17:25 Ascot

Friday 11 May 2018

All17:2518:0018:3519:0519:4020:10

Wood & Wood Signs Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:25 | Winning time: 3m 28.97s

(8)

Cleonte^p¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Jason Watson⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 90

9/2

Posted a pleasing seasonal return when beaten a neck by Mobait at Salisbury (1m6f heavy) last week. Due a 4lb rise in the weights, but hasn't ever won on ground described as quicker than Good (1m7f Listed, Deauville).

Form: 50046-2

(6)

Arthur Mc Bride^t¹⁸⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: Finley Marsh⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 86| DWS

11/1

Had wind surgery since his last start over hurdles at Exeter in November. Won authoritatively over 2m (soft) at Goodwood in September, prior to a respectable 12th of 34 in the Cesarewitch the following month (2m2f good).

Form: 932100-

(7)

Author's Dream^v³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Joshua Bryan⁽³⁾| T: W J Knight| OR: 86| D

20/1

Risen 30lb in the weights since scoring at Wolverhampton in December (2m), but coped well with racing on the AW over the winter months winning a further three races. Found out in a stronger race latest and 0/3 on turf.

Form: 31-1118

(5)

Soghan^t²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Nicola Currie⁽³⁾| T: R Hughes| OR: 86| D

11/4

On a steady upward curve and is a dual AW winner (1m4f-2m). 3lb above his last winning mark at Kempton (negated by riders claim) and has to prove himself on turf, but still very much unexposed.

Form: 4431-21

(10)

Gang Warfare^h,t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Rossa Ryan⁽³⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 85| D

50/1

Didn't exactly thrive for the switch to hurdles and has had wind surgery. Dropped 3lb for a modest effort at Wolverhampton last month (1m6f), and hasn't won a race anywhere now for almost 26 months.

Form: 57/50-77

(3)

Royal Reserve⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Cameron Noble⁽³⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 85| D

12/1

Consistent on the AW for David O'Meara, but kept inching up the weights without winning. Effective between 1m4f-2m, so interesting to see if his new trainer can just squeeze out some minor improvement back on turf.

Form: 1-73227

(9)

Sam Missile⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Jack Dinsmore⁽⁷⁾| T: J A Osborne| OR: 84| BF

25/1

Left James Fanshawe for 30,000 gns in November and appears to be steadily working back to form (on the AW) as his mark slowly eases. Keeping on at the finish when beaten less than 1L at Newcastle latest (1m4f).

Form: 426723

(11)

Medburn Cutler^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: Oliver Stammers⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hedger| OR: 84| D

10/1

Produced a career best effort when springing a 25/1 shock at Newbury last month (2m2f good to soft). Up 3lb, but partnered by a 7lb claimer tonight, so effectively races off 4lb lower. Seems to go on all types of ground.

Form: 42733-1

(2)

Imphal^p²¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Tyler Saunders⁽⁵⁾| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 81| D

4/1

Arrives on a five-timer following successive victories in Class 5 and 6 handicaps. Up 5lb since winning at Lingfield in October (2m standard), but also fully proven on rattling quick firm ground at Bath. Tougher task in this grade.

Form: 7/21111-

(1)

Eddiemaurice²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: E J Walsh| T: J L Flint| OR: 75| CD

8/1

Better known as a hurdler and hasn't run on the Flat since April 2017 when beaten a neck by Midtech Star (1m5f Bath, firm). No problems with the forecast conditions.

Form: 25414/2-

(4)

Graceful Lady¹⁸⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Darragh Keenan⁽⁵⁾| T: R Eddery| OR: 73| BF| D

14/1

Now just 3lb higher than when winning for this rider at York in July 2017 (2m+ good to soft). Bypassed the lure of a winter AW campaign, so arrives as a fresh horse on ground she handles; two-time winner on good to firm.

Form: 214557-

Forecasts

Soghan (11/4), Imphal (4/1), Cleonte (9/2), Eddiemaurice (8/1), Medburn Cutler (10/1), Arthur Mc Bride (11/1), Royal Reserve (12/1), Graceful Lady (14/1), Author's Dream (20/1), Sam Missile (25/1), Gang Warfare (50/1)

Possible to build a solid enough case for a number of these runners including the ground versatile recent Newbury scorer Medburn Cutler, who effectively races from a 4lb lower mark with his riders 7lb claim taken into account. Cleonte is also ahead of the handicapper (4lb well-in) after a rock-solid return to action at Salisbury last week, but he could just be slightly vulnerable if conditions are riding very quick. Therefore, we'll plump for the unexposed and improving SOGHAN. He's yet to race on turf, but is a progressive AW performer and his trainer Richard Hughes relies upon Nicola Currie to negate the 3lb penalty for a recent 2m Kempton success.