip earlier in the season. Well beaten when stepping up in grade the last twice including when 14th of 16 at Newmarket (soft) over 6f last time out and more needed here.

Form: 111170

(11)

Lualiwa²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: A Delpech| T: K A Ryan| OR: 93

9/2

Winner of three of his four starts this year including over 7f the last twice. Most recent of those victories came on good-to-firm ground at York last month. Has made all for two of his three victories and has to defy a 6lb rise in the weights in this.

Form: 4-13211

(10)

Belle Meade³²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: K Tosaki| T: A M Balding| OR: 92| D

14/1

Successful on debut over 6f at Pontefract (good-to-firm) in July last year. Best effort in three subsequent starts came when finishing 4L third of 12 over the same trip at Ayr (good-to-soft) in September but absent since and is an interesting runner on her handicap debut.

Form: 1763-

(7)

Bohemian Flame³³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: U Rispoli| T: A M Balding| OR: 92

11/1

Debut winner at Salisbury (good-to-soft) over 5f in May last year but lightly raced since and well beaten in a valuable sales contest over an extended 6f at Doncaster (good) when last in action 11 months ago. Making his handicap debut here.

Form: 1370-

(6)

Megan Lily⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Spencer| T: R A Fahey| OR: 88

14/1

Victorious off a 1lb lower mark over 5f at Chester (soft) in June. Well beaten in three subsequent outings most recently at Goodwood (soft) last week and tackles this trip for just the fifth time today.

Form: 321997

Non-Runners

(2)

Poet's Society⁹

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: C & M Johnston J: Reserve 1

(1)

Turanga Leela²⁸

Weight: 8-13| Age: 3

T: Ian Williams J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Nobly Born (5/2), Golden Apollo (4/1), Lualiwa (9/2), Private Matter (8/1), Goodwood Crusader (9/1), Bohemian Flame (11/1), Turanga Leela (12/1), Megan Lily (14/1), Belle Meade (14/1), Smokey Lane (20/1), Poet's Society (20/1), Repton (25/1)

With no obvious pace amongst the confirmed runners Kevin Ryan's LUALIWA is taken to make all the running dropping back to 6f for the first time this season. The selection has won his last two starts and can complete the hat-trick to give the Rest Of The World team a winner here. Nobly Born ran well in a highly competitive contest at Newmarket last time and can claim second off the same mark here while Golden Apollo who had been in good form prior to disappointing last time out can take third.