14:25 Ascot

Saturday 7 October 2017

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Gigaset Cumberland Lodge Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 2m 40.02s

(5)

Secret Number¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: G Mosse| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 114| CD

5/1

Lightly-raced since winning this race as a three-year-old but remains a class act, having landed a Group 2 in Turkey last month. Fine third in a 1m3f Group 3 at Newbury (good) since and easy surface will suit. Major player despite penalty.

Form: 2/107-13

(3)

Arthenus^p²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: T P Queally| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 103| C

25/1

Best win came in a French Listed event over 1m2f last autumn and he was placed in the same race last time out on good ground. Yet to fully convince he stays this longer trip and others preferred, though yard won this two years ago.

Form: 7-60263

(9)

Danehill Kodiac¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 105| CD

8/1

Won a handicap over 1m4f on soft ground on his belated return to action at Newmarket in August and has followed that with two solid efforts in defeat. Has something to find on the principals, rain would help.

Form: 123-142

(6)

Flying Tiger¹⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: Nick Williams

33/1

French recruit who has established himself as a high-class 2m hurdler, winning the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival. Unraced since April and fascinating to see him pitched into the deep end for his Flat debut but victory hard to envisage.

Form:

(2)

Great Hall¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Fran Berry| T: M Quinn| OR: 105| CD

10/1

A credit to connections who seems to be getting better with age, winning two handicaps over C&D on easy ground before completing the hat-trick with something to spare at Yarmouth. Entitled to take his chance in this grade but has it all to do.

Form: 356111

(1)

Midterm²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Ted Durcan| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 110

12/1

Highly-touted early on his career but has never quite scaled the heights expected, though did bounce back to win a conditions event at Epsom (1m2f, good) in August. Since disappointing in an AW Group 3 at Kempton, so question marks remain.

Form: 7-53616

(8)

Restorer²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: M Dwyer| T: W R Muir| OR: 98

40/1

Listed winner back in 2015 but hasn't got his head in front since. Largely disappointing at pattern level this campaign and could only manage third of six in a 1m4f handicap at Doncaster (good to soft) last time. Would be a surprise winner.

Form: 357503

(7)

Law And Order¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Jim Crowley| T: J Tate| OR: 102

22/1

Won a 1m Listed race on his return this year but without a win since then, despite several respectable efforts, including at Listed and Group 3 level. Latest effort at Newbury seemed too bad to be true so maybe dangerous to dismiss.

Form: 044250

(4)

Waldgeist⁹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: V Cheminaud| T: A Fabre| OR: 117

4/7

Lightly-raced French raider who went agonisingly close in the French Derby before finishing a 2L fourth to Capri in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh last time out in July. Sets the standard and has obvious claims in a Group 3.

Form: 131-224

Forecasts

Waldgeist (4/7), Secret Number (5/1), Danehill Kodiac (8/1), Great Hall (10/1), Midterm (12/1), Law And Order (22/1), Arthenus (25/1), Flying Tiger (33/1), Restorer (40/1)

Having come within a whisker of landing the French Derby, Andre Fabre's WALDGEIST proved his class when finishing a close-up fourth in a much stronger Irish equivalent. In receipt of allowances, it's hard to believe a run-of-the-mill Group 3 of this nature isn't within his range. If there is a danger, it is likely to emerge in the shape of Secret Number who doesn't have too many miles on the clock despite his advancing years and who looked as good as ever when close up in similar company at Newbury last time. One-time Derby fancy Midterm looks the most interesting of the remainder despite a lacklustre effort last time.