14:45 Ascot

Saturday 9 September 2017

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0017:0517:40

Cunard Handicap

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 1m 30.29s

(11)

Firmament¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: P Makin| T: D O'Meara| OR: 109

9/1

Won three times last year but struggling to get his head in front off his revised mark this time around and handicapper showing no mercy. Has been running well in defeat, as seen at York last month, so he's not without each-way claims.

Form: 256553

(15)

Remarkable^b⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: K Shoemark| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 107| D

10/1

Won twice last year and ran a fine race in defeat behind Yuften in the Balmoral Handicap here on Champions' Day. Not been in quite the same form this season and can hang under pressure; looks vulnerable to better handicapped types.

Form: 2-00620

(10)

Birchwood³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: J P Spencer| T: R A Fahey| OR: 105| D

7/1

Back to form with a fine effort at the Goodwood Festival last time out. Won a Group 2 as a juvenile and seemingly well suited to some cut in the ground. Could be well-handicapped despite a 3lb rise for his latest effort.

Form: 56-8603

(12)

Top Score⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Josephine Gordon| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 106| D

22/1

Won twice at the Meydan Carnival earlier in the year but has struggled on his return here and would like fast ground to be seen at his best.

Form: 107600

(16)

Squats⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Georgia Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: W J Haggas| OR: 99| C| D

6/1

Back to form with a win at Newbury last month but not in the same form at Chelmsford last time. Dropped 1lb for that and has to be of interest having run a fine race over C&D with cut in the ground at the end of last season off a 4lb higher mark.

Form: 000018

(20)

Early Morning²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: J Fortune| T: H J L Dunlop| OR: 98| C

50/1

Course winner here last year over a mile and ran a fine race on return at Haydock in April. Disappointing on two subsequent runs though and he would probably want faster ground to be seen at his best here.

Form: 127-208

(14)

Raising Sand²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: D C Costello| T: J A Osborne| OR: 98| C| D

12/1

Has won five of his 11 starts on turf and bounced back on a reduced mark at the Shergar Cup here last time out over a mile. May struggle back down in trip off a 9lb higher mark.

Form: 17-P061

(9)

Von Blucher^t⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: P J McDonald| T: R Menzies| OR: 97

14/1

Former John Gosden inmate who won over 1m at Newmarket from a 11lb lower mark last summer. Best effort for current yard when a 2L third behind Get Knotted over this trip at York in July but needs more in a deeper race here.

Form: 33-5063

(18)

Breakable⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: A Mullen| T: T D Easterby| OR: 97| BF| D

25/1

Has an admirable strike-rate of eight wins from 35 starts on turf and running well in defeat at both Chester and York recently. Suspicion the handicapper has caught up with her for now but she's dangerous if allowed too much rope on the front end.

Form: 741523

(2)

Masham Star⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Fran Berry| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 98| D

12/1

Winner on his 18th attempt this year at Chelmsford last time out and his very best form has all come on the AW. Capable of running well on turf and he's ground versatile so can't be dismissed.

Form: 562751

(6)

Mjjack⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: R Ffrench| T: K R Burke| OR: 98| D

6/1

Career best when runner-up in a valuable handicap over C&D on good-to-soft ground when last seen. Races off a 4lb higher mark today but the form of that contest looks rock solid and he's still unexposed. Should run well in conditions he will enjoy.

Form: 1-71172

(5)

Bertiewhittle¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 8-8| J: Rowan Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Barron| OR: 93| D

33/1

Inconsistent sort, reliant on a strong pace to be seen at his best. Nature of this track suits him (placed four times) and this jockey has been on for his last three wins. Won't mind soft conditions but never won off a mark this high.

Form: 552710

(19)

Summer Icon⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Rob Hornby| T: M R Channon| OR: 92| D

66/1

Struggling for form this season and best form has come on faster ground/AW. Very disappointing when last of seven at Pontefract last time and she's never won off a mark this high.

Form: 366057

(13)

Lualiwa²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: David Egan⁽³⁾| T: K A Ryan| OR: 95| D

17/2

Has won three of his six starts this year and placed on the other three outings. Ran well over 6f here on Shergar Cup day and looks sure to appreciate the step back up in trip. Likely to make a bold bid with a useful 3lb claimer on his back.

Form: 132112

(3)

Heaven's Guest⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-5| J: P Mathers| T: R A Fahey| OR: 90| CD

20/1

Nine time winner in his career but not won for over two years. Last win came when landing his second C&D success but losing run stands at 19 and while he's becoming well-handicapped on old form, he's been disappointing in five starts this year.

Form: 0-07000

(7)

Glory Awaits^b¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-4| J: Joey Haynes| T: D M Simcock| OR: 89| D

20/1

Not won since landing a Group 2 contest in Turkey back in 2014 but has been running a little better on recent starts and may be capable of landing a race off this mark. This looks a tough contest to end a 20-race losing run though.

Form: 803023

(8)

Shady Mccoy¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-2| J: George Wood⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 87| D

12/1

Started off the year in reasonable form but form has seemingly tailed off as the season has progressed. Back on his last winning mark and gets a useful claimer taking off 3lb but he's too inconsistent to forward with any confidence.

Form: 404980

Non-Runners

(4)

Dark Emerald⁶⁹

Weight: 8-12| Age: 7

T: B G Powell J: M Dwyer

(1)

El Hayem¹⁶

Weight: 8-11| Age: 4

T: Sir Michael Stoute J: Non Runner

(17)

Qeyaadah²¹

Weight: 8-1| Age: 4

T: M Appleby J: Hollie Doyle

Forecasts

Mjjack (6/1), Squats (6/1), Birchwood (7/1), El Hayem (8/1), Lualiwa (17/2), Firmament (9/1), Remarkable (10/1), Raising Sand (12/1), Shady Mccoy (12/1), Masham Star (12/1), Von Blucher (14/1), Heaven's Guest (20/1), Glory Awaits (20/1), Top Score (22/1), Breakable (25/1), Qeyaadah (25/1), Dark Emerald (25/1), Bertiewhittle (33/1), Early Morning (50/1), Summer Icon (66/1)

BIRCHWOOD could be the one to side with after a fine effort at Goodwood last time out and he looks well-handicapped on old form. Squats should appreciate the return to turf and still looks on a workable mark but Mjjack may prove the main danger and is less exposed than most in here.