16:20 Ascot

Wednesday 2 May 2018

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

Celebrating The Commonwealth Paradise Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 16:28 | Winning time: 1m 45.25s

(4)

Accidental Agent¹⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 104| BF| C

2/1

Beat Lord Glitters by ½L when taking a 7f Class 2 handicap here in October 2017 (good to soft), before that rival gained his revenge over this trip in the Balmoral Handicap just a fortnight later. Progressive.

Form: 712148-

(6)

Ballard Down^v¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Harry Bentley| T: W J Knight| OR: 100| D

10/1

Not clicked into gear yet this season after posting modest efforts in the Lincoln (Doncaster) and the Spring Cup (Newbury). Dips his toe into Listed company for the first time, but no issues with soft ground (1m Newmarket winner; July 2017).

Form: 1521-00

(8)

Century Dream^t²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 107| D

5/2

Improved for the fitting of a hood last season, but that's left off today. Well beaten on his return to action in a 1m2f Longchamp Group 2 last month, and now drops in trip/grade. Forecast soft ground presents no concerns.

Form: 11611-0

(3)

Circus Couture⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: S Donohoe| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| D

14/1

Has done all of his racing in Italy for Stefano Botti so far, winning 9 of his 26 career starts; mainly between 1m and 1m2f. Kept on well on seasonal return to down former stablemate Dream Up by ¾L (1m+ Capannelle, heavy).

Form: 33137-1

(7)

Crazy Horse³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: George Baker| OR: 107

25/1

Gelded and changed trainers (ex John Gosden) after a very light 2017 campaign. Back from almost a year off when a well beaten fifth of six in the Doncaster Mile (1m soft).

Form: 6122/8-5

(5)

Victory Bond³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: W J Haggas| OR: 107

5/2

Top level AW performer over the winter and rounded off the season with Lingfield Park success in the Easter Classic (1m2f); beating Master Of The World by ½L. Much respected despite the vastly different test.

Form: 912-121

(2)

Star Quality³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: S De Sousa| T: D Loughnane| OR: 88

50/1

In decent form on the AW during the winter months; albeit at a much lower level than this contest, and mainly over 7f. Lost her way lately and shouldn't be anywhere near strong enough today.

Form: 012-157

Non-Runners

(1)

Hors De Combat⁷⁶

Weight: 9-0| Age: 7

T: D J Coakley J: Andrea Atzeni

Forecasts

Accidental Agent (2/1), Century Dream (5/2), Victory Bond (5/2), Hors De Combat (6/1), Ballard Down (10/1), Circus Couture (14/1), Crazy Horse (25/1), Star Quality (50/1)

Not the easiest of contests to solve with the progressive Easter Classic winner Victory Bond switched back to turf from the AW, but with the straight mile at Ascot (particularly on soft ground) presenting a very different test to the sharp turning circuit at Lingfield Park. Century Dream will handle the conditions, but even allowing for the grade (Group 2), he was rather disappointing on his seasonal return at Longchamp, so we'll stick with the Ascot proven ACCIDENTAL AGENT. He needs to prove he's capable of making the step up from handicaps, but he's progressive enough overall and might just have found a relatively winnable Listed contest in which to return to action.