17:40 Ascot

Saturday 9 September 2017

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

Superstars Handicap

Off time: 17:40 | Winning time: 1m 3.78s

(2)

Robot Boy¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Fran Berry| T: T D Barron| OR: 90| D

9/1

Winner at Wolverhampton at the start of the year but struggled since switched to turf in May. Mark starting to look lenient as a result but needs to bounce back.

Form: 865070

(14)

Afandem¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Josephine Gordon| T: H Palmer| OR: 91| D

12/1

Won four times as a juvenile including a Group 3 contest at Chantilly but struggling for any sort of form this time around and well beaten last of 16 at the Ebor meeting last time out. Plenty to prove at present.

Form: 4-80890

(6)

Dark Defender^b³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Rowan Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 89| D

7/1

Largely running well this year but probably a little better over 6f than the minimum trip. Dangerous to grant an early lead to but that seems an unlikely scenario here and he needs a career best to land this.

Form: 234125

(3)

Shamshon^t⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: S C Williams| OR: 88| BF| CD

4/1

C&D winner off a 4lb higher mark on final start for Jamie Osborne but just one win from 10 starts for this yard and he's an inconsistent sort. Dropped 1lb for his latest effort but trainer has a low strike-rate around here and others preferred.

Form: 031604

(12)

Mont Kiara³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Spencer| T: K A Ryan| OR: 85

7/2

Got up to win late at Newmarket lats time out after some poor performances prior to that. Needs a strong pace to run at but still well-handicapped on old form and stiff finish here should play to his strengths.

Form: 840001

(8)

Turanga Leela^v⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Finley Marsh⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 83

10/1

Back to form with a win at Chester in May wearing a first-time visor but has struggled a little off her revised mark subsequently. Probably wants faster ground than what she will get here and seemingly better over 6f.

Form: 29-0143

(11)

Pettochside¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: Hollie Doyle⁽³⁾| T: J J Bridger| OR: 82| D

9/2

Won a Salisbury handicap in June and not beaten far over C&D in July. Not in the same form on three subsequent efforts but well suited to cut in the ground and 3lb claimer enjoying a good time things lately. No surprise to see him bounce back here.

Form: 432609

(1)

Ladweb²²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Joey Haynes| T: J Gallagher| OR: 81| D

16/1

Won three times last year and has an impressive strike-rate of seven wins from 39 starts on turf. Never won off a mark this higher though and he looks vulnerable here.

Form: 408-275

(5)

Ocelot²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Tom Marquand| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 82| D

20/1

Has improved since joining this stable, winning three of her five starts. Disappointed last time out at Bath in softer conditions though and ground has to be a concern again here.

Form: 3-15116

(7)

Mininggold^p⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: A Mullen| T: M Dods| OR: 77| D

12/1

In good form this campaign and won well benefiting from a smart ride at Beverley last time out. Needs more in a deeper contest here and best efforts have come on faster ground.

Form: 731531

Non-Runners

(13)

Evergate¹⁴

Weight: 9-8| Age: 3

T: R M H Cowell J: J Fortune

(10)

Foxy Forever¹⁴

Weight: 9-4| Age: 7

T: M Wigham J: P J Dobbs

(9)

Kasbah⁷

Weight: 9-4| Age: 5

T: Mrs A J Perrett J: K Shoemark

(4)

Justice Lady⁷

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: D R C Elsworth J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Mont Kiara (7/2), Shamshon (4/1), Pettochside (9/2), Evergate (5/1), Foxy Forever (6/1), Dark Defender (7/1), Justice Lady (7/1), Robot Boy (9/1), Turanga Leela (10/1), Kasbah (10/1), Mininggold (12/1), Afandem (12/1), Ladweb (16/1), Ocelot (20/1)

FOXY FOREVER arrives in search of a hat-trick and 2lb rise for his latest win looks fair; he could be the one to side with having won off higher marks in the past. Mont Kiara is another who has won off higher marks and should benefit from a likely strong pace here while Evergate ran a big race at York last time and may be able to build on that run.