16:10 Ascot

Friday 26 July 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:15

John Guest Racing Handicap

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 2m 36.16s

(7)

Sextant²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 98| CD

5/4

Already a C&D winner this season and took career record to three from six when all out to win over 1m3½f at Windsor latest. 1lb rise makes prospects of a follow up bright especially with a stiff 1m4f ideal.

Form: 212-141

(1)

Anythingtoday^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Jim Crowley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97| D

5/1

Very much back to form this season and bidding for a hat-trick here having won his last two at Newcastle (AW, 1m2f) and York (good to firm, 1m4f). Up another 3lb but that far from harsh so very real chance of the treble.

Form: 404211

(2)

Protected Guest⁹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: T P Queally| T: G G Margarson| OR: 91

25/1

Progressive last year winning three times but ran as is something amiss in lone 2019 start when last of eight way back in April. Entitled to need the run here and race-fit and in-form rivals more appealing.

Form: 44117-8

(3)

Hyanna²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Georgia Dobie⁽⁷⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 90| D

11/2

Three-time winner last season won at Salisbury in May and made the frame in all three subsequent starts. Handicap is at a maximum but likely to run her usual solid race albeit against less exposed rivals.

Form: 2-61323

(5)

Gossip Column¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: M Dwyer| T: Ian Williams| OR: 86| BF| D

14/1

Last two races a microcosm of this less than consistent sort with a York win followed by Chester last as favourite. Won off higher marks in the past but always comes with some risk.

Form: 666317

(4)

Almost Midnight³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: P J Dobbs| T: D M Simcock| OR: 95| D

3/1

Winner of two of his first three starts before midfield and highly credible effort in the 1m6f Queen's Vase at the Royal meeting latest. Unbeaten over this trip and highly respected on handicap bow.

Form: 1217

Non-Runners

(6)

Epaulement²⁰

Weight: 10-0| Age: 4

T: Tom Dascombe J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Sextant (5/4), Almost Midnight (3/1), Anythingtoday (5/1), Hyanna (11/2), Gossip Column (14/1), Protected Guest (25/1)

A 6¼L defeat by now 113-rated Dashing Willoughby in the Queen's Vase latest leads ALMOST MIDNIGHT to look well handicapped off an opening mark of 90 and as a dual winner already in four career races there is more substance than just that one notable effort so he is fancied here. Sextant is a progressive sort for Sir Michael Stoute and like the selection boasts an excellent 50 per-cent strike rate. Hat-trick seeker Anythingtoday is far more exposed than the aforementioned duo but in too good form to ignore.