19:40 Ascot

Friday 11 May 2018

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

Montfort Handicap

Off time: 19:43 | Winning time: 1m 11.40s

(14)

Normandy Barriere²⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: W Buick| T: N Tinkler| OR: 96| CD

11/1

Had the benefit of a previous race when taking this contest by ¾L (same mark) in 2017, but lines up this time off a nine month absence. That said; conditions are fine, and his trainer is in solid form.

Form: 219055-

(16)

Dreamfield⁵⁶⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: James Doyle| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 95| D

10/11

Cost 1.1M gns as a yearling, and really looked the part as a juvenile (especially on debut), but off the track for the entire previous campaign, so does have fitness and well-being to prove.

Form: 11/

(15)

Miracle of Medinah¹⁹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Jason Watson⁽⁵⁾| T: M D I Usher| OR: 94| D

33/1

A winner on the Polytrack at Deauville in August 2017 (6f+), this surface versatile seven-year-old probably isn't quite the force of old. No stranger to competitive Ascot handicaps, but likely to finish mid-division at best on seasonal return.

Form: 8/40710-

(17)

Dougan²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: S De Sousa| T: P D Evans| OR: 94| D

8/1

Broke a lengthy win-less spell when a decisive winner at Bath last month (5½f good); beating The Daley Express by 3½L. Up 7lb, and in grade.

Form: 80-8621

(11)

Danielsflyer¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: T D Barron| OR: 93| D

12/1

Both of his career victories have come over 6f in the month of May. Won fresh off this mark at Newmarket (good to firm) last season, and shaped with a deal of encouragement at Ripon latest (fourth).

Form: 0085-04

(8)

Hakam^p¹⁰⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: A Kirby| T: M Appleby| OR: 93| BF| D

20/1

Beaten just a nose in a 5f handicap at Newcastle in early January, and is a solid AW horse overall (4 from 17). Still without a victory on turf, but just denied over C&D in July 2017 when beaten a short-head by Lightning Charlie.

Form: 636-426

(4)

Raucous^p,t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: J P Spencer| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 91| D

15/2

Left William Haggas for 110,000 gns in October 2017, and the handicapper is gradually cutting him some slack (dropped 9lb since August 2017). Has the required ability and his turn will come again at some point.

Form: 0000-54

(7)

Waqaas²¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| OR: 91| D

20/1

Raced sparingly last season, and his sole win came in a 6f maiden at Doncaster in July 2016. Raised 1lb since finishing just over 2L third to Nobly Born (Silent Echo second) over C&D in October 2017.

Form: 214/053-

(13)

Silent Echo⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: P Hedger| OR: 91

20/1

Seems to go on most surfaces (is a winner on firm ground) and finished a 2L runner up to Nobly Born (Waqaas third) over C&D in October 2017. Raced over 7f on both starts since leaving Roger Charlton for 120,000 gns in November 2017.

Form: 1642-65

(6)

Volatile⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: D C Costello| T: J A Osborne| OR: 90| D

20/1

Thrived on the AW since leaving James Tate for 32,000 gns in October 2017 (three-time 6f-7f winner). Back on turf; still fairly unexposed (0 from 4), but in a very competitive race.

Form: 0-41114

(9)

Aces²²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Josephine Gordon| T: Ian Williams| OR: 90| D

28/1

Won a 6f Windsor maiden (good) on debut for Charles Hills in August 2014, with both subsequent victories coming in deep ground in France for John Hammond. Moved on for 40,000 gns in October 2017, and starts off for his new trainer here.

Form: 151/323-

(2)

Highland Acclaim^h¹⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Harry Bentley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 89| CD

50/1

Stronger on turf (6 from 47) than on the AW (0 from 16), so no surprise his trainer drew stumps on his winter campaign in mid-December. Past C&D winner who will appreciate conditions, but his last three wins have all come at Epsom (6f).

Form: 007077-

(12)

Mont Kiara²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: M Harley| T: K A Ryan| OR: 85| D

20/1

Finished last of 15 at Newmarket on his most recent start (6f good to soft) and seemingly not at peak form since late 2017. However, much respected from this mark on various bits and pieces of earlier career form.

Form: 1420-40

(3)

Lightning Charlie²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Nicola Currie⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 85| CD

16/1

Beat Hakam by a short-head when winning over C&D in July 2017 (good), and is now 1lb below that winning mark (6lb if including this riders 5lb claim). Should improve for a couple of AW spins.

Form: 1000-44

(1)

Mullionheir²⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Dayverson De Barros| T: J R Best| OR: 81| CD

50/1

Knows how to win races (6 from 22), and did so when ploughing through soft ground to score by ½L from Alaadel over C&D in September 2017. Up 5lb, but hasn't won on ground riding any quicker than good previously.

Form: 409991-

Non-Runners

(5)

Quench Dolly²¹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: J Gallagher J: P J McDonald

(10)

Sparkalot⁴¹

Weight: 9-1| Age: 4

T: S Dow J: L Morris

Forecasts

Dreamfield (10/11), Raucous (15/2), Dougan (8/1), Sparkalot (10/1), Normandy Barriere (11/1), Danielsflyer (12/1), Quench Dolly (14/1), Lightning Charlie (16/1), Silent Echo (20/1), Volatile (20/1), Mont Kiara (20/1), Hakam (20/1), Waqaas (20/1), Aces (28/1), Miracle of Medinah (33/1), Mullionheir (50/1), Highland Acclaim (50/1)

The returning Dreamfield should be feared and time might show that he's far better than a handicapper. Market confidence or not should provide the best clues with regards his prospects of making it three from three, but otherwise this is the kind of contest in which you could place multiple bets and not get near the solution. Quench Dolly ran well enough (seventh) in the Listed Lansdown Stakes at Bath last month, and that form appears to be rock-solid. However, DANIELSFLYER is at his very best during the month of May, resides on a winning mark and was spotted finishing an eye-catching keeping on fourth to Gin In The Inn at Ripon (6f) latest.