15:35 Ascot

Saturday 14 July 2018

All12:4513:2013:5014:2515:0515:3516:10

Woodford Reserve Handicap

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 2m 30.45s

(3)

Cross Counter²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: C Appleby| OR: 101

13/8

Good level of form in novice events before finishing fourth of 18 on his handicap bow at Royal Ascot with Occupy and Elegiac behind. Plenty of room for improvement and looks a leading player.

Form: 1-124

(4)

Elegiac¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 92| D

5/1

Raced prominently for a long way when finishing behind Cross Counter and Occupy at Royal Ascot and made all to land a four-runner contest at Hamilton. Up 3lb, but has to be considered.

Form: 31-201

(6)

King's Proctor⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁷⁾| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 91

16/1

Well beaten on latest outing over 1m2f at Sandown and has been dropped 2lb. Earlier form this season offers more encouragement, but he has a bit to prove.

Form: 223297

(5)

Occupy²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R M Beckett| OR: 88

7/2

Did not get the clearest of runs at Royal Ascot when fifth, one place behind Cross Counter and ahead of Elegiac. That was only his fourth race so he has to be of interest off the same mark.

Form: 1-635

(8)

Gossip Column⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: L Morris| T: Ian Williams| OR: 87

11/2

Has been well placed to win three of his four starts this season, latterly at Haydock. Tries his longest trip so far and is up another 5lb, but cannot be dismissed given his recent record.

Form: 48-1211

(7)

Desert Path¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: B A Curtis| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 86

12/1

Seemed to relish the step up to 1m3½f when back to winning ways at Windsor. Has to cope with a 4lb higher mark, but is progressive and warrants respect.

Form: 74-161

(1)

Berkshire Royal²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: M Dwyer| T: A M Balding| OR: 82| D

14/1

Defied a rise in the weights when scoring at Chester on his latest outing and now finds himself up another 4lb. Stays this trip well and is not one to dismiss lightly.

Form: 5-11241

Non-Runners

(2)

Corelli⁶³

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: J & T Gosden J: L Dettori

Forecasts

Cross Counter (13/8), Corelli (3/1), Occupy (7/2), Elegiac (5/1), Gossip Column (11/2), Desert Path (12/1), Berkshire Royal (14/1), King's Proctor (16/1)

Elegiac may be the best of his stable's two runners, Corelli is interesting on his handicap debut and Gossip Column and Desert Path may have more to offer after wins on their most recent starts. However, the finish may be fought out by CROSS COUNTER and Occupy, who were fourth and fifth in the King George V Handicap at the Royal meeting and who can take another step forward. Berkshire Royal continues to climb the handicap, but stays well and is not out of it.