17:20 Ascot

Saturday 28 July 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:5017:20

Canisbay Bloodstock Handicap

Off time: 17:20 | Winning time: 2m 30.06s

(1)

What A Welcome⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Joey Haynes| T: P R Chamings| OR: 87| D

13/2

Arrives here bidding for a six-timer after a win at Windsor last time and he would have won by further if he had settled better and hadn't hung in the closing stages. Runner-up has franked the form since and has to be considered despite a 7lb rise.

Form: 511-111

(2)

Fast Dancer²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: James Doyle| T: J Tuite| OR: 87

16/1

Career best effort when winning at Chester in May and not beaten far last time out when narrowly denied at Windsor. 2lb higher but clearly thriving and gets an in form jockey in the saddle.

Form: 44-3152

(8)

Koeman⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: J F Egan| T: M R Channon| OR: 87| D

10/1

Last three wins have come on AW but he has won on turf and he wasn't beaten far at Newbury last time. Can take a keen hold but should get plenty of cover from this stall and he can't be ruled out having run well over C&D back in May from this mark.

Form: 127474

(6)

Dark Pearl²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: G Mosse| T: E Walker| OR: 82| D

8/1

Just one win from eight starts but he's been running well in defeat in three starts this year. Met some interference in the run at Sandown last time and capable of going well again back down in trip.

Form: 137-523

(9)

Sleeping Lion²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: T P Queally| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 88| D

6/5

Improved to land a 1m3f novice at Kempton on penultimate start, and took another step forward when scoring on handicap bow at Newbury three weeks ago. More to come, and may be up to landing hat-trick here. Engaged Newmarket 8.10.

Form: 4-711

(3)

Star Of Southwold⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: S De Sousa| T: R Hannon| OR: 87

9/1

Took a big step forward from his debut when a winner at Newmarket on debut but hasn't managed to build on that in two starts since, most recently at Haydock last month and looks in need of relief from the handicapper.

Form: 6154

(10)

Ravenous²³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: Sophie Ralston⁽⁷⁾| T: L A Dace| OR: 69| D

20/1

Not won for nearly two years now but he's produced two better efforts on his last couple of starts. Place claims again if the rain stays away.

Form: 667522

(4)

Bajan Gold^t²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: S C Williams| OR: 79

4/1

Denied in his hat-trick bid at Sandown last time but returns on the same mark here and entirely possible he will improve stepped up to this trip with Atzeni in the saddle.

Form: 92-0113

Non-Runners

(5)

Now Children⁷³

Weight: 10-2| Age: 4

T: C G Cox J: A Kirby

(7)

Noble Gift²⁴

Weight: 10-0| Age: 8

T: W J Knight J: Kieren Fox

Forecasts

Sleeping Lion (6/5), Bajan Gold (4/1), What A Welcome (13/2), Now Children (13/2), Dark Pearl (8/1), Star Of Southwold (9/1), Koeman (10/1), Noble Gift (12/1), Fast Dancer (16/1), Ravenous (20/1)

WHAT A WELCOME arrives here looking for his sixth straight win and there were signs he was still improving when a winner at Windsor last month. Sleeping Lion is an obvious danger if taking up this engagement in a hat-trick bid and Koeman is another that is an interesting runner having shaped as a if a return to form was imminent last time.