15:05 Ascot

Saturday 5 September 2020

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:15

Lavazza Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 2m 32.51s

(11)

My Frankel²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Cieren Fallon| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 96| D

9/2

Mid-field in a very strong Sandown maiden on debut last summer and returned with a bang to win maiden/minor events at up to 12f. Very much the type to go on progressing.

Form: 7-11

(3)

Cepheus³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: M Dwyer| T: B J Meehan| OR: 96

16/1

Newmarket maiden winner who looked more professional and posted a career best in the process when successful in handicap company at Glorious Goodwood. Up 7 lb but he's capable of better.

Form: 1-0621

(6)

Grand Bazaar²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 91| BF| D

7/1

On the up in handicaps this year, landing a double before being narrowly touched off under a typically-positive ride at Ascot a month ago. Likeable sort who should be thereabouts again.

Form: 35-2112

(8)

Kipps^p1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: K Shoemark| T: H Morrison| OR: 89

4/1

Winless this term but an excellent second in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot and was asked to come from long way back when third at York (13.9f). Remains of interest with headgear back on.

Form: 21-2243

(10)

Shandoz²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 89| CD

7/2

Off mark at third attempt when landing AW minor event over 8.6f in September and picked up where he left off in handicap company when beating Grand Bazaar at Ascot a month ago, Retains scope up 4 lb.

Form: 341-1

(2)

A Star Above¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Jason Watson| T: W J Haggas| OR: 88| D

10/1

Won first 2 starts back this summer and may have completed hat-trick at Goodwood had he gathered momentum that bit sooner. Unable to land a blow held up over 13.9f at York latest.

Form: 83-1124

(5)

Al Qaqaa^p1³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Dane O'Neill| T: W J Haggas| OR: 88| BF| D

8/1

Improved again to again to get off the mark in 12f novice at Newmarket by 8 lengths and better than bare facts of fourth-place finish behind Cepheus at Goodwood, too free early on. Headgear on.

Form: 42-314

(4)

Coconut²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: L Morris| T: E Walker| OR: 85| D

16/1

Came good at the fourth time of asking in Newbury maiden 3 weeks ago. Appeals as the type to go on to better things in handicaps but his mark does call for more.

Form: 2421

(9)

Noble Masquerade²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Hayley Turner| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 77

28/1

Runner-up first 2 starts and cemented a positive start to his career when fourth behind Coconut upped markedly in trip at Newbury last time. This no easy assignment for handicap bow, though.

Form: 224

(1)

Ravens Ark¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: George Rooke⁽⁵⁾| T: H Morrison| OR: 74| D

22/1

Progressive colt who was strong at the finish when landing a brace of AW handicaps in recent weeks. Clearly going the right way but this is a lot harder from 1 lb out of the weights back on turf.

Form: 95711

Non-Runners

(7)

Zabeel Champion¹⁵

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: C & M Johnston J: F Norton

Forecasts

Shandoz (7/2), Kipps (4/1), My Frankel (9/2), Grand Bazaar (7/1), Al Qaqaa (8/1), A Star Above (10/1), Zabeel Champion (10/1), Cepheus (16/1), Coconut (16/1), Ravens Ark (22/1), Noble Masquerade (28/1)

AL QAQAA fluffed his lines when heavily backed to land a handicap at Glorious Goodwood won by the re-opposing Cepheus last time, but there's little doubt that he's on a good mark, and with cheekpieces reached for, he will hopefully prove that point on this occasion. This is a cracking 3-y-o handicap, with My Frankel and Shandoz feared most.