17:00 Royal Ascot

Tuesday 18 June 2019

All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:35

Ascot Stakes (Handicap)

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 4m 28.34s

(18)

The Grand Visir^t¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: R Kingscote| T: Ian Williams| OR: 100

12/1

Gained two wins from four starts on the Flat last year. Yard do well with these types from other yards and he might have needed his comeback run at Newmarket last time. Interesting contender now tackling this new trip.

Form: 8/0101-7

(16)

Snow Falcon⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-9| J: Colin Keane| T: N Meade| OR: 99| D

10/1

Stays 3m over fences and has run some big races in competitive Flat handicaps, as seen when runner-up in the Irish Cesarewith in 2017. Still on a feasible handicap mark and could go well if this turns in to a proper stamina test.

Form: 451020/

(14)

Time To Study³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Jim Crowley| T: Ian Williams| OR: 96

16/1

Hasn't won since trained by Mark Johnston in 2017. Struggled in heavy conditions in the Chester Cup last time on his second start for this yard and while he may do better at some stage, he has questions to answer for now, particularly at this trip.

Form: 4009-88

(1)

Arctic Fire^h³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 9-6| J: M Gallagher| T: D Cullen| OR: 96| D

33/1

Grade 1 winner over hurdles and placed in the Champion Hurdle back in 2015. Lightly raced on the Flat but impressive when he won well enough at Killarney last time out and still unexposed in this sphere. Stays this far over hurdles.

Form: 12/1

(2)

Mengli Khan^t⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Rory Cleary| T: G Elliott| OR: 96| BF

8/1

Grade 1 winner over hurdles and hasn't been seen on the Flat since 2016. Could be well-handicapped on return to this sphere but has stamina to prove at this trip.

Form: 174814/

(20)

Not Never¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Harry Bentley| T: G & J Moore| OR: 95

22/1

Last seen on the Flat back in 2016 and while he's been in good form over both hurdles and fences in recent times, he doesn't look particularly well-handicapped back in this sphere.

Form: 720225/

(15)

Percy Street^t,v¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Finley Marsh⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 95| D

66/1

Has won twice over hurdles since his last Flat success back in 2016. Well beaten in this race last year from the same handicap mark and hard to fancy here.

Form: 69527/0-

(10)

Coeur de Lion^p³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen⁽⁵⁾| T: A King| OR: 93

7/1

Very impressive when bolting up in a heavy ground Chester Plate last time out. Still well-handicapped from 5lb higher and any rain would be in his favour.

Form: 3850-21

(7)

Kerosin¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: D Hogan| OR: 93

16/1

Got his head back in front at Navan last time out and only nudged up 4lb for that. Stamina for this new trip is an unknown but has suggested it would suit in the past and he's generally a consistent sort, despite a modest strike-rate on turf.

Form: 282431

(17)

Jukebox Jive¹³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: D C Costello| T: J A Osborne| OR: 93

33/1

Has a trio of wins on the Flat but he's looked regressive in recent times and he was well beaten in a pair of staying handicaps at Meydan this winter. Plenty to prove at present.

Form: 8388-73

(6)

Ulster⁵⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Edward Greatrex| T: A Watson| OR: 92| BF

20/1

Has looked progressive since joining this yard and did well to finish runner-up in a decent staying race at Musselburgh last time, despite taking a keen hold throughout much of the race. Should get cover here and respected up in trip.

Form: 4/11222

(3)

Cosmelli^b¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 92

50/1

Useful stayer on his day, as seen when winning the 2018 Northumberland Vase. While he hasn't won since, he finished an excellent third of 12 over an inadequate 1m4f last time at Kempton. Marathon trip could suit and respected here from a nice mark.

Form: 756243

(9)

Mixboy⁷⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mulrennan| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 92| D

28/1

Arrives bidding for a hat-trick having won over fences at Musselburgh before a Flat success at Southwell last time. Very consistent sort but doesn't look all that well-handicapped in a race this competitive.

Form: 9801-41

(4)

Gunnery¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Spencer| T: N J Henderson| OR: 92

16/1

Won his maiden at Haydock in 2016 and made an encouraging debut effort over hurdles at Bangor for this yard earlier this month coming off a three year absence. Ran okay when sixth in the Queen's Vase at this meeting in 2016 and not one to rule out.

Form: 415267/

(11)

Yabass^t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 91

50/1

Wide margin winner at Ripon last year but failed to build on that throughout the rest of the campaign. Well beaten in two starts this year and vulnerable at present.

Form: 6505-34

(12)

Mancini³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: S De Sousa| T: J G Portman| OR: 91

13/2

Won three times last year and improved from reappearance to finish runner-up in a competitive race at York last time (form franked by winner since). Has stamina to prove over this new trip and soft ground would be an unknown.

Form: 1380-42

(13)

Batts Rock^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: L Dettori| T: G Elliott| OR: 91

8/1

Very consistent over hurdles of late, gaining a maiden hurdle success last time out at Downpatrick. Should see out this new trip and only 1lb above his last winning handicap mark on the Flat but this is competitive.

Form: 244/110-

(19)

Buildmeupbuttercup^t1⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: W P Mullins| OR: 91| C

7/1

Dual bumper winner who won a maiden hurdle at Navan in December. Badly out of form since and while the yard have an excellent recent record in this, the mare doesn't look overly well-handicapped. Wears first-time tongue-tie.

Form: 459-

(8)

Fun Mac^t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: P J McDonald| T: H Morrison| OR: 91

11/1

Paid the price for doing too much too soon at Chester last time out. Well beaten last year but he's 11lb below that mark and he's become dangerously well-handicapped; interesting runner.

Form: 30400-5

Non-Runners

(5)

The Cashel Man³³

Weight: 9-0| Age: 7

T: N J Henderson J: L Morris

Forecasts

Mancini (13/2), Buildmeupbuttercup (7/1), Coeur de Lion (7/1), Batts Rock (8/1), Mengli Khan (8/1), Snow Falcon (10/1), Fun Mac (11/1), The Grand Visir (12/1), The Cashel Man (14/1), Time To Study (16/1), Kerosin (16/1), Gunnery (16/1), Ulster (20/1), Not Never (22/1), Mixboy (28/1), Arctic Fire (33/1), Jukebox Jive (33/1), Yabass (50/1), Cosmelli (50/1), Percy Street (66/1)

Willie Mullins has won three of the last four renewals of this race but he only has one runner this time around and it might be worth taking a chance on something at a likely bigger price. FUN MAC shaped like a return to form may be near at Chester last time and he's well suited to a marathon trip; now very well treated on old form, he could be the one they all have to beat. Couer De Lion's handicap mark looks lenient after his five length success at Chester last time out while Cosmelli could relish this step up in trip.