16:20 Ascot

Friday 7 September 2018

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2016:55

Weatherbys Handicap (Str)

Off time: 16:24 | Winning time: 1m 39.90s

(3)

Shady Mccoy⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: R L Moore| T: Ian Williams| OR: 101| C

3/1

Narrowly touched off on the round course here in the Shergar Cup Mile before running on fourth latest over 7½f at Chester. Same mark here and looks a leading contender seeking a 10th career success.

Form: 620024

(1)

Poet's Society⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 100| D

11/1

Valuable York handicap win made his trainer the most successful of all time but latest run at Chester (11th of 12) was poor and overall he is something of an in and out performer.

Form: 026510

(2)

Zwayyan^b¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Watson⁽³⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 98| CD

3/1

Close third here on the round course (Shady Mccoy second) before winning as favourite latest on the AW at Chelmsford. 1lb worse off with the top horse this time but they are very closely matched and both likely to go well.

Form: 4-42531

(4)

Examiner^t¹²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Fran Berry| T: S C Williams| OR: 97| D

16/1

A winner on Newmarket's Rowley Mile in April but burst a bold vessel there next and had to be pulled-up. Off a long time since and doubtful he will be ready to contest this.

Form: 066-81P

(10)

Fire Brigade¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Hayley Turner| T: M L W Bell| OR: 95| D

7/1

Soft ground lover has had a frustrating season with favoured conditions rare but ran well when a close fifth here (Shady McCoy second, Zwayyen third). Again behind Zwayyen latest and for all his handicap appeals the ground again may be too fast.

Form: 002855

(5)

La Rav²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Spencer| T: L M Cumani| OR: 93| D

12/1

Made favourite for a competitive 7f Newbury handicap on return but was too keen and collided with rivals before fading and finishing last. Still lightly raced and almost certainly capable of better today.

Form: 51130-0

(7)

Gurkha Friend¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 92| D

8/1

Won back-to-back races at Ripon (!m1f and 1m) before narrowly failing there latest over 1m. 1lb higher here but clearly in good form so expecting another good showing.

Form: 07-7112

(6)

Silver Quartz¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: H Palmer| OR: 97| D

4/1

Windsor novice winner yet to really get his act together in two handicaps after being set stiff tasks at pattern company. Suspect there is more to come from the lone three-year-old in the line-up.

Form: 2-17030

(8)

C Note^p1,t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: G Mosse| T: H Main| OR: 91

20/1

Shown very little since winning on AW back in March. Weakened quickly latest at Newbury and more headgear added in attempt to change his fortunes. Others more appealing.

Form: 170790

Non-Runners

(9)

Yuften³⁶⁵

Weight: 9-6| Age: 7

T: J Butler J: A Kirby

Forecasts

Zwayyan (3/1), Shady Mccoy (3/1), Silver Quartz (4/1), Fire Brigade (7/1), Gurkha Friend (8/1), Poet's Society (11/1), La Rav (12/1), Examiner (16/1), Yuften (16/1), C Note (20/1)

SHADY MCCOY and Zwayyan are very closely matched based on their meeting here penultimately but the former just about got the best of that argument and can again now 1lb better off after his rival won last time out. Silver Quartz is held in high regard by a shrewd trainer and is the sort who could still be open to improvement even late on his three-year-old campaign.