17:00 Ascot

Wednesday 1 May 2019

All14:1514:5015:2515:5516:2517:0017:35

Ascot Supports Racing Charities Handicap

Off time: 17:03 | Winning time: 1m 0.41s

(7)

Tomily¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Seamus Cronin⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 87| D

8/1

Form rather tailed off last season after winning twice on AW in March. That downturn continued on return at Kempton so barring sudden return to form he is best opposed.

Form: 07408-7

(5)

Leo Minor^p¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 85| D

10/1

Only 1lb higher than Newmarket win last season and will have conditions in his favour here. Disappointing return at Pontefract but could come on. Not ruled out but recent form not good enough.

Form: 72640-8

(6)

Rio Ronaldo²¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Rossa Ryan| T: M Murphy| OR: 83| D

33/1

Six-time winner is a real 5f specialist who relishes fast ground. Would be a career-best effort to win off this mark and now aged seven that probably unlikely.

Form: 120406-

(1)

Iconic Knight²⁰¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: A Kirby| T: E Walker| OR: 80| D

11/2

Won twice last season and remained very much competitive off this mark until below par effort to end the campaign. Surely leave that well behind him now and the sort to continue his progress so solid claims here.

Form: 155120-

(10)

Daschas^t²³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S C Williams| OR: 80| C| D

7/2

Four-time winner including over 6f here last season. Handicap mark remains in range based on form towards the end of the season but for all he's won once over 5f, 6f looks his favoured trip.

Form: 218105-

(9)

Burford Brown¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 80| BF

10/1

Two wins over 7f in the autumn when trained by Hugo Palmer on AW and showed he handles this distance on return at Newcastle when fifth of 12. Turf evidence less compelling but still lightly raced so probably just improved since; contender.

Form: 73141-5

(12)

George Dryden³³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: David Egan| T: C Wallis| OR: 79| D

12/1

Not the most prolific and had a frustrating time of it last season after winning in February on AW. Good fourth on AW latest showed his wellbeing and sliding handicap mark means that he must be respected here.

Form: 2050-74

(8)

Glamorous Rocket¹⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: C Mason| OR: 78| D

33/1

In good form throughout much of 2018 and deservedly got her head back in front at Kempton in penultimate start. Returns off a career high but is a thoroughly progressive sort and therefore can't be taken lightly.

Form: 822210-

(13)

Human Nature^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: S M Levey| T: S C Williams| OR: 77| D

16/1

Justified favouritism when scoring off this mark (Jamie Spencer ridden) at Yarmouth in August (7f, good to firm); campaigned mainly on the AW since but disappointed back on turf latest. Looks pretty exposed at present.

Form: 6-52547

(4)

Indian Raj⁶²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Jim Crowley| T: S C Williams| OR: 76| D

6/1

Didn't see a racecourse until early July last year but quickly made up into a smart sort winning at Leicester and Newcastle in his second and third starts. Obviously difficult to train but has plenty of potential here on handicap debut.

Form: 211/

(2)

Our Oystercatcher¹⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Finley Marsh⁽³⁾| T: M Pattinson| OR: 75| BF

16/1

Scored for the first time since his debut when tried in a 0-70 Bath handicap (5½f, good to soft) last season. Flopped after that at Nottingham when 5lb higher however and looks a risky proposition here.

Form: 0/35210-

(3)

Something Lucky^v³³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: G Mosse| T: M Appleby| OR: 75| D

14/1

10-time winner but arrives here on 13-race losing streak. Plenty of good efforts in that winless run however and has an excellent record for rewarding place/each-way backers. Once again he's solid for such purposes.

Form: 222827

(11)

Gnaad¹⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Darragh Keenan⁽⁵⁾| T: A Bailey| OR: 74| D

20/1

Not the most consistent but in good order last autumn before winter months saw his form drop. Returns here but at a level where he will have to be at his very best to figure.

Form: 31366-0

Forecasts

Daschas (7/2), Iconic Knight (11/2), Indian Raj (6/1), Tomily (8/1), Burford Brown (10/1), Leo Minor (10/1), George Dryden (12/1), Something Lucky (14/1), Our Oystercatcher (16/1), Human Nature (16/1), Gnaad (20/1), Rio Ronaldo (33/1), Glamorous Rocket (33/1)

ICONIC KNIGHT was progressive as a three-year-old and went very close off this mark penultimately before possibly going over the top latest. He looks a safe bet to continue his rise this season so gets the nod in this highly competitive contest. The very unexposed Indian Raj could very easily prove well treated for this, his handicap debut and is certainly feared. George Dryden is more exposed than some but seems now to be close to a winning mark again.