15:45 Ascot

Friday 10 May 2019

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Montfort Handicap

Off time: 15:48 | Winning time: 1m 15.87s

(4)

Diamond Dougal¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Scott McCullagh⁽⁷⁾| T: M R Channon| OR: 92| BF| D

13/2

Made a winning seasonal reappearance for the second successive year when beating today's rival Equitation by ½L at Windsor (6f, good); kept on well when finishing runner up off this mark at Ripon (6f, good) latest.

Form: 8427-12

(15)

Squats¹⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Charles Bishop| T: Ian Williams| OR: 90| C| D

25/1

Capable on his day, arguably most effective over 7f; became frustrating for William Haggas in late 2018 and moved on for 22,000gns; this trainer has been known to rejuvenate similar horses previously; stablemate of Double Up.

Form: 007880-

(12)

Louie de Palma⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 89| CD

6/1

C&D juvenile winner in 2014; back from a mammoth absence in 2018 showing mainly consistent form (although did finish last of 27 in the Gigaset International here (7f) in July); close fifth on Doncaster reappearance.

Form: 00020-5

(14)

Vegas Boy^t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: P J Dobbs| T: J A Osborne| OR: 85| D

14/1

Won a pair of weaker 6f contests (Class 4 & 5) under varying conditions last summer; excelled himself when beaten just over 1L (third) off this mark over C&D (Class 2) in October 2018; fitter for a recent AW spin?

Form: 11937-5

(6)

Tawny Port^t1²⁰³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Adam J McNamara| T: S C Williams| OR: 84| D

7/1

Beaten 2L by Lucky Lucky Man when placed in the Ayr Bronze Cup (6f, heavy) in September 2018; has left James Given for 32,000gns since; tongue-tie applied on debut for Stuart Williams (also saddles Equitation).

Form: 360353-

(16)

Royal Residence⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: W Buick| T: J Tate| OR: 84| D

7/4

Finished ¾L in front of today's rival Tawny Port when runner up in the Ayr Bronze Cup (6f, heavy) in September 2018; 6lb above his last winning mark; appreciates cut and shaped with promise when sixth of 13 on Doncaster return (Class 2).

Form: 85120-6

(7)

Pettochside⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 8-10| J: Joey Haynes| T: J J Bridger| OR: 84| C| D

33/1

Veteran who is versatile in terms of trip (5f-6f); his favoured manor is on the Goodwood Estate, although he has won at this track in the past; out of form lately; others hold far more compelling claims.

Form: 5538-00

(8)

Lightning Charlie³²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: K Stott| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 83| CD

20/1

C&D winner (July 2017); game win off today's mark at Kempton in October 2018 (6f), but quiet so far in 2019; will undoubtedly win more races as the season progresses; unconsidered today.

Form: 4318-48

(2)

Equitation^t³²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: B Doyle| T: S C Williams| OR: 83| D

17/2

Dual 6f winner; on the premises in three of his four starts so far in 2019 (5f-6f), including back on turf at Windsor last month when beaten ½L by the re-opposing Diamond Dougal; 1lb better off (despite a 2lb rise); trainer saddles two runners.

Form: 90-3622

(5)

Youkan²²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: M Dwyer| T: W S Kittow| OR: 83

20/1

Debatable as to whether or not he has the required experience for the hustle and bustle of a big-field Ascot sprint; more positively, boasts a 33% strike-rate (2-6) and will find the underfoot conditions to his liking; 4lb above last winning mark.

Form: 1/37010-

(11)

Dream Catching²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 78| D

12/1

Dream Ahead gelding; two-time winner (Kempton 6f, Brighton 7f); didn't enjoy the smoothest of routes when finishing runner up on seasonal reappearance at Brighton (7f, good to firm); out of the handicap proper in a stronger Class 3 contest.

Form: 41316-2

Non-Runners

(10)

Walk On Walter¹⁵

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: J G Portman J: Rob Hornby

(1)

Fille De Reve²¹⁶

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: E Walker J: G Mosse

(9)

Habub¹⁷

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: Owen Burrows J: Jim Crowley

(13)

Double Up¹³

Weight: 9-1| Age: 8

T: Ian Williams J: L Dettori

(3)

Zain Hana²⁴

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: J Butler J: S M Levey

Forecasts

Royal Residence (7/4), Habub (4/1), Walk On Walter (11/2), Louie de Palma (6/1), Diamond Dougal (13/2), Tawny Port (7/1), Equitation (17/2), Fille De Reve (10/1), Dream Catching (12/1), Vegas Boy (14/1), Youkan (20/1), Lightning Charlie (20/1), Squats (25/1), Zain Hana (25/1), Pettochside (33/1), Double Up (33/1)

Habub is yet to race on turf (or in a handicap for that matter) but has blown away the opposition from the front in remaining unbeaten on the AW (2-2) and retains obvious scope to progress. Walk On Walter has made stealthy progress through the ranks on an artificial surface, yet returns to turf from an elevated perch. Louie De Palma and Fille De Reve are both previous C&D winners who will attract their supporters, whilst the likes of Equitation and Diamond Dougal are also feasible options. However, the dart is aimed towards the Ayr Bronze Cup runner up ROYAL RESIDENCE who shaped well on his reappearance in a 6f Class 2 Doncaster handicap.