17:45 Ascot

Friday 12 July 2019

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

CMS Real Deal Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:46 | Winning time: 1m 40.93s

(9)

Markazi^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: William Cox| T: D O'Meara| OR: 87| BF| D

7/1

In excellent form in recent weeks (2232) competing in strong York handicaps (Cl 3-4) most latterly; held every chance until deep inside the final furlong when beaten 2L by Irv (1m, good to firm) a fortnight ago; stablemate of Star Shield.

Form: 082232

(3)

Jackpot Royale²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Theodore Ladd⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 85| D

16/1

Progressed through the ranks in 2018 winning three on the bounce (7f-1m); turned in his best performance of this season when third of six (beaten 2¾L) in a 7f apprentices' handicap at Goodwood three weeks ago.

Form: 110-093

(8)

Mountain Rescue^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Seamus Cronin⁽³⁾| T: M J Attwater| OR: 83| D

10/1

Well beaten over C&D on his penultimate start but made the most of an ease in the weights to score for today's rider Seamus Cronin at Newmarket (1m, July Course) three weeks ago; 6lb higher, yet feasibly weighted on peak form.

Form: 675-601

(5)

Top Mission³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Stefano Cherchi⁽⁷⁾| T: M Botti| OR: 83

20/1

Former Godolphin inmate (sold for 18,000gns in February); beaten a head by Itsakindamagic when making a pleasing stable debut at Chelmsford (1m) in April; bitterly disappointing in both subsequent starts.

Form: 549-287

(10)

Mister Music¹¹^{(ex 4)}

Age: 10| Weight: 9-8| J: Elisha Whittington⁽⁷⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 77| D

20/1

Veteran who has developed into an AW specialist in his later career; has kicked about in claimers in recent times winning over 7f at Wolverhampton latest (carries a 4lb penalty); seeks to exploit a marginally lower turf mark (than AW).

Form: 123321

(1)

Breanski²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Finley Marsh| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 80| D

7/2

Fully capable over either 7f or 1m; potentially is nicely handicapped off a mark of 80 (9lb lower than when competing in a Class 2 contest here last September); beaten just over 3L (fifth of 19) at York latest; chance.

Form: 750-905

(4)

Poetic Force^t⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Darragh Keenan⁽³⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 79| D

6/1

Beaten a neck in this race in 2018 and was a winner from a 4lb lower mark on his penultimate start (1m, Bath); blew the start at Epsom latest so can be forgiven that lesser effort; the pick of the three runners for Tony Carroll.

Form: 215916

(11)

Star Shield⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Scott McCullagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 78| D

3/1

Like his stablemate Markazi he arrives in excellent form; beat the subsequent winners Anna Bunina and Mickey when scoring by a nose at Doncaster (1m, good to soft) in late June; close second at Yarmouth since; 4lb 'well-in'.

Form: 745312

(6)

Masked Identity²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Sebastian Woods⁽³⁾| T: S L Keightley| OR: 78| D

11/1

Won twice on the AW for Kevin Frost (Wolverhampton and Southwell); well beaten on a couple of occasions on turf since; unconsidered on debut for Shaun Keightley.

Form: 12160

(2)

Papa Stour²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Joshua Bryan| T: A M Balding| OR: 75

8/1

Without a win since taking a low-grade (Cl 5) Wolverhampton handicap in January 2018; has raced almost exclusively at Chelmsford (twice placed) since finishing a tailed-off last of 15 over C&D (Cl 2) in July 2018.

Form: 2908-36

(7)

Pour La Victoire²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: Poppy Bridgwater⁽³⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 75| D

33/1

A veteran of 91 races (14 wins); best known for being a Brighton specialist; steps up in trip after racing over 6f recently; appears to be the weakest link of the Tony Carroll trio.

Form: 48-0835

Forecasts

Star Shield (3/1), Breanski (7/2), Poetic Force (6/1), Markazi (7/1), Papa Stour (8/1), Mountain Rescue (10/1), Masked Identity (11/1), Jackpot Royale (16/1), Top Mission (20/1), Mister Music (20/1), Pour La Victoire (33/1)

David O'Meara has a very strong hand in this concluding apprentices' handicap courtesy of the the bang in-form duo Star Shield and Markazi who are assessed in order of preference. Tony Carroll is triple-handed, and his best chance of a winner is via the Darragh Keenan-ridden Poetic Force who was beaten by a neck in this race in 2018 (by Buzz Lightyere). However, in pursuit of value we'll elect to dig deeper and side with the well handicapped BREANSKI who looks poised to strike for the Leyburn handler Jedd O'Keeffe. He sits a noteworthy 9lb lower than when finishing a close-up ninth of 20 in a Class 2 7f handicap here last September.