17:30 Ascot

Friday 8 September 2017

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

Bibendum Wine Handicap

Off time: 17:33 | Winning time: 1m 18.34s

(14)

Harwoods Volante¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Fran Berry| T: D O'Meara| OR: 79| D

12/1

Frustrating sort who is proving difficult to win with. Continues to flatter to deceive and hard to fancy despite his plunging mark.

Form: 227205

(3)

Cool Bahamian^b¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: J Fortune| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 78| D

10/1

Has looked well treated on his last three starts and has failed to deliver. Drops further down the handicap but he is becoming frustrating.

Form: 453526

(6)

African Friend¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Dane O'Neill| T: H Candy| OR: 77| BF

9/2

Beat a dual subsequent winner on his return before his inexperience found him out at Thirsk next time. Has claims here off the same mark and clearly well regarded having gone off favourite on each start.

Form: 4-13

(15)

Alaadel^b1,t³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 76| D

2/1

Showed he was back to the form of his Doncaster debut victory when going down narrowly last time. Aids go on here but yard have a lower than expected 5-63 record with older horses here.

Form: 1582

(2)

Drop Kick Murphi²⁰⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Joey Haynes| T: Mrs C A Dunnett| OR: 78| D

50/1

Looks high enough in the weights for now. Returns from a seven month break with the yard struggling for winners.

Form: 5110-76

(11)

Mullionheir²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: S De Sousa| T: J R Best| OR: 76| D

5/1

More than two years since his last win and 15lb lower here. Steps back down to a distance where he is 4-13 and top rider makes him interesting. One to note in the market.

Form: 0-40999

(1)

North Creek²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: S W Kelly| T: C F Wall| OR: 73

12/1

Winner of three races over 7f on AW tracks and his weaker form on turf is reflected in today's mark. Soundly beaten in weaker company at Yarmouth last time and this shorter trip makes him a bigger risk.

Form: 561447

(8)

Perfect Symphony¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Adam Beschizza| T: K A Ryan| OR: 75

11/1

Found 7f too far last time but he has something to find on the form of his two prior efforts in lesser company.

Form: 31-0320

(17)

Peter Park³⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Amelia Glass⁽⁷⁾| T: C G Cox| OR: 72| D

33/1

Off the track for almost a year and best form has come in lower grade. Inexperienced rider on board suggests the run might be needed.

Form: 841638-

(9)

Duke Cosimo²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: George Wood⁽³⁾| T: M Herrington| OR: 72| D

10/1

Below his last winning mark and signs appeared more encouraging at Redcar last month. Has each-way claims with yard's horses going better of late.

Form: 059304

(12)

Picket Line^p²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Hayley Turner| T: G Deacon| OR: 70| D

33/1

Appears better suited to AW tracks and forecast ground is an issue. Stable going through a quiet spell so plenty of negatives to dispel.

Form: 049630

Non-Runners

(5)

Ninjago¹³

Weight: 9-7| Age: 7

T: P T Midgley J: D Tudhope

(10)

Red Tycoon¹⁰

Weight: 9-6| Age: 5

T: K O Cunningham-Brown J: William Carson

(16)

Outer Space¹⁷

Weight: 9-5| Age: 6

T: J A Osborne J: D C Costello

(4)

Glenamoy Lad²⁷

Weight: 9-4| Age: 3

T: M Wigham J: David Probert

(7)

Cappananty Con¹³

Weight: 9-4| Age: 3

T: D K Ivory J: M Dwyer

(13)

Plucky Dip³

Weight: 8-9| Age: 6

T: J Ryan J: Jack Osborn

Forecasts

Alaadel (2/1), African Friend (9/2), Mullionheir (5/1), Ninjago (6/1), Glenamoy Lad (8/1), Cool Bahamian (10/1), Duke Cosimo (10/1), Perfect Symphony (11/1), North Creek (12/1), Harwoods Volante (12/1), Red Tycoon (12/1), Cappananty Con (14/1), Outer Space (20/1), Plucky Dip (25/1), Peter Park (33/1), Picket Line (33/1), Drop Kick Murphi (50/1)

A tricky finale in which a case can be made for many. AFRICAN FRIEND is less exposed than most and he looks the one to beat with the form of his Windsor victory working out well. Duke Cosimo has place claims off an attractive mark and Mullionheir is worth a check in the market. Glenamoy Lad and Allaadel are other possibiliities.