14:00 Ascot

Friday 6 October 2017

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:55

Veolia Handicap

Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 1m 30.06s

(15)

Scottish Glen⁷²

Age: 11| Weight: 9-9| J: H Crouch⁽³⁾| T: P R Chamings| OR: 87| CD

20/1

Good record at the track (2 wins from 5 starts) and takes a drop in grade today, so has those plus points, and looks to be drawn near the speed, which will suit his run style. Drying ground ideal and looks a player here.

Form: 67-7644

(8)

Custard The Dragon^p¹³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: J Fanning| T: J Mackie| OR: 85| D

25/1

Much improved on the Fibresand and Tapeta last winter, proving very consistent and game, but not seen out since May and now needs to show he can transfer that improvement over to turf. Others make more appeal today.

Form: 142112

(5)

Fox Trotter²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Charles Bishop| T: B J Meehan| OR: 85| D

16/1

Winner at Sandown in July but since then, has found life harder and the handicapper appears to be in charge. Hard to make a solid case for and makes only minimal appeal.

Form: 661630

(17)

Shady Mccoy²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: Ian Williams| OR: 85| D

13/2

Nicely handicapped on the best of his form and appeared to be running back into form when not beaten far in a big-field handicap here at the end of last month. Excellent jockey booking and shrewd yard might be able to coax him back to best here.

Form: 049800

(16)

My Amigo^p1⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: K R Burke| OR: 83

14/1

Looked very useful as a 2-y-o and has won a couple of his nine starts to date. Still lightly raced and may have more to offer, this trip could be ideal and the cheekpieces look another positive as well. Not dismissed.

Form: 313-054

(3)

High Acclaim^v1²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S De Sousa| T: R A Teal| OR: 85

10/1

Has been pretty consistent over a variety of trips this year without actually getting his head in front, which rather suggests the handicapper has him where he wants him. Good jockey booking though, and first time visor might eke a bit more out.

Form: 333436

(18)

Gothic Empire⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: George Wood⁽³⁾| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 83| CD

10/1

Encountered a bit of trouble in running last time but as he had done previously, looked a little short of speed anyway. On the plus side, only run here resulted in a win, and he could be well drawn, so hard to dismiss entirely.

Form: 1-75005

(7)

Plant Pot Power¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 83| BF| D

16/1

Has been performing with some consistency this year, and this drying ground may suit him better than the soft he encountered at Chepstow last time too. Finding it hard t win, though, and the places may be the best he can hope for again.

Form: 235254

(10)

Moonraker¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: G Lee| T: M R Channon| OR: 81| C

14/1

Worth a go at 7f after some staying-on efforts over six recently, but the bottom line with him is that he's an infrequent winner (last win in 2015) and on that alone, others are preferred for win purposes.

Form: 739844

(12)

Esprit De Corps^p¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: K Shoemark| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 81

8/1

Steadily improving 3-y-o that ran his best race for a while when second to Warsaw Road at Newbury last month. Up 2lb for that but should have more to offer, and has already gone close over this C&D. Plenty to recommend and should go close.

Form: 042452

(4)

Alaadel^b,t²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 79| BF

9/2

Not had much racing and this will only be his sixth start, but went very close over 6f here last time and this step up to 7f looks ideal. A bit of rain wouldn't go amiss, but even so, looks one of the more likely ones today.

Form: 15822

(9)

Cricklewood Green⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Mitch Godwin⁽⁵⁾| T: S Kirk| OR: 79| CD

10/1

Two wins from six starts here, so acts well on the track, and ran as well as could be expected under conditions arguably too soft for him last time. Hold up style means he always needs a bit of luck, but chances if the breaks do come.

Form: 069142

(2)

Black Caesar²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Spencer| T: P Hide| OR: 78| D

25/1

Seems happier at a lower level than today's, and best form comes on switchback tracks (Brighton being his favourite). May be biting off a bit more than he can chew here, and others preferred.

Form: 132136

(11)

Crafty Madam²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: S Hitchcott| T: C G Cox| OR: 79| D

16/1

Improving and took a Sandown handicap last time out with a bit in hand. 7lb rise for that is fair, no reason to think this track won't suit and she should have [plenty more to offer. Has to be on the shortlist.

Form: 4-2171

(13)

Daschas^t¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Aaron Jones⁽³⁾| T: S C Williams| OR: 78| D

50/1

Best efforts to date have come on artificial surfaces, and he didn't pull up any trees when last seen out at Newmarket (sent off a big price). Hard to make a convincing case for, and others readily preferred.

Form: 31-789

(1)

Hajjam^h²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: P Makin| T: D O'Meara| OR: 78| BF| D

16/1

Looked to be improving in the summer, and gained a deserved win at Redcar in August but couldn't follow that up (when made favourite) at Lingfield last time and now needs to bounce back. That's not impossible, but on balance, others make more appeal

Form: 414313

(14)

Another Boy^p¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 73| D

33/1

Wins tend to come in a lower grade than this, and overall record in this sort of company is a poor one. Well beaten at Chepstow latest and others hold far stronger profiles.

Form: 404137

(6)

Fire Palace^p1¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: P Hanagan| T: R Eddery| OR: 70| BF| D

33/1

Disappointed at Leicester last time but possible the heavy ground was against him there, and may find this more to his liking, Will need a good pace to aim at over this trip but cheekpieces could help, and he could go well at a decent price.

Form: 845525

Forecasts

Alaadel (9/2), Shady Mccoy (13/2), Esprit De Corps (8/1), High Acclaim (10/1), Gothic Empire (10/1), Cricklewood Green (10/1), My Amigo (14/1), Moonraker (14/1), Hajjam (16/1), Crafty Madam (16/1), Fox Trotter (16/1), Plant Pot Power (16/1), Scottish Glen (20/1), Black Caesar (25/1), Custard The Dragon (25/1), Another Boy (33/1), Fire Palace (33/1), Daschas (50/1)

Not an easy card to find winners on, and this handicap typifies the open nature of the racing this afternoon. With Another Boy in stall 14 likely to make the pace, it may pay to stick with those drawn high and the improving three year olds ESPRIT DE CORPS and Crafty Madam may be the two to concentrate on. Preference is for the former, who has track form to his name, although Crafty Madam won't be an easy nut to crack. Scottish Glen holds no secrets from anyone but has a decent record in the garde and may be good enough for the bronze.