14:25 Ascot

Saturday 25 July 2020

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Moet & Chandon International Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 1m 25.77s

(2)

Vale Of Kent¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: L Dettori| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 108| D

14/1

Best effort this season when 3L fourth in the Royal Hunt Cup here last month. Excuses since, but only mid-field in the Bunbury Cup last time, and needs to put his best foot forward.

Form: 4-34728

(14)

Mutamaasik¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Dane O'Neill| T: R Varian| OR: 102| BF| D

8/1

Did best of those who raced in the centre in the Buckingham Palace handicap over C&D last month, and ran too bad to be true when favourite for the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket two weeks ago. No surprise to see him bounce straight back from that.

Form: 1111-30

(7)

Habub^b³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: M Harley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 102| D

50/1

Three-time winner on AW, and was wearing blinkers for the first time when fifteenth of 23 to Motakhayyel in Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. Better than that run would suggest, but surprise if he could gain a first turf win now.

Form: 21-5550

(20)

Cardsharp¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: A Kirby| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 101| D

28/1

Career best when winning a handicap over this trip at York in May 2019. Has hinted that his ability is fully intact this year, but disappointed when thirteenth of 17 to Motakhayyel in the Bunbury Cup last time, and proving hard to catch right.

Form: 7-48060

(11)

Jack's Point²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: M Dwyer| T: W R Muir| OR: 100| D

33/1

Best effort this year when second in Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, and shaped well in Wokingham here on his next start. Likely to bounce back from a lesser run in Listed company at Epsom, and considered.

Form: 08-1205

(12)

Chiefofchiefs^v²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: C Fellowes| OR: 100| C

10/1

Benefited from drop to 6f when winning the Silver Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot, but couldn't back that up in a Group 3 at Newcastle next time. Return to 7f no problem, but may be in handicapper's grip now.

Form: 9-63017

(4)

Spanish City¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Ray Dawson⁽⁵⁾| T: R Varian| OR: 99| D

20/1

Goes well here, as he showed when a good third to Hey Jonesy in the Wokingham at the Royal meeting, and far from disgraced in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket next time. Place claims if getting race run to suit.

Form: 0152-37

(18)

Cliffs Of Capri^b³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: D C Costello| T: J A Osborne| OR: 97| CD

12/1

Good second at Newmarket last month after a winning spell in Meydan, and again ran well when fourth of 23 to Motakhayyel in Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Just 1lb higher here, and should give another good account.

Form: 7-79124

(13)

Ebury³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Oisin Murphy| T: M Meade| OR: 96| C

8/1

Won over 1m here in September, and better than the bare result when sixth of 23 to Motakhayyel in Buckingham Palace Stakes over C&D last time, faring best of those to race on the far side. Not taken lightly.

Form: 2012-66

(19)

Blue Mist³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: R L Moore| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 95| BF| C

9/2

Somewhat of an Ascot regular since winning a 1m classified stakes in 2018, and caught the eye dropped back to 6f in Silver Wokingham here last time, finishing well after a slow start. One to bear in mind.

Form: 6036-29

(5)

Kasbaan¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 95

80/1

Best effort this year when third at Newmarket, 2½L behind Arigato, last month, but ran just respectably when ninth of 17 to Motakhayyel in the Bunbury Cup there last time.

Form: 35-0839

(6)

Cold Stare^p,t⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Harry Bentley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 93| D

100/1

Best recent efforts have come on heavy ground, and he was well beaten in the Scottish Stewards' Cup at Hamilton on his latest outing. Hard to fancy unless the heavens open unexpectedly.

Form: 703-029

(1)

Keyser Soze¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Angus Villiers⁽⁵⁾| T: R Spencer| OR: 93| D

22/1

Talented handicapper, but habitually slowly away, and that limits his attractiveness as a betting proposition. Well held over C&D two starts back, but fared better when fifth of 17 to Motakhayyel in Bunbury Cup at Newmarket last time.

Form: 04-5205

(3)

Shelir²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Tom Marquand| T: D O'Meara| OR: 93| D

14/1

Best effort for current yard (was with Dermot Weld) when a good fifth from a poor draw in the Buckingham Palace Handicap on penultimate start. Failed to stay 1m on soft ground last time, and could well bounce back, so merits serious consideration.

Form: 697-856

(8)

Arbalet^t⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: D O'Meara| OR: 91| BF| D

12/1

Been highly tried at times since winning twice in novice company for Hugo Palmer. Has shaped well as a rule for his new yard of late, and ran another good race when 2¼ lengths fourth of 19 to Documenting at York on Sunday. Shortlisted.

Form: 86-5254

(10)

Gin Palace²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Georgia Dobie⁽⁵⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 90

16/1

Has won four of his last six races, and produced another lifetime best when winning at Newmarket last time by a neck from Ambassadorial. This track not certain to suit his forward-going style, however.

Form: 1136-11

(15)

Blackheath¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: L Morris| T: E Walker| OR: 90| D

25/1

Got his head back in front in a seven-runner race at Yarmouth late last month, and best to forgive a lesser effort in the Bunbury Cup when continually denied a run. Can go well at a price.

Form: 985-210

(16)

King Of Tonga²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: William Cox⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 88| D

80/1

Ended last season with a head victory in a 7f event at Newmarket (heavy) in November. Well held over the same trip at Newcastle on seasonal debut, and while he fared a bit better at Haydock last time, he's of limited interest at present.

Form: 8571-06

(17)

Eshaasy²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-1| J: George Rooke⁽⁵⁾| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 92| D

5/1

Didn't last the 1m of the Britannia Stakes here last month, but shaped well, and built on that when landing a 7f handicap at Newmarket from Campari. That was a strong race of its type, and worth his place, for all this represents a rise in class.

Form: 7150-81

Non-Runners

(9)

No Nonsense¹⁴

Weight: 8-6| Age: 4

T: D R C Elsworth J: Joey Haynes

Forecasts

Blue Mist (9/2), Eshaasy (5/1), Mutamaasik (8/1), Ebury (8/1), Chiefofchiefs (10/1), Cliffs Of Capri (12/1), Arbalet (12/1), Shelir (14/1), Vale Of Kent (14/1), Gin Palace (16/1), Spanish City (20/1), Keyser Soze (22/1), Blackheath (25/1), Cardsharp (28/1), Jack's Point (33/1), Habub (50/1), Kasbaan (80/1), King Of Tonga (80/1), No Nonsense (80/1), Cold Stare (100/1)

Plenty to consider, as is the norm with such races. Arbalet has been shaping up well for David O'Meara and is likely to go close, as is Blue Mist, who caught the eye with a luckless effort at the Royal meeting here, but he can't afford to blow the start like he did there. BLACKHEATH was behind a few of these in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket a fortnight ago, but he was stopped badly in his run there, and is better judged on a cosy win at Yarmouth, and he's a definite player at a working man's price.