14:35 Ascot

Friday 4 October 2019

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:55

Londonmetric Noel Murless Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 3m 14.77s

(3)

Almania⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 95

5/2

Reliable since introduced to handicapping, contesting Class 2 events (1m2f-1m6f) through June, July and August; beaten approximately 4L when sixth of 12 to Hamish in the Melrose Handicap at York (1m6f, good to firm) six weeks ago.

Form: 1-85456

(8)

Cap Francais²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Spencer| T: E Walker| OR: 97

13/2

Won twice as a juvenile (both over 1m) and finished a narrow second to Cape Of Good Hope in a 1m2f Listed contest at Epsom (good) on seasonal return; has finished last on both attempts at 1m4f; possesses obvious stamina doubts.

Form: 1-24790

(6)

Funny Man^b¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Jim Crowley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 83| BF| D

25/1

Progressive beyond 1m4f through the second half of the season, rising steadily from a mark of just 58 in late June (1113232); beaten 1½L by Act Of Diplomacy at Hamilton (Class 5 handicap) 12 days ago; faces a tough task at this level of competition.

Form: 113232

(4)

Just Hubert²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Tom Marquand| T: W R Muir| OR: 91| D

5/1

Thriving since mid-July, achieving a career best when beating the subsequent Newcastle scorer Anyonecanhaveitall by 1½L in the Class 3 Edinburgh Cup at Musselburgh (2m, good to firm) three weeks ago; fifth of 12 in the Melrose previously; ground?

Form: 431151

(2)

Hereby²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 88

9/2

4-5 on turf (1m2f-1m4½f); seeks the four-timer following victories at Chester (x2) and Pontefract; is likely to be up there forcing the pace throughout, and by Pivotal will relish these testing conditions; should stay 1m6f; a progressive type.

Form: 613111

(5)

I'll Have Another⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 98| D

8/1

Tough and gritty when taking a Class 2 fillies' handicap at Newmarket (1m6f, good) in July and boasts an overall strike-rate of 25% (4-16); didn't finish in the same parish as the deeply impressive Monica Sheriff at Goodwood (1m6f, heavy) last week.

Form: 663152

(1)

Sapa Inca³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Hayley Turner| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 90| C

9/1

Partnered by Hayley Turner when holding on determinedly in a 1m4f Class 3 handicap here (good) on her penultimate start; fourth of 13 in the Lanark Silver Bell at Hamilton (1m4f, heavy) subsequently; stablemate of I'll Have Another.

Form: 213214

(7)

Tribal Craft³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 91

8/1

Won twice earlier in the season (1m2f-1m4f novices'); ignoring her latest effort (hampered), she has acquitted herself well enough in a couple of Class 2 handicaps, including when 3L second to Sea Of Faith at Salisbury (1m4f, good to soft).

Form: 611726

Forecasts

Almania (5/2), Hereby (9/2), Just Hubert (5/1), Cap Francais (13/2), I'll Have Another (8/1), Tribal Craft (8/1), Sapa Inca (9/1), Funny Man (25/1)

The Listed Noel Murless Stakes is the highlight of today's Ascot action, and it certainly rates as a very difficult puzzle to solve. Both Just Hubert (fifth) and Almania (sixth) contested the typically red-hot Melrose Handicap at York in August, with the former kicking on positively to beat a subsequent AW winner in the Edinburgh Cup at Musselburgh three weeks ago. I'll Have Another is one of two declared runners for Mark Johnston, but she simply didn't see which way the deeply impressive Monica Sheriff went at Goodwood last week. Therefore, for small stakes we'll take a chance on the stamina reserves of the steadily progressive HEREBY as she seeks a notable four-timer.