17:40 Ascot

Friday 13 July 2018

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

CMS Real Deal Apprentice Handicap (Str)

Off time: 17:42 | Winning time: 1m 41.48s

(4)

Bronze Angel^p¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: Tyler Saunders⁽⁵⁾| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 87| CD

10/1

2012 and 2014 Cambridgeshire winner, but yet to really threaten to make the most of a falling mark and win-less in 15 starts since scoring over this trip at Doncaster in September 2015; first run in a Class 4 handicap since 2012.

Form: 037-794

(2)

The Warrior²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Cameron Noble⁽³⁾| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 84| D

11/1

Not won since March 2017, and just twice in 41 starts; largely consistent on the whole, with his best recent run coming at Kempton in May (1m), when beaten a neck by Dragons Voice.

Form: 903247

(7)

Majestic Moon³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: Shelley Birkett| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 82| C| D

8/1

Generally at his strongest over 7f, although did win over 1m at Southwell in January and was also a runner-up over this trip at Yarmouth last month; 5lb above his last winning mark.

Form: 120442

(8)

Dark Alliance⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽⁵⁾| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 81| D

14/1

Consistent throughout the course of a busy 2018 (1,1,3,1,3,1,0,2), with the bulk of those form figures gained on artificial surfaces; now rated 14lb higher than at the turn of the year and beaten 4L when finishing runner-up on turf latest.

Form: 313102

(1)

Shadow Warrior²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Rossa Ryan| T: P W D'Arcy| OR: 80| D

7/2

A winner on 25% of his starts (3 from 12), he's been raised just 2lb for a head win at Windsor last month (9/4f); obvious contender over a trip which on balance appears to suit him best (1,3,1).

Form: 151-331

(10)

Apex King⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Finley Marsh⁽³⁾| T: R Hughes| OR: 80| C

7/4

Left Ed Dunlop for £36,000 in May having failed to win since his juvenile days in 2016 (Listed); made much of the running on stable debut at Kempton (1m) nine days ago when a 2L runner-up to Epic Challenge.

Form: 55-8002

(5)

Throckley^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Patrick Pilley| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 79| D

25/1

No turf win since July 2016 (heavy) and has raced over longer trips so far in 2018 (1m2f-1m4f); has recent Doncaster form closely matched to Shadow Warrior.

Form: 01-7724

(6)

Poetic Force^t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Poppy Bridgwater⁽⁵⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 76

11/2

Sports an almost 50% strike-rate on the AW (5 from 11), but has also found a degree of consistency on turf more latterly with solid 1m2f fast ground efforts at Lingfield and Leicester; up 3lb and dropped back in trip.

Form: 022412

(3)

Buzz Lightyere^p¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Charlie Bennett| T: P Hide| OR: 63| BF| D

20/1

Brighton regular who has raced by the seaside in more than half of his 27 starts; this is much tougher than the Class 6 handicap in which he was a narrowly beaten 5/4f just ten days ago.

Form: 5-64242

Non-Runners

(9)

Lacan²⁷

Weight: 9-11| Age: 7

T: B R Johnson J: E J Walsh

Forecasts

Apex King (7/4), Shadow Warrior (7/2), Poetic Force (11/2), Majestic Moon (8/1), Bronze Angel (10/1), The Warrior (11/1), Lacan (12/1), Dark Alliance (14/1), Buzz Lightyere (20/1), Throckley (25/1)

AW regular Poetic Force has shown improved turf form of late, so undoubtedly rates a player on rattling quick ground despite the drop back in trip, whilst Richard Hughes looks fully capable of getting the best out of his newly acquired juvenile Listed winner Apex King. However, the pick today is the Paul D'Arcy-trained SHADOW WARRIOR. Despite being closely matched with Throckley on Doncaster form (1m2f) in early June, this reduced trip of 1m appears to suit this gelding far better and with career form figures over this trip of 1,3,1, he must be on the premises after just a 2lb rise for his latest Windsor win.