16:55 Ascot

Friday 10 May 2019

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

AGV Handicap

Off time: 16:57 | Winning time: 1m 29.29s

(1)

Motafaawit¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Jim Crowley| T: R Hannon| OR: 97| D

11/4

Gelded over the winter, but continued on an upward curve when throwing down a strong and successful late challenge to King Of Tonga at Beverley (7½f, good to firm); 7lb higher; soft ground worries.

Form: 123-1

(2)

Deep Intrigue²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: L Dettori| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 97

8/1

Has done the bulk of his winning on the AW (3-6), taking a 6f AW Championships FTQ by a neck at Newcastle in February; narrowly beaten in a Listed contest thereafter, meriting another 3lb rise; rain-softened ground a concern.

Form: 1-61127

(5)

Dirty Rascal²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 93| D

8/1

Quickened clear of Lihou when a ready 2¼L winner of a 7f nursery at Newbury (good to soft) in September 2018; more modest since, including behind Double Kodiac on seasonal reappearance at Newmarket (good to firm).

Form: 21215-6

(8)

Celebrity Dancer²³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 90

5/1

Prominent-racing gelding with a gritty winning mentality (5f-6f); close-up fourth of 20 to Red Balloons in York's 6f Premier Yearling Sales race in August 2018; faces a stiff 'ish' task on handicap/seasonal reappearance.

Form: 13140-

(6)

Awe²⁰⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: M Dwyer| T: W J Haggas| OR: 84| D

3/1

120,000gns yearling; progressed with racing as a juvenile, backing up his 7f Redcar novice win (good) with an admirable AW debut second (Chelmsford); more to offer as a three-year-old; player on handicap debut.

Form: 712-

(4)

Indomitable²²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 82

4/1

170,000gns foal; consistent throughout his juvenile campaign (2,2,1,4), narrowly landing the odds over an extended 7f at Chester (soft) in mid-September (form only modest); must progress in order to play a leading role.

Form: 2214-

Non-Runners

(9)

Aim Power¹⁹⁵

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: R Hannon J: Non Runner

(3)

James Street²¹

Weight: 8-13| Age: 3

T: H Palmer J: Non Runner

(7)

Double Kodiac²²

Weight: 8-9| Age: 3

T: S & E Crisford J: W Buick

Forecasts

Double Kodiac (5/2), Motafaawit (11/4), Awe (3/1), Indomitable (4/1), Celebrity Dancer (5/1), James Street (6/1), Aim Power (6/1), Deep Intrigue (8/1), Dirty Rascal (8/1)

Impossible to definitively dismiss any of the seven-declared runners, although one could consider that this is a difficult assignment for the returning Celebrity Dancer. Motafaawit was back with a bang at Beverley (displayed a sharp turn of foot), but his task is made more tricky with a subsequent 7lb rise in the weights on a much softer racing surface. Awe looks to have plenty more too offer moving forward into his three-year-old season and merits consideration, but the preferred option is the soft-ground proven DOUBLE KODIAC who recorded a career best at Newmarket (7f) and should once more have the measure of Dirty Rascal.