16:15 Ascot

Saturday 3 October 2020

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:15

John Guest Racing Handicap

(3)

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: S De Sousa| T: K R Burke| OR: 97| D

Resumed winning ways at Pontefract (5f) in July, but below par both subsequent starts and probably a shade too high in the weights for now.

Form: 20-7180

(9)

Arecibo^b,e/s¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 93| D

Yet another creditable effort (rarely runs a bad race) when, sporting first-time eyeshields, seventh of 24 in Ayr Gold last time. However, just 1-23 in Britain and clearly needs things to drop right.

Form: 544247

(11)

Celsius^h²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: M Dwyer| T: Tom Clover| OR: 91| D

Winning start to the season at Haydock and best effort since when runner-up over C&D with hood refitted last time. However, well held in this race 12 months ago and one or two of these look stronger.

Form: 182832

(1)

Royal Context⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 89| D

Good second on return/turf debut at Haydock in June prior to going one better there the following month. However, has failed to fire the last twice and needs to bounce back in a big way.

Form: 13-2100

(15)

Han Solo Berger^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Sebastian Woods⁽⁵⁾| T: C F Wall| OR: 88| D

Has raised his game this season, scoring at Kempton and Newmarket during the summer. However, good run of form came to a halt at Doncaster 3 weeks ago and the handicapper may now have his measure.

Form: 123830

(16)

Equitation^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Marco Ghiani⁽⁵⁾| T: S C Williams| OR: 87| C

Winner here off this mark last year and returned to form when runner-up over C&D in July. Below par since, but it would be no surprise at all were he to bounce back with a bold show.

Form: 762893

(17)

Open Wide¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Charles Bishop| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 87| D

Infrequent winner and not at his best in 5 starts so far this season. On the upside, he has finished in the money in big-field handicaps off higher marks than this on his last 3 visits to Ascot.

Form: 8-05806

(6)

Tawny Port²⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: R Kingscote| T: S C Williams| OR: 87| D

Better than ever on AW during the winter, posting a career-best when scoring at Chelmsford (5f) in January. However, well held both previous starts here, including in this race 12 months ago.

Form: 70171-1

(8)

Dave Dexter^b1²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett| OR: 87| D

All the better for return when capitalising on falling mark at Chepstow in July. Not in the same form since, though, and connections now roll the dice with blinkers.

Form: 09-0150

(5)

Beyond Equal⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: David Egan| T: W S Kittow| OR: 85

Not the most consistent on the whole but put in a good shift when third off this mark at Haydock (6f) last weekend. This drop back to the minimum trip is potentially a good move and he merits respect.

Form: 5-25053

(14)

Mighty Spirit¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: J P Spencer| T: R A Fahey| OR: 84| D

Back to form the last twice, third in competitive 5f handicaps at York and Leicester. Has performed with credit both previous visits here and could have a part to play if breaking on terms.

Form: 1-50733

(12)

Teruntum Star^p²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 84| D

Bagged another couple of sprint handicaps last year but has failed to fire on all but one of his half-a-dozen starts this season.

Form: 007500

(7)

Zig Zag Zyggy³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Rowan Scott| T: J S Goldie| OR: 84| D

Ex-Irish sprinter who made a winning start for Adrian Nicholls at Hamilton in August. Latest effort was respectable but needs a career-best on debut for another new yard here.

Form: 26-6105

(2)

Saaheq⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Saffie Osborne⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 80| D

Not the easiest to catch right but arrives here on the back of a solid effort at Kempton, and he wasn't beaten far when fifth off a 7 lb higher mark on this race last year. Needs considering.

Form: 702403

(18)

Pettochside¹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 8-3| J: Tyler Heard⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Bridger| OR: 75| CD

Holding form well this year and notched seventh success at Goodwood (5f) recently. 3 lb rise fair enough and this 11-y-o cannot be omitted from calculations.

Form: 613231

(10)

Scale Force^v²⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: William Cox⁽³⁾| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 70| D

Winner of just one of his 15 starts, namely a minor event at Southwell in December 2018. 4 lb 'wrong' at the weights and looks up against it back from an 8-month absence.

Form: 7432-45

Non-Runners

(13)

Orvar¹¹

Weight: 9-3| Age: 7

T: P T Midgley J: Non Runner

(4)

Secretinthepark¹¹

Weight: 8-6| Age: 10

T: M Mullineaux J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Arecibo (10/3), Tawny Port (4/1), Celsius (9/2), Mighty Spirit (5/1), Pettochside (10/1), Saaheq (10/1), Orvar (10/1), Beyond Equal (14/1), Equitation (16/1), Han Solo Berger (16/1), Rayong (20/1), Open Wide (33/1), Royal Context (33/1), Secretinthepark (50/1), Teruntum Star (50/1), Dave Dexter (50/1), Zig Zag Zyggy (50/1), Scale Force (66/1)

EQUITATION will be a big player if reproducing the form of his effort here in July, with the drop back in trip expected to suit. Beyond Equal and Saaheq are others to consider, along with Pettochside.