16:55 Ascot

Friday 7 September 2018

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

Sodexo Handicap

Off time: 16:56 | Winning time: 1m 14.10s

(4)

Boy In The Bar^v¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: James Doyle| T: Ian Williams| OR: 81| CD

4/1

Won this race in 2106 and hinted at a return to form latest with his best run of the season at Goodwood (third of 12). Same mark here so expected to be competitive with top jockey booked.

Form: 645003

(2)

Firmdecisions¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: N Tinkler| OR: 81

20/1

Nine career wins have all come over 7f. Again on target latest at Leicester latest when battling to success well. Can't get away from his stats over the trip.

Form: 147461

(7)

Daschas^t³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Fran Berry| T: S C Williams| OR: 80| CD

20/1

C&D winner here in July on penultimate start. Only raised 3lb for the success but didn't perform at all next time at Windsor when forced wide throughout. Better than that and could easily be involved here.

Form: 821810

(5)

Englishman¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Hayley Turner| T: J M Bradley| OR: 80| D

50/1

Only 1lb higher now than when last winning in May where he completed a quick double. Good effort at Newmarket two starts ago but disappointing last of eight at Windsor next. Sharper tracks than this tend to suit.

Form: 198528

(3)

Mr Orange^p³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: D C Costello| T: P T Midgley| OR: 80| D

20/1

Won three times this season in the North with the most recent at Pontefract two runs back. Things didn't go to plan there latest when short of room and too far back but remains of interest with only 3lb added for last win.

Form: 015914

(15)

Nezar³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: G Mosse| T: D K Ivory| OR: 79| D

20/1

Last 12 starts have all been on AW (won once). Form on turf seems comparable indeed running sound second at Goodwood last time he ran on it last September. Most of his form nowadays over 7f so things may happen a little quickly today.

Form: 471257

(8)

Shepherd's Purse^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Charles Bishop| T: D Loughnane| OR: 79| D

16/1

Yet to win in nine starts for this yard and not exactly consistent in them. Three good seconds including one over C&D would give him a chance but out of sorts lately and losing run stands at 27.

Form: 626609

(20)

Madrinho²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Poppy Bridgwater⁽⁷⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 78| CD

33/1

Three-time winner this season (two on AW) but disappointing last twice at Haydock since Kempton success in July. Handicap fair and apprentice lightens the load but draw and recent form both worries.

Form: 312189

(16)

Quick Breath¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Rob Hornby| T: J G Portman| OR: 80| D

20/1

6f Windsor winner earlier in the campaign has been mostly campaigned at 7f lately winning once at Chelmsford. Handicap creeping back in his favour last twice and could be suited by this return to a stiff 6f.

Form: 142174

(12)

The Establishment²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: A Kirby| T: P D Evans| OR: 78| D

7/1

Off the mark latest in a 6f Chepstow maiden where he battled well to land the spoils. previously run well at Newmarket in first handicap. Lightly raced and open to plenty more improvement so merits respect.

Form: 42531

(18)

Mullionheir²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: S De Sousa| T: J R Best| OR: 76| CD

10/1

Won this race last year despite arriving in seemingly poor form. Four races this season well below his win but arrives on same mark now and last year's winning jockey returns to the saddle. Suspicion he's been laid out for this.

Form: 91-8707

(19)

Parnassian^b⁴^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Watson⁽³⁾| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 70| D

9/2

First past the post but disqualified and placed second on Monday at Windsor. Sure to be hit with a rise from the handicapper so comes here looking to amends and having escaped the penalty he looks set to make a bold bid once more.

Form: 39495D

(11)

Moon Song³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: H Crouch| T: C G Cox| OR: 78| D

16/1

Relatively lightly raced filly won at Kempton (AW) and Windsor before latest second of three at Nottingham off this mark. Tougher ask now and tendency to hang left is concerning.

Form: 26-8112

(13)

Blazed¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Harry Bentley| T: E F Vaughan| OR: 76

14/1

Not had the busiest of campaigns but encouragement in most of his races although is yet to win this season. Never got a run latest so that effort can be dismissed but on earlier form he should be thereabouts here.

Form: 338246

(10)

Big Lachie²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Liam Jones| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 75| D

33/1

Bath winner earlier in the campaign has had a severe dose of seconditis since with five straight seconds. Obviously in good order but handicapper keeps up the pressure and faces a much bigger field here.

Form: 122222

(9)

Field of Vision^p¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Cameron Noble⁽⁵⁾| T: J L Flint| OR: 75| BF| D

33/1

Done most of his racing at Chepstow this summer and built on two seconds there with a win before another good effort at the track latest in second. This tougher but arrives in top form so must be considered.

Form: 272212

(1)

Akbar Shah²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Spencer| T: E Walker| OR: 76

8/1

Maiden finished second on handicap debut when held up at Lingfield before one-paced fourth at Newmarket latest. Specialist in hold-up tactics takes over so maybe a hint of what to expect. Draw not ideal.

Form: 082224

(6)

Bounty Pursuit²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: M Blake| OR: 74| D

50/1

Won comfortably at Leicester but unable to deal with 5lb rise at Chepstow when 2L fifth to Field Of Vision. Better off with that rival but overall profile suggests this may be a tough ask of him.

Form: 362315

(14)

Nick Vedder^b²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: R Winston| T: M Wigham| OR: 73

8/1

Built on a string of good efforts since switched to this yard when successful latest over 7f at Doncaster. Only raised 2lb so good form shouldn't be curtailed but never run over 6f and overall profile doesn't indicate it will suit.

Form: 922431

Non-Runners

(17)

Rockies Spirit⁴¹

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: D P Quinn J: Dane O'Neill

Forecasts

Boy In The Bar (4/1), Parnassian (9/2), The Establishment (7/1), Akbar Shah (8/1), Nick Vedder (8/1), Mullionheir (10/1), Blazed (14/1), Moon Song (16/1), Shepherd's Purse (16/1), Daschas (20/1), Nezar (20/1), Firmdecisions (20/1), Quick Breath (20/1), Mr Orange (20/1), Rockies Spirit (20/1), Big Lachie (33/1), Madrinho (33/1), Field of Vision (33/1), Bounty Pursuit (50/1), Englishman (50/1)

A wide-open contest this but the safest bet looks to be PARNASSIAN who lost a race in the stewards room at Windsor on Monday night. Had he retained the race he would have had a 6lb penalty and in any case the handicapper will no doubt add weight on so this is a good opportunity before such re-evaluation. Last year's winner Millionheir is drawn next door and the champion jockey takes over in the saddle as he did for last year's success off the same mark. On the opposite side of the track Mr Orange and 2016 winner Boy In The Bar are the most appealing.