188Bet Royal Ascot Extra Places Handicap

Off time: 19:20 | Winning time: 2m 10.2s

(1)

Dark Devil²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 84| BF

3/1

Generally runs his best races at Chester so will find this a very different test on ground that may be a little quicker than he likes. Still 4lb higher than his last winning mark and has to bounce back from a poor run last time.

Form: 92-0427

(3)

Medalla De Oro^h²²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: L Morris| T: P W Chapple-Hyam| OR: 80| D

9/4

Hard to know if it was the gelding operation or the enterprising ride that was responsible for his upturn in form last August (won twice in a row). Never quite managed to pull off the front-running tactics after those wins and returns from a break.

Form: 112666-

(5)

Bakht A Rawan²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: S De Sousa| T: W S Kittow| OR: 76| BF| C

9/4

Not at his best when favourite last time over this trip at Leicester (has won there) and was also well positioned in the race. Already a winner this year over shorter in testing conditions and may be able to return to form here; not written off.

Form: 365/155

(2)

Ourmullion^p⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: Hayley Turner| T: J R Best| OR: 68| D

3/1

Yet to win on turf and although he's effective on it (placed last two turf starts) he's a much better performer on the AW (4/15). Cheekpieces now replace the blinkers he's worn the last twice but others preferred with this being on turf.

Form: 165634

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to board prices only - deduction 10p in the pound

Non-Runners

(4)

Perfect Quest²²⁷

Weight: 8-13| Age: 5

T: C G Cox J: David Probert

Forecasts

Bakht A Rawan (9/4), Medalla De Oro (9/4), Ourmullion (3/1), Dark Devil (3/1), Perfect Quest (4/1)

Just the five go to post but that doesn’t make this any easier with the winner quite hard to decipher. Medalla De Oro would be a danger to all if he gets free on the lead but he may just need this and PERFECT QUEST is given the nod due to her running well fresh before and that may be the time to catch her at her best. Dark Devil appears better suited to Chester and this ground may be a little quick for him with Bakht A Rawan providing the biggest danger if he can bounce back from a moderate run last time out.