16:40 Royal Ascot

Tuesday 16 June 2020

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

Ascot Stakes (Handicap)

Off time: 16:44 | Winning time: 4m 27.51s

(5)

Verdana Blue¹⁷³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: R L Moore| T: N J Henderson| OR: 100| C

4/1

Just one win on the Flat in four starts but she's very easy to make a case for from a handicapping perspective given that she has a rating of 162 of hurdles. Hard to know whether 2m4f in this sphere will be her bag though and wants quick ground.

Form: 12/24-

(14)

Summer Moon²³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 100

11/2

Winner at Yarmouth in September and ran a huge race when beaten just ½L in the Cesarewitch in October; well beaten when dropped in trip when last seen but extreme staying trips on the Flat could be his niche.

Form: 046134-

(10)

Fair Mountain⁶⁹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: James Doyle| T: D Skelton| OR: 97

66/1

Listed winner and Group 1 placed on the Flat in Germany but well beaten in his last few starts in that sphere for previous yard in 2016. Returns from a lengthy lay-off here but was in good form when last seen over hurdles for this new yard.

Form: 120548/

(8)

Dubawi Fifty^v¹⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 97

12/1

Talented stayer who was runner-up in this race in 2018 prior to a close second in the Northumberland Plate in June. Has gone well fresh before and back on a workable mark following some below par efforts last season.

Form: 2/20094-

(19)

Diocletian^h1²⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 96

25/1

Got his head back in front with a wide margin success at Chester in September. The handicapper hasn't gone overboard given the wide margin of that win but he does have stamina to prove at this trip; wears first-time hood.

Form: 692231-

(11)

Carntop^t²⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: J Mitchell| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 95WS

150/1

Better known over jumps these days and no signs he looks well-handicapped on what he's shown in either sphere to date.

Form: 569308/

(2)

Yaa Salaam^v1⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Tom Marquand| T: D Pipe| OR: 94

100/1

Won some minor races in Germany but the handicapper has taken no chances whatsoever on his return to the Flat here. Hard to fancy. Wears first-time visor.

Form: 511485/

(6)

Cliffs Of Dooneen⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 94

33/1

Winner of his first two starts for Aidan O'Brien but hasn't looked well handicapped from this sort of mark since joining this yard. Stamina to prove over this trip.

Form: P/50-264

(12)

Mancini⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: Ian Williams| OR: 93

16/1

Won five times in 19 starts for Johnny Portman but didn't look particularly well suited to this sort of test in two starts at this trip including when well beaten in this race last year. Low key debut for new yard last week.

Form: 71703-4

(16)

Moon King⁸^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 89

5/1

Recorded a five-timer in 2019 and while it looked like the handicapper had caught up with him at the end of the campaign, he returned with a Haydock win eight days ago on first try at 2m. 5lb penalty to carry but interesting if taking to this trip.

Form: 11146-1

(13)

Blue Laureate^p⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Cieren Fallon⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 92

8/1

Ended a losing run at Ffos Las in September and has been running well in defeat since on the Flat and over hurdles; this longer trip likely to suit and arrives better off at the weights with Moon King for a narrow defeat at Haydock eight days ago.

Form: 38013-2

(1)

Land Of Oz⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 93

6/1

Typically progressive sort for this yard since switching to handicaps/stepping up in trip and won six of his nine starts last year. Probably one run too many when well beaten in the Cesarewitch but returned with a promising effort at Chelmsford.

Form: 13110-2

(20)

Rochester House⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 92

18/1

Won back-to-back handicaps last year. Lost his way completely towards the end of the season but returned with a narrow defeat behind Moon King and Blue Laureate on return at Haydock eight days ago; others might be better handicapped.

Form: 30097-3

(9)

Coeur de Lion^v1⁹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen⁽⁵⁾| T: A King| OR: 91

16/1

Stout stayer and a regular in these races; won the Chester Plate last year but only 2lb lower than for last year's well beaten fifth and both his last two runs in this race were easier chances than this; wears first time visor.

Form: 15330-5

(4)

Pianissimo^b⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: A Carson| OR: 91

33/1

All three wins have come on AW. Well beaten on return at Chelmsford seven days ago (Land Of Oz second) but might come on for that and the step up in trip should suit here; less exposed than some and booking of Dettori is eye-catching.

Form: 2111-27

(17)

Quloob²¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: G & J Moore| OR: 90

28/1

Recorded a hat-trick for Owen Burrows in 2017 but hasn't won since joining this yard and disappointed when favourite on second start over hurdles last time out. Plenty of questions to answer at present and remains 3lb above his last winning mark.

Form: 50/5434-

(3)

Smart Champion^h¹¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Callum Shepherd| T: D M Simcock| OR: 87

22/1

Bounced back to form when gaining a first win for this yard at Newcastle (2m) in February. Unexposed and untried at this trip so looks interesting from just a 4lb higher mark but unproven on ground slower than good.

Form: 426-431

(18)

Ashutor⁹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Megan Nicholls⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 87

40/1

Campaigned exclusively over jumps since joining this yard and previous Flat form in France doesn't suggest he's well-handicapped in any way. Plenty to prove at this new trip.

Form: 113254/

(15)

San Benedeto^p,t²⁰⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 8-9| J: T Eaves| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 85| C| D

66/1

Six-race maiden on the Flat in France back in 2013. Campaigned over jumps for this yard (Grade 1 winning chaser) but hard to gauge whether he will have the speed for this back on the Flat; handicapper has at least given him a chance.

Form: 453203/

Non-Runners

(7)

Charlie D¹⁰²

Weight: 9-0| Age: 5

T: Tom Dascombe J: R Kingscote

Forecasts

Verdana Blue (4/1), Moon King (5/1), Summer Moon (11/2), Land Of Oz (6/1), Blue Laureate (8/1), Dubawi Fifty (12/1), Coeur de Lion (16/1), Mancini (16/1), Rochester House (18/1), Charlie D (20/1), Smart Champion (22/1), Diocletian (25/1), Quloob (28/1), Cliffs Of Dooneen (33/1), Pianissimo (33/1), Ashutor (40/1), San Benedeto (66/1), Fair Mountain (66/1), Yaa Salaam (100/1), Carntop (150/1)

It looks like an open renewal but the vote goes to SUMMER MOON who gives the impression he might relish this test. He was disappointing when last seen but there's little doubt he's better than that and the yard do very well with horses returning from a break, as seen in recent weeks. Land Of Oz could be ahead of his mark while Dubawi Fifty has run well in this race before and is starting to look well-handicapped.