14:50 Ascot

Saturday 10 August 2019

All13:0513:4014:1514:5015:2516:00

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile (Handicap)

Off time: 14:53 | Winning time: 1m 42.11s

(1)

Another Batt¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Jamie Kah| T: R Hughes| OR: 100| D

5/1

Impressive when winning a Meydan handicap back in January. Built on his debut for this yard when eighth of 23 here last time and feasibly handicapped on old form; questions to be answered over this trip though.

Form: 456008

(7)

Breden³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-13| J: Mark Zahra| T: Mrs L C Jewell| OR: 100| D

25/1

Won twice on AW this winter and returned to form at Newbury two runs back when hanging on gamely. That form doesn't look all that strong though and he was well beaten subsequently at Sandown.

Form: 423510

(3)

Zwayyan^b⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Yuga Kawada| T: A M Balding| OR: 98| CD

9/1

Hasn't won on turf since 2017 and really struggling for form of late, particularly over C&D last time out; has plenty to prove at present.

Form: 0-17470

(10)

Original Choice⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: A de Vries| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 97| D

12/1

Starting to become well-handicapped on his old form and wasn't disgraced at Goodwood last time out when eighth of 20, beaten just 4L. Each-way claims if he can build on that here.

Form: 085608

(5)

Waarif²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Nanako Fujita⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97| BF| D

12/1

Has won twice at Windsor this campaign and just 1lb above his last winning handicap mark. However, he was a very disappointing favourite at Pontefract last time out and didn't show much at York on his previous outing.

Form: 152109

(11)

Zhui Feng⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: G Mosse| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 97| CD

15/2

C&D winner here in 2017 when landing the valuable Royal Hunt Cup. Hasn't been struggling on each of his last four starts though and perhaps not the force of old.

Form: 7-30590

(8)

Nicholas T¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: J P Spencer| T: J S Goldie| OR: 96| D

15/2

In the form of his life having won three of his last four starts, all at Ayr. Drop back in trip shouldn't be an issue but he will need to eke out some more improvement in a more competitive heat from a career high handicap mark.

Form: 621211

(4)

War Glory⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: F Minarik| T: R Hannon| OR: 96| D

14/1

Out of form of late and he only has one win in 25 turf starts, coming on soft ground at Lingfield earlier in the campaign. Yet to win from a mark this high and hard to fancy in a competitive heat such as this.

Form: 510560

(6)

Via Serendipity^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: T P O'Shea| T: S C Williams| OR: 95| CD

5/1

Landed this race last year and returns on the same handicap mark for this year's renewal, despite having won at Chelmsford three starts back. Not the most consistent this season but he's a player back at this venue.

Form: 0-08166

(2)

Power of Darkness⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Vincent C Y Ho| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 94| D

11/4

All three wins have come at Salisbury, justifying favouritism at that venue last time out when beating Nicklaus. Up 3lb but less exposed than the remainder of these rivals.

Form: 3/11-271

Non-Runners

(12)

Nicklaus¹¹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: W J Haggas J: Reserve 1

(9)

Enigmatic²²

Weight: 9-2| Age: 5

T: A Bailey J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Power of Darkness (11/4), Via Serendipity (5/1), Another Batt (5/1), Zhui Feng (15/2), Nicholas T (15/2), Zwayyan (9/1), Original Choice (12/1), Waarif (12/1), War Glory (14/1), Nicklaus (14/1), Enigmatic (16/1), Breden (25/1)

POWER OF DARKNESS got his head back in front last time out when getting the better of Nicklaus and with the potential of more to come from the four-year-old, he rates as the one to beat. Another Batt can't be ruled out if he gets home over this trip from a nice handicap mark. Original Choice is another who has become well-handicapped.