16:35 Ascot

Friday 13 July 2018

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:40

Long Harbour Derek Lucie-Smith Memorial Handicap

Off time: 16:36 | Winning time: 1m 13.58s

(8)

Normandy Barriere⁴⁸

11/2

Held in a couple of competitive handicaps (6f-7f) in May, but has had wind surgery since then and is a two-time C&D winner; 2lb below his last winning mark (May 2017).

Form: 9055-07

(5)

Miracle of Medinah³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: R Winston| T: M D I Usher| OR: 94| D

7/1

Surface versatile seven-year-old who ran a very creditable third to Dreamfield over C&D in May (33/1), and wasn't far off that form at Windsor latest (6f) when finishing sixth to old foe Silent Echo; respected despite lack of a turf win since 2013.

Form: 0710-36

(4)

Equimou²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: S W Kelly| T: R Eddery| OR: 93

25/1

5f specialist who ran really well to be just over 1L behind Mabs Cross in a Newmarket Group 3 (Palace House) in May, but failed to convince after a tardy start at Ayr last month, so is one to have reservations about over 6f.

Form: 40-4048

(9)

Hakam^v¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Rossa Ryan⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 88| D

10/1

Useful sort on his day but not so good of late and never able to get competitive in the Gosforth Park Cup at Newcastle (5f) last month; longer trip possibly helpful; beaten a short-head in this race in 2017 (off 5lb higher).

Form: 6-42600

(6)

Chagatai^h¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 89| D

3/1

Won two of his first three starts (5f-6f) and has handled himself well enough since introduced to handicap company without appearing to be obviously well treated; likely stronger late on if able to harness his early race enthusiasm a fraction.

Form: 5-10454

(2)

How Far¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 87| D

3/1

Winner of both of his handicap starts so far (6f, Windsor and Nottingham); 6lb higher today as he seeks the hat-trick in a stronger race, but form stacks up well enough overall and he'll relish the quick ground underfoot.

Form: 44311

(3)

Lightning Charlie³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: R Havlin| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 81| CD

17/2

Quiet since beating Hakam by a short-head in this race in 2017, but does race from a 5lb lower mark as a result; nothing overly positive to read into his latest effort (7f), so needs to bounce back big-style if to regain his crown.

Form: 0-44940

(1)

Only Spoofing¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Sean Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 79

10/1

Has enjoyed a massively productive spring up north, winning three successive 5f Class 6 handicaps at Hamilton and Beverley; every indication that the handicapper has his measure now and this is a very tough task over a new trip.

Form: 511135

(7)

Daschas^t²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Edward Greatrex| T: S C Williams| OR: 77| BF| D

10/1

Versatile sort (turf and AW winner); 4lb above his last winning mark at Windsor (6f, good) in May, but posted a lesser effort in a deeper race at York latest, so a career best performance is now required.

Form: 218218

Forecasts

Chagatai (3/1), How Far (3/1), Normandy Barriere (11/2), Miracle of Medinah (7/1), Lightning Charlie (17/2), Daschas (10/1), Hakam (10/1), Only Spoofing (10/1), Equimou (25/1)

The winner and runner-up from 2017 return, but Lightning Charlie and Hakam haven't been at their sharpest for a number of starts, so it'll be a major surprise if either features prominently this time around. Only Spoofing has proved progressive in the north this spring/summer, but the handicapper probably has his measure now. The assessor has also taken aim at slowing the progression of How Far (unbeaten in handicap company), but with quick ground again likely he's still a major player today. However, a more sporting choice is the 7yo MIRACLE OF MEDINAH, with his 2018 C&D form reading well in the context of this race.