14:15 Ascot

Saturday 12 May 2018

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Les Ambassadeurs Casino Handicap

Off time: 14:16 | Winning time: 2m 29.79s

(3)

Speedo Boy¹⁷⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: Ian Williams| OR: 95

11/2

Won a French Listed race at the start of 2017 but struggled in handicap over here subsequeuntly. Has been running well over hurdles of late but tough ask off this mark back on the Flat.

Form: 126777-

(11)

Twin Star¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Joshua Bryan⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 95

10/1

Sole win came in a maiden and whilst he wasn't disgraced on his next run in a Group 3, he's yet to place in any of his five subsequent starts. Didn't shape with much promise on return at Wolverhampton and others preferred.

Form: 14055-3

(5)

Master Singer^b¹⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 93| D

12/1

Maiden winner at Newcastle and gained a second Tapeta win at Wolverhampton in October. Struggled twice since though and this is more competitive.

Form: 009155-

(12)

Manjaam²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 92| CD

16/1

Not won since winning over C&D in 2016 but shaped well on return at Wolverhampton last time after a disappointing 2017 and not ruled out if building on that.

Form: 28080-2

(4)

Western Duke¹⁸⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Louis Steward| T: R M Beckett| OR: 91

10/1

Gained a first win since his maiden success at Kempton in September. Wasn't suited to making his own running back at that course last time out and no surprise to see him run a better race here.

Form: 783415-

(14)

Count Calabash³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 90

9/2

Finished off his juvenile campaign with a hat-trick and while he failed to win in 2017, he returned to the winners' enclosure at Kempton last time. Will improve if he can settle better and not discounted here.

Form: 56353-1

(15)

Machine Learner^v¹⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Fran Berry| T: J Tuite| OR: 89| D

11/1

Won on his debut for this yard on his seasonal return at Sandown last year. Inconsistent throughout the rest of the season but may be best to catch him when fresh and he's ground versatile.

Form: 124270-

(1)

Humble Hero²¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: D Tudhope| T: W J Haggas| OR: 89| D

6/1

Won twice last year, winning his maiden at Doncaster before landing a handicap at Newcastle in September. Shaped as if amiss at Newmarket last time but given time to recover from that and may do better this year.

Form: 221410-

(13)

Great Sound^p³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: S W Kelly| T: R Hughes| OR: 88| D

33/1

Won twice in five starts for John Gosden but shown nothing for his new connections at Kempton last time. Best efforts have come in softer ground than what's likely here and he has a habit of starting slowly.

Form: 13165-9

(2)

Koeman⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: David Egan⁽³⁾| T: M R Channon| OR: 87| D

7/1

Last three wins have come on AW including last time when winning a Class 3 handicap at Lingfield in March. Yard in good form in recent weeks and talented claimer removes 3lb; leading player if the rain stays away.

Form: 3188-31

(6)

C'Est No Mour^h1¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: J Fanning| T: P Hedger| OR: 85| D

20/1

Has the propensity to start slowly but has won four of his last six races of 2017 and he's a useful hold up performer when things fall right. Too keen on return from an absence last time but better expected here and first-time hood may help.

Form: 13116-0

(8)

Exceeding Power³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: S M Levey| T: M R Bosley| OR: 85

16/1

Has been a very consistent sort over the last year and is seemingly improving now stepped up in trip having won his last two starts on AW. Shaped like this extra furlong would suit last time at Kempton and respected in hat-trick bid.

Form: 8422-11

(10)

Croquembouche^p²³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 8-9| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: E De Giles| OR: 83| D

50/1

Useful when allowed his own way on the front end but that looks unlikely and it's hard to imagine he's well-handicapped in any way here.

Form: 744150-

(9)

Fearsome¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Charlie Bennett⁽³⁾| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 82| D

20/1

Yet to win in three turf starts but has been running well on AW this winter. Versatile from a tactics perspective but well beaten at Epsom last time and needs to prove he's as effective on turf.

Form: 115425

Non-Runners

(16)

Thundering Blue¹⁷

Weight: 9-5| Age: 5

T: D Menuisier J: Andrea Atzeni

(7)

Dash Of Spice¹⁷

Weight: 8-10| Age: 4

T: D R C Elsworth J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Count Calabash (9/2), Thundering Blue (5/1), Speedo Boy (11/2), Humble Hero (6/1), Dash Of Spice (6/1), Koeman (7/1), Western Duke (10/1), Twin Star (10/1), Machine Learner (11/1), Master Singer (12/1), Manjaam (16/1), Exceeding Power (16/1), C'Est No Mour (20/1), Fearsome (20/1), Great Sound (33/1), Croquembouche (50/1)

DASH OF SPICE is a fascinating candidate in the opener. He went well for a long way at Epsom last time before he was run down late on and he has the potential to improve now tried over this longer trip. C'Est No Mour should improve for the fitting of first-time headgear while Koeman represents a yard in form and will improve conditions if there's no rain.