20:10 Ascot

Friday 11 May 2018

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

Dingley's Promise Handicap (Str)

Off time: 20:16 | Winning time: 1m 38.12s

(6)

Motown Mick¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Rossa Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 86| D

25/1

Progressive during his juvenile campaign in which he won three nurseries (6f to 1m). Never really in contention off a hold up ride on the return to turf at Sandown recently (1m good to soft).

Form: 231-226

(7)

Corrosive¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Josephine Gordon| T: H Palmer| OR: 86| D

7/2

Holds a Group 1 entry at the Royal meeting in June and whilst that's plenty optimistic enough, he's a fast improving colt. Recorded a second straight success at Yarmouth last month (1m gd/fm) and this opening mark doesn't appear to be overly harsh.

Form: 51-1

(10)

Zalshah^p¹²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: T J Murphy| T: R Hannon| OR: 85| BF

50/1

A beaten favourite on his last start in January (third), so needs to return to action in tip-top shape if to figure with any prominence in this stronger contest. 0 from 10 on turf; sole AW success over 7f.

Form: 58213-3

(9)

Bold Reason²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 85| D

10/1

Readily off the mark at the second time of asking in handicap company at Newcastle in December (1m), but slightly disappointing back there off this mark latest; 7f. No previous turf form on ground this quick.

Form: 42451-3

(3)

Al Jellaby²⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 85| D

5/2

Off the mark on his first try over this trip at Salisbury in September 2017 (good to soft), with the runner up White Mocha now rated 99. Therefore, holds every chance on handicap debut from this mark if handling the faster ground conditions.

Form: 331-

(14)

Wilson²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: L Morris| T: L M Cumani| OR: 83

25/1

Has winning form on a sound surface; albeit in a Brighton maiden in September 2017 (7f). Entitled to benefit from his reappearance run at Newmarket last month (12th of 15).

Form: 714-0

(8)

Highlight Reel^h²⁶⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Spencer| T: M L W Bell| OR: 82

10/1

Built upon his previous efforts when fitted with the hood (retained), winning at the Newmarket July Course in August 2017 (7f good). Off since, and that form probably isn't overly strong, but merits consideration at least from a 4lb higher mark.

Form: 2031-

(19)

Collate²⁰⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Nicola Currie⁽⁵⁾| T: H Candy| OR: 82

33/1

Sold for 40,000 gns in November after a five-race juvenile career in France. Her sole victory came on very soft ground at Le Lion-D'angers (7f) in August 2017, and the ground tonight will be a polar extreme (fast).

Form: 55145-

(2)

Bombastic²³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Callum Shepherd| T: E De Giles| OR: 81| BF

33/1

In the frame on his first three starts as a juvenile (all over 6f), but came up just a fraction short on his nursery debut in late September. Gelded over the winter and needs to up his game a notch or two tonight.

Form: 2324-

(4)

Corazon Espinado¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S De Sousa| T: S Dow| OR: 80| D

12/1

In rude health since the turn of the year, and continued his progression by winning on turf at Epsom (1m+) last month, beating Cuban Heel by a neck. Raised a further 3lb in a numerically more competitive race.

Form: 22-6111

(16)

Sing Out Loud²⁰⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: G & J Moore| OR: 80

50/1

Hit all of the right notes when justifying favouritism at Brighton in October 2017 (6f good to soft) to record a second career success in just five starts. Up 2lb, but stamina is the doubt (is a half-brother to 1m winner Roshina).

Form: 91321-

(17)

Oliver Reed²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 80

7/1

Lightly raced (0 from 4), but has shown some promise between 6f-7f. Forced the pace on seasonal reappearance at Newbury last month (7f good) before weakening to finish 3½L third to Qaysar. Stamina question marks.

Form: 525-3

(11)

Michael Corleone⁸⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: W Buick| T: M Meade| OR: 79

20/1

Cacique colt who cost 42,000 gns as a foal. Showed steady improvement when gunning down seven other rivals from the sharp end at Wolverhampton in February (7f+ maiden). Handicap debutante whose dam; Pleine Forme, won over this trip in France.

Form: 341

(13)

Bacacarat¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 78| BF

14/1

Raven's Pass colt who cost 110,000 gns as a juvenile. Looked in need of this trip on his penultimate start at Newmarket last month (7f) but appeared very slow in finishing just under 2L second to The Navigator at Thirsk next time (1m). Handicap bow.

Form: 04-32

(15)

Herdwick²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 76

12/1

Far from a leading light in the Stoute yard, but has 7f Yarmouth form fairly closely matched with Amplification. Didn't get home over 1m2f after leading at Lingfield latest, so is dropped back to 1m for his handicap debut.

Form: 45-6

(5)

Controversial Lady²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Jason Watson⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Moore| OR: 75| D

66/1

Enjoyed a productive August 2017 in France, with back-to-back victories at Clairefontaine (7f soft) and Deauville (1m good), so rates as a hardy, ground versatile filly. Back with a reasonable effort on turf at Nantes latest (soft).

Form: 4757-62

(12)

Viceroy Mac²¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: P J McDonald| T: D Loughnane| OR: 70

40/1

A five race maiden who was slowly into stride and always behind on his sole start over this trip at Lingfield in October 2017. Impossible to consider in this contest on his return to action.

Form: 73530-

Non-Runners

(1)

Amplification⁶⁴

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: E A L Dunlop J: James Doyle

(18)

Paddy The Chef¹⁰⁹

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: Ian Williams J: Harry Bentley

Forecasts

Al Jellaby (5/2), Corrosive (7/2), Oliver Reed (7/1), Highlight Reel (10/1), Bold Reason (10/1), Corazon Espinado (12/1), Herdwick (12/1), Bacacarat (14/1), Amplification (16/1), Michael Corleone (20/1), Wilson (25/1), Motown Mick (25/1), Bombastic (33/1), Collate (33/1), Paddy The Chef (33/1), Viceroy Mac (40/1), Sing Out Loud (50/1), Zalshah (50/1), Controversial Lady (66/1)

A tough looking finale which is likely to find out a few of these inexperienced horses, even allowing for the ground to be riding very quick. Michael Corleone is a possible pace angle, and with his dam being a winner over this trip, should be battling on from the front end on his handicap/turf debut. Corrosive has some lofty entries (St James Palace Stakes), so an opening mark of 86 could prove workable, whilst Highlight Reel bids to make it 2 from 2 wearing a hood. However, with some minor reservations regarding the ground, a chance is taken on the unexposed AL JELLABY. Clive Cox has his string in form and his Salisbury winner could have plenty more too offer.