15:25 Ascot

Saturday 13 July 2019

All13:4514:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Fresh Air Helicopters Handicap

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 3m 3.85s

(3)

Nakeeta^h,t⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: R Ffrench| T: Mrs L C Jewell| OR: 97| D

14/1

2017 Ebor winner and fifth in that year's Melbourne Cup for Ian Jardine. Yet to win since that success and was hampered when seventh at Haydock (2m, good to firm) last time. Dropped 3lb and of interest on stable debut.

Form: 7700-87

(1)

Shabeeb¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: A Kirby| T: Ian Williams| OR: 95| D

14/1

Inauspicious start to life for new stable, pulling up in Chester Cup on seasonal reappearance before distant 13th in Northumberland Plate. Weighted to go well in easier contest but has a bit to prove now.

Form: 3/541-P0

(8)

Ulster²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 93

9/2

Vastly progressive for this yard before pulling up in Ascot Stakes over 2m4f in June. Dismounted and something looked amiss that day so can be forgiven and has claims on best form.

Form: 11222P

(9)

Artarmon^v¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: S De Sousa| T: M L W Bell| OR: 90| D

8/1

Effective on the turf last summer and put some regressive performances behind him when causing surprise in 2m Kempton handicap last time. Raised 5lb and on career high mark but dangerous if continuing revival.

Form: 119-001

(4)

Saroog¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Kerrin McEvoy| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 90| BF| D

9/4

Lightly raced five-year-old and made an encouraging return to the track when 2l fourth at Newbury (1m4f, good to soft) on latest start. Entitled to come on for that run and left on lenient mark by handicapper. Leading contender.

Form: 22115-4

(5)

Master Archer^v¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: David Probert| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 88

12/1

Improving with every run this season and most recently posted best effort so far when third in 2m Kempton handicap behind Artarmon. Has 2lb pull with that rival this time and tends to do better with racing during the season.

Form: 410-843

(2)

Ship Of The Fen⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Jim Crowley| T: Ian Williams| OR: 87| BF| D

13/2

Had made a good start for new yard earlier in the season but flopped when 6/4 favourite in 1m6f Sandown handicap last time out. Could be forgiven for that run and runs off a workable mark again. Stable's first choice.

Form: 303-128

(10)

Fairy Tale¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 87

14/1

Made a mockery of 66/1 SP on British debut when narrow second in 1m3f Kempton handicap in late June. Only raised 2lb for that effort and interesting contender provided he handles massive step up in trip.

Form: 58-5002

(6)

Busy Street¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Theodore Ladd⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 86

14/1

Solid performer on the AW and ran with credit when sixth in Northumberland Vase at Newcastle (2m, standard to slow) on latest start. 11lb higher than last turf win and latest grass efforts make him opposable.

Form: 213566

(7)

Celestial Force^v¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: P J McDonald| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 79

15/2

Visor seemed to spark a revival last time out when landing 1m4f Beverley handicap off top weight. Likely to set the pace and respected if visor has desired effect once again.

Form: 406-751

Forecasts

Saroog (9/4), Ulster (9/2), Ship Of The Fen (13/2), Celestial Force (15/2), Artarmon (8/1), Master Archer (12/1), Busy Street (14/1), Fairy Tale (14/1), Shabeeb (14/1), Nakeeta (14/1)

SAROOG remains unexposed despite being a five-year-old and the nature of his run at Newbury suggests there is plenty of improvement left off a fair mark and is already proven over stamina-sapping trips. Ulster may be able to continue his progression if his Ascot Stakes mishap can be forgiven given his tendency to thrive in high-class staying handicaps, while Artarmon may be coming to hand based on his Kempton victory last season and would be dangerous to ignore, as well as Fairy Tale, who remains severely unexposed in the British racing sphere.