16:35 Ascot

Friday 12 July 2019

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:45

Savills Handicap

Off time: 16:37 | Winning time: 1m 40.89s

(2)

Pesto²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 91

3/1

Back from a ten-month absence when forcing a gap at a crucial stage and finishing strongest of all to force a dead-heat with the progressive Wise Counsel at Sandown (7f, good to soft) last month; 4lb higher and up in trip on second handicap start.

Form: 841-1

(7)

Lady Madison²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: S W Kelly| T: R Hughes| OR: 91| D

20/1

Hung, yet won with plenty in hand in a 1m Windsor novice (good) on seasonal reappearance (second a winner since); 14-1 and down the field (22nd of 27) on handicap debut in the Class 2 Sandringham Stakes.

Form: 14-10

(1)

Muraad⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Dane O'Neill| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 88| BF

6/1

Cost 160,000gns as a foal; all of his racecourse experiences have been limited to the AW, winning over an extended mile at Wolverhampton in April (form reasonable); switched to turf for handicap debut.

Form: 3-13

(4)

Red Armada^p¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 85| D

11/4

Beaten a head by the subsequent Britannia Stakes winner Biometric at Newbury (7f) in May; has made short work of inferior rivals in at Chepstow (1m novice) since; handicap debut.

Form: 423-21

(6)

Prince Of Harts¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: B R Millman| OR: 83| D

8/1

Represents a trainer who is supplying a steady stream of winners; off the mark in handicap company when an easy 2½L winner of a Class 5 contest at Nottingham (1m+, good to soft) a fortnight ago; 7lb higher in a stronger race.

Form: 5-16251

(8)

Elamirr¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Charles Bishop| T: R Varian| OR: 81| BF

14/1

Unable to justify favouritism on handicap debut at Newcastle (1m) a fortnight ago when a nearest at the finish third to Liliofthelamplight; should improve for that race (his first competitive start for six months); realistic contender on turf debut.

Form: 851-3

(5)

Ginger Fox^v1⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Jason Watson| T: Ian Williams| OR: 78

9/2

Continues to knock firmly at the door without forcing an opening, hence the application of a visor; beaten ½L by the Mick Channon-trained Certain Lad at Haydock (1m, good to firm) last week; is due a 2lb rise.

Form: 024222

(3)

Baryshnikov¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Liam Keniry| T: E Walker| OR: 77

9/1

Five-race maiden; 2lb lower than when finishing 6L third of seven to Korcho at Windsor (1m2f, good) last month; should appreciate the drop back in trip but others are readily preferred.

Form: 432-63

Forecasts

Red Armada (11/4), Pesto (3/1), Ginger Fox (9/2), Muraad (6/1), Prince Of Harts (8/1), Baryshnikov (9/1), Elamirr (14/1), Lady Madison (20/1)

Yet another very tricky handicap in which the majority have a chance of making an impact. Red Armada bustled up the subsequent Britannia Stakes winner Biometric on his penultimate start so must figure prominently on any shortlist, while the likes of Muraad and Pesto are either untested or very lightly raced in handicap company. However, at a risk of sounding very repetitive, for small stakes the possible solution could be ELAMIRR. Although he didn't contest the strongest of handicaps at Newcastle he appeared to be in need of that race (third), so with the benefit of a run under his belt he represents as good a shout as anything else.