13:05 Ascot

Saturday 11 August 2018

All13:0513:4014:1514:5015:2516:00

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash (Handicap)

Off time: 13:05 | Winning time: 1m 0.0s

(11)

Sir Robert Cheval⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Yutaka Take| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 101| C| D

8/1

Well beaten on seasonal reappearance at the Royal meeting. The drop back to 5f looks in his favour but needs a career best effort to defy this handicap mark.

Form: 16722-0

(12)

El Astronaute¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: P Cosgrave| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 101| D

9/2

Useful front-running sprinter in good form this year. Unusually hung right under pressure when runner-up at Goodwood last week but he's generally starightforward and can be forgiven that. Could be vulnerable late in the race on this stiff track.

Form: 123442

(7)

Tis Marvellous^t⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Hollie Doyle| T: C G Cox| OR: 100| D

6/1

Lightly raced sort who ran with plenty of promise on his return at Newmarket before a fine effort in the Wokingham here. Very disappointing at Goodwood last time though and drop back to 5f not certain to suit.

Form: 8-60540

(10)

Gracious John¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Fran Berry| T: P D Evans| OR: 99| D

12/1

Very unpredictable sort and below his best over C&D last time out when fifth of 10. While the stiff nature of this 5f isn't ideal, he does get his regular rider, an obvious positive at this meeting and he's capable off this handicap mark.

Form: 103535

(8)

Line Of Reason²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: Hayley Turner| T: P T Midgley| OR: 99| D

12/1

Placed in a valuable contest at the Curragh in June before confirming the promise of that with an Ayr success two starts back. Struggled under a penalty here on his latest start though and 2lb higher for this contest.

Form: 702310

(1)

Encore d'Or^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: A Starke| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 99| D

9/1

Useful 5f sprinter who stays 6f. Particularly good on AW but while he's only one from 19 on turf, he's been acquitting himself well in some competitive races this summer. Down to a workable mark and his German jockey is top class.

Form: 260544

(9)

Foolaad^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Josephine Gordon| T: S R Bowring| OR: 98| D

6/1

Landed a four-timer at Southwell and narrowly got the better of El Astronaute at Pontefract on return. Arrives on better terms with that rival here and a drop back to 5f looks like a positive move. Not ruled out.

Form: 111207

(6)

Watchable^p⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: J Moreira| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97| D

6/1

Useful sort when he gets his conditions and drying ground in his favour here. Weakened out of things at Goodwood last time over 6f but a drop back in trip should see him to better effect and he's been dropped 1lb in the handicap.

Form: 063210

(3)

Evergate^v¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: A Kirby| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 95| D

11/2

Has just won twice in 23 starts with both of those wins coming at Windsor. Excellent second over C&D last time out and while nudged up 2lb for that effort, he's been in good form of late and holds each-way claims here.

Form: 203202

(5)

Tommy G⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Per-anders Graberg| T: J S Goldie| OR: 85

14/1

Second Reserve: Has won three times since returning to turf this season and particularly impressive at Goodwood last time. His record over this trip is patchy though and others preferred.

Form: 173171

Non-Runners

(2)

Just Glamorous¹¹

Weight: 9-12| Age: 5

T: R Harris J: Per-anders Graberg

(4)

The Daley Express⁸⁵

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: R Harris J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

El Astronaute (9/2), Evergate (11/2), Tis Marvellous (6/1), Watchable (6/1), Foolaad (6/1), Sir Robert Cheval (8/1), Encore d'Or (9/1), Gracious John (12/1), Line Of Reason (12/1), Tommy G (14/1), Just Glamorous (20/1), The Daley Express (25/1)

Robert Cowell is a trainer that does particularly well with his sprinters and he could hold the key to this contest with his trio of runners. ENCORE D'OR makes most appeal now back on a workable handicap mark and he arrives in good form having run well here on his last couple of starts. Evergate is another of his representatives who ran well here last time out but Watchable is preferred for the places back down to his preferred 5f.