15:35 Ascot

Saturday 4 November 2017

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:05

Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 6m 4.7s

Art Mauresque¹⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Bryony Frost⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150

20/1

Most effective on quick ground so wouldn't want to be seeing too much of the forecast rainfall arriving. Came up that little bit short in strong contests during the spring, and the suspicion is that others will be better handicapped. Trip a concern.

Form: 11787P-

Regal Encore^t²¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: R P McLernon| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 150| CD

33/1

Extremely talented, but also slightly inconsistent. Completed in the Grand National in April (eighth), but also showed he handles this C&D well when mowing down Minella Daddy in December (good to soft). 6lb higher.

Form: 2PP1P8-

The Young Master^p¹⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr James King⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 145| CD

16/1

Has filled many column inches over the years, but will be forever remembered as the disqualified 2014 Badger Ales Trophy 'winner'. However, knows what it takes, and is a C&D winner (December 2014) who deserves respect whenever he races.

Form: 1/F06F9-

Go Conquer²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 142

7/1

Progressive, bold jumping front runner who kicked off the campaign by beating subsequent Kelso winner As De Mee by 2L (Antony third) at Fontwell last month (2m5f+ good). Solid over this trip, and a strong showing expected off 7lb higher.

Form: F2250-1

Ultragold^t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 141

25/1

A shock 50/1 winner of the Topham at Aintree in April (2m5f good), he is undeniably a safe conveyance over obstacles. Ran in snatches on his return at Chepstow last month when posting a fair 8½L third to Romain De Senam (2m3½f good).

Form: B6791-3

Junction Fourteen^t,v²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: L P Aspell| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 141

16/1

Beaten 4½L by Antony in this race in 2016, and now competes from a 6lb lower mark. Not in great shape, albeit raced sparingly thereafter. Better at Chepstow latest when fourth to Rock The Kasbah and closely matched with Ballykan (third).

Form: 062P-P4

Braqueur D'Or²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 139| D

7/1

Improving young chaser who has enjoyed a productive summer since switched to fences. His best form is on quick ground, and he's 10lb higher for last month's 7L thrashing of Ozzy Thomas (3m good to firm, Ludlow). Toughest test so far.

Form: 113221

Emerging Force²¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington| OR: 139| D

11/2

Second season chaser who showed his aptitude for fencing in competitive novice contests (2m5f Hereford and 3m Exeter winner). Hasn't seen much action over the past 12 months, but not at all disgraced in Listed company at Aintree in April.

Form: U/P1145-

Thomas Brown^b²¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: N P Madden| T: H Fry| OR: 138| C| D

9/1

Successful this time last year (off a similar mark) at Aintree, 2m4f good to soft, beating On Tour by 1L. Stays this trip, and an Ascot winner as a novice, could be the type that is strongest when caught fresh.

Form: 74/1870-

Ballykan^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 137| D

16/1

Seemed better for the break after a tough few months (February to June), when returning with a 5¾L third to Chepstow standing dish Rock The Kasbah (2m7½f good to soft). Returns off the same mark, but slightly stronger going left-handed.

Form: 56F4-P3

Rock Gone²³³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 136

20/1

Comes into this contest as very inexperienced over fences, after just four starts to date. However, his form is worthy of a place in the line up; finishing seventh of 24 to Road To Respect in a 2m5f contest at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Form: 2F/6137-

Ballycross³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Alain Cawley| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 133| BF| D

11/1

Essentially a strong stayer, who remains a seven race maiden over fences. Beaten just under 4L by Beggars Cross on his seasonal return at Warwick early last month (3m good), but possibly out-speeded and out-classed in this stronger contest.

Form: 343P0-3

Dark Flame²¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: A Glassonbury| T: R Rowe| OR: 133| C| D

10/1

Generally runs his race at this track (hurdles or fences), and has attracted some market support during the week. Beaten 1¾L by Present Man on his last start in April (2m5f novices chase), and needs a fraction more in a deep contest.

Form: 1/13862-

Antony²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 132| CD

4/1

Took this contest in 2016 by 4½L from Junction Fourteen (from a 4lb lower mark), and has followed the same path; via Fontwell, into the race this season. However, was beaten 14L by Go Conquer on his reappearance, and is just 9lb better off today.

Form: 3/118P-3

Fourth Act^t¹⁹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: S Bowen| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 129

10/1

Hasn't won over fences since February 2016 (2m4f soft, Wincanton), yet remains 3lb above his last winning mark. Finished about 8L fourth to Antony in this contest in 2016, but rounded off last season over much further (3m4f) at Cheltenham in April.

Form: 44P653-

Meldrum Lad^t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: S Durack| OR: 128

50/1

Progressive in a lesser grade during April, landing a quickfire hat-trick (Huntingdon, Exeter and Wincanton), but not fully proven beyond 2m4f. Back with a fair effort at Huntingdon last month (11L second to Wicked Willy), but this is asking plenty.

Form: 5111-42

Non-Runners

Carole's Destrier³¹²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 9

T: N P Mulholland J: N D Fehily

Bigbadjohn²¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: Miss R Curtis J: Jonathan Moore

Forecasts

Antony (4/1), Emerging Force (11/2), Go Conquer (7/1), Braqueur D'Or (7/1), Thomas Brown (9/1), Dark Flame (10/1), Fourth Act (10/1), Ballycross (11/1), Carole's Destrier (14/1), Ballykan (16/1), Junction Fourteen (16/1), Bigbadjohn (16/1), The Young Master (16/1), Rock Gone (20/1), Art Mauresque (20/1), Ultragold (25/1), Regal Encore (33/1), Meldrum Lad (50/1)

An eagerly anticipated early season highlight, and the feature race on today's card at Ascot. Antony defends his crown after accounting for both Junction Fourteen (4½L runner up) and Fourth Act (8L fourth) in 2016, and he follows the same route into the race via Fontwell. However, unlike in 2016, he wasn't the winner at Fontwell, and this time around he was beaten 14L by the bold front running selection GO CONQUER. The Jonjo O'Neill trained winner is 7lb higher than for that success, but the overall form looks strong, with 2L runner up As De Mee taking a valuable contest for Paul Nicholls up at Kelso last weekend. Go Conquer stays this longer trip without any real problems, and unless it comes up very soft (most unlikely) this fast improving eight-year-old is fancied to break the hearts of his seventeen other rivals off the front end.