15:40 Ascot

Saturday 31 October 2020

All12:1512:4713:2013:5514:3215:0515:4016:17

Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 6m 2.10s

Black Corton^t²⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 161| BF| CDWS

11/2

Classy chaser who was third in this race off 2 lb higher last year. Chased Mister Malarky home over 3m at Kempton when last seen in February (since undergone wind surgery) and bold show anticipated.

Form: 1/23242-

Might Bite²³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 152| D

22/1

Top-notch chaser in his pomp, winner of two Grade 1s and finished second in 2018 Gold Cup. Looked a shadow of his former self last season, though, and probably worth taking on. Yard also runs Valtor.

Form: 7P/UP37-

Mister Malarky^p²³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 151| CD

25/1

Back to his best when seeing off Black Corton in a 14-runner Grade 3 Kempton handicap in February. However, ended last season on a downer and he was well held in this race 12 months ago.

Form: 2/06P1P-

Walk In The Mill²⁷⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 150| CD

50/1

Excels over Aintree's Grand National fences, winner of Becher Chase for the second consecutive season last December. Needs a clear personal-best here off this career-high mark.

Form: 334/P12-

Commanche Red²⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 150| BF

11/2

Useful hurdles winner who made it third time lucky over fences at Kempton (20.5f) on Boxing Day. Below par in a Grade 2 novice there since, but remains unexposed in this sphere and needs considering.

Form: 1P/3313-

Valtor²⁵⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N J Henderson| OR: 150| CD

9/1

Landed a big pot here in 2018 and ended light campaign last season by finishing second in a quality C&D handicap off this mark. One to consider.

Form: P0/1532-

Blaklion⁶²³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 149| D

33/1

Very smart chaser who landed the Becher Chase at Aintree off 4 lb higher mark in December 2017. However, missed the whole of last season and wellbeing to prove on this debut for new yard.

Form: 2BP085/

Regal Encore^t²⁵⁹

14/1

Not the most reliable but goes very well here, runner-up in this race last year before notching a third C&D success in December. Record when fresh doesn't augur well, though. Has undergone a wind op.

Form: 082P13-

Adrien Du Pont^t²⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 144| C| D

9/1

Pulled up on his reappearance in this race last season. Ended campaign with a decent effort, finishing sixth in the Kempton handicap won by Mister Malarky, but others are more convincing overall.

Form: 130/P46-

Flying Angel^v²³³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 142| C

16/1

Very capable performer when on-song, as he demonstrated when landing a 21f handicap chase here off 2 lb lower last November. Below par thereafter, though, and he's not the easiest to catch right.

Form: 6/41469-

Militarian²³³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 139| CD

17/2

Sprang a surprise (50/1) when making a winning return over this C&D last season, but failed to land a meaningful blow in 4 subsequent starts.

Form: 4/18450-

Townshend^t³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Mr Jamie Neild⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 139| CD

28/1

Useful chaser for Willie Mullins and did the job well when scoring over C&D back from a 9-month break in January. However, showed nothing on reappearance this time round in a Perth handicap hurdle.

Form: 641/1P-0

Whatmore²³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly| OR: 138

4/1

Winning start over fences at Market Rasen in May 2019. Didn't do much wrong last season, creditable fourth off this mark at the Cheltenham Festival on latest start in March, and he's shortlisted.

Form: 134344-

Django Django²⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 137| BF| D

12/1

Better than ever when opening chase account in 23.4f Newbury handicap in January. However, jumping lacked fluency at Catterick since and there'll be no margin for error back from 8 months off here.

Form: 71/3P14-

Forecasts

Whatmore (4/1), Black Corton (11/2), Commanche Red (11/2), Militarian (17/2), Adrien Du Pont (9/1), Valtor (9/1), Django Django (12/1), Regal Encore (14/1), Flying Angel (16/1), Might Bite (22/1), Mister Malarky (25/1), Townshend (28/1), Blaklion (33/1), Walk In The Mill (50/1)

Though disappointing in a Grade 2 Kempton novice in February, COMMANCHE RED looked very good indeed when brushing aside subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Simply The Betts in a handicap there on Boxing Day. He remains with potential in this sphere and gets the nod ahead of Valtor, who is 2-3 at Ascot and resumes on a workable mark. Whatmore and the admirable Black Corton are others to consider.