13:40 Ascot

Saturday 11 August 2018

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

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers (Handicap)

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 3m 29.21s

(6)

Jukebox Jive^t³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: A Kirby| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 100

7/2

Won three times on the Flat last year and returned to form with a respectable third in Listed company at Sandown last time out. Handicapper has put him up 5lb for that though and quite possibly vulnerable off top weight here.

Form: 14-4483

(2)

Lord George^v⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Fran Berry| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 100| D

10/1

Campaigned on AW in recent times and produced a career best effort when narrowly denied in a valuable conditions event at Lingfield. Struggled in the Plate last time at Newcastle but he's relatively lightly raced and yard do well with their stayers.

Form: 24-1420

(4)

Hassle^b²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-12| J: Yutaka Take| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 98| C| D

8/1

Course winner back in 2014 and largely been campaigned over hurdles since joining this yard in 2015. Handicap mark looks a little stiff on the evidence of his occasional Flat outings in recent years but he has run well in this race before.

Form: 34320/8

(1)

Stars Over The Sea^h²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: G Mosse| T: Ian Williams| OR: 98| D

16/1

Didn't really take to life over hurdles for Henry De Bromhead and well beaten on debut for this yard at Newbury. May come on for that but has questions to answer from this sort of handicap mark.

Form: 4/4120-0

(5)

Byron Flyer^p⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Hayley Turner| T: Ian Williams| OR: 95| D

5/1

Useful over hurdles and while he hasn't won on the Flat since the start of 2017, he's run some creditable races in defeat, including when runner-up in this race last year. 2lb higher this year and needs to bounce back from a couple of poor efforts.

Form: 27-5200

(12)

Manjaam²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Corey Brown| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 95| C

16/1

Course winner back in 2016 and won four times that year. Belatedly got his head back in front at York in May but he's been virtually tailed off on two starts since and this step up in trip is an unknown. Opposable.

Form: 0-26106

(7)

Soldier In Action⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: A Starke| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 95| D

13/2

Narrowly beat Lord George on AW on final start of 2017 and much better off at the weights with that rival here but with good reason with his form been poor this year. Well beaten at Goodwood last week in a race he won in 2017 and others preferred.

Form: 668700

(8)

Cleonte^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Per-anders Graberg| T: A M Balding| OR: 92

9/2

Won a Listed race at Deauville for Andre Fabre towards the end of 2016 but hasn't won since. Not disgraced at Newbury last time but more needed.

Form: 46-2496

(10)

Fire Jet²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Josephine Gordon| T: J Mackie| OR: 90

6/1

Running well this year without being able to get her head in front including when third at Newmarket last time. Would probably want a bit of cut in the ground to be seen at her best though and may need a bit more relief from the handicapper.

Form: 8-52473

(3)

Aussie Reigns^v¹⁷¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Hollie Doyle| T: G & J Moore| OR: 88| DWS

33/1

Hasn't won on the Flat since winning a Listed race at Kempton back in 2013. Struggling for any sort of form in four starts since joining this yard and has plenty to prove at present. Has first start since a wind operation.

Form: 0/685-66

Non-Runners

(9)

Saunter¹⁸

Weight: 9-12| Age: 5

T: Ian Williams J: Non Runner

(11)

Berrahri⁹

Weight: 8-9| Age: 7

T: J R Best J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

Jukebox Jive (7/2), Cleonte (9/2), Byron Flyer (5/1), Saunter (11/2), Fire Jet (6/1), Soldier In Action (13/2), Hassle (8/1), Lord George (10/1), Stars Over The Sea (16/1), Manjaam (16/1), Aussie Reigns (33/1), Berrahri (33/1)

BYRON FLYER is the tentative selections in a winnable race after his second in the contest last year. Fire Jet has been generally consistent this year and she shouldn't be too far away while Lord George was in good form on all-weather towards the start of the year and can be forgiven a below par effort when last seen at Newcastle.