15:15 Ascot

Friday 8 September 2017

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:30

Leo Bancroft Signature Hair Care Classified Stakes (Str)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 1m 46.2s

(7)

Fox Trotter¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: L Dettori| T: B J Meehan| OR: 86

12/1

Best on an easy surface as he has shown when scoring at Sandown in July and when going down narrowly at Chepstow in June. Had a stiff task last time on a quicker surface but this is easier and conditions are forecast to suit.

Form: 726616

(3)

Cape Byron³²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 90

13/8

Landed an autumn maiden at Newmarket in 2016 and fairly treated on that form. Holds a couple of Group One entries for Champions Day and that would suggest he could be a lot better than these.

Form: 21-

(2)

Dr Julius No^p1¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: S W Kelly| T: R Hughes| OR: 90

20/1

Winner of a couple of races as a juvenile on quick surfaces and has had little respite from the handicapper since. Worst career effort came on good-to-soft ground and that would be a worry here. Cheekpieces will need to have a significant effect.

Form: 943243

(5)

Fire Brigade²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: S De Sousa| T: M L W Bell| OR: 90| D

15/8

Arrives following a commanding display at Haydock and a 6lb rise looks within his scope. Stable in form and rider 3-8 for the yard.

Form: 141531

(1)

Maths Prize^p³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: R L Moore| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 89| D

20/1

Winner of a Ripon nursery in 2016 and form has a patchy look about it this term. A good run at Newmarket in July is sandwiched between poor efforts here and at Sandown. The latter came on easy ground and that may prove a concern.

Form: 13-5034

(8)

Medieval^b³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: David Probert| T: P & O Cole| OR: 90

12/1

Has slipped a long way since beating the useful Defoe at Epsom a year ago. Hard to fancy on current form.

Form: 15-0994

(6)

Musawaat¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| OR: 90

7/1

Lines up here in preference to a £50,000 prize on Saturday. Improved to score at Newmarket two weeks ago and his new mark is undemanding. Handles any ground and looks sure to have a big say.

Form: 10-2631

Non-Runners

(4)

Replenish⁷¹

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: J R Fanshawe J: George Wood

Forecasts

Cape Byron (13/8), Fire Brigade (15/8), Musawaat (7/1), Fox Trotter (12/1), Medieval (12/1), Replenish (14/1), Maths Prize (20/1), Dr Julius No (20/1)

The two previous renewals of this were taken by three-year-olds who won last time and it could be a similar story here with Musawaat, Fire Brigade and CAPE BYRON all holding strong claims. The former produced a career best to score last time and conditions will not be an issue. Fire Brigade was impressive last time and has the services of a top rider who has a good record for the stable. CAPE BYRON was an easy winner of a Newmarket maiden and that for has worked out well enough to suggest he is not harshly treated on his return. He has some interesting entries for later in the year which suggest he may be the one to beat.