17:20 Ascot

Saturday 10 July 2021

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Betfred 'Ascot Official Bookmaker' Handicap

Off time: 17:21 | Winning time: 1m 27.28s

(6)

Be Prepared^p¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Rhys Clutterbuck⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Bridger| OR: 87| D

15/2

Looked better than ever in first-time cheekpieces when striking at at Lingfield (7f, soft) recently. However, more on his plate up 7 lb in this more competitive race.

Form: 9-77131

(13)

Cold Stare^p,t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 86| D

9/1

Rather hit-and-miss overall, but he was a good second at Thirsk 3 starts back and is now 3 lb lower than for his latest win at Goodwood last summer. One to consider with conditions to suit.

Form: 500256

(7)

Little Boy Blue¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: L Morris| T: W G M Turner| OR: 85| C| D

12/1

Snapped a long losing run over 6f here in May and added to his tally with a hard-fought victory at Brighton (7f, good to soft) last time. 3 lb rise fair and couldn't rule out another bold show.

Form: 231531

(4)

Edgewood⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: B A Curtis| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 83

7/1

Bagged a couple of 6f Hamilton handicaps last season and wasn't disgraced when mid-field on return in a big-field here in May. Should come on for that, but bit to prove back at 7f.

Form: 13150-7

(12)

Flaming Spear^p³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: Sophie Ralston⁽⁵⁾| T: D K Ivory| OR: 81| D

9/1

Losing run stretches back to November 2018 and not getting any youger, but has shaped as though his turn may be near in 7f Kempton handicaps the last twice. Still, faster ground would be preferable.

Form: 35-0043

(9)

Song of The Isles¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: George Bass⁽⁵⁾| T: H Main| OR: 78| D

66/1

Won 4 times on going softer than good last year and got her head back in front in a Lingfield turf claimer on penultimate start. Bombed out at Windsor next time, though, and others preferred.

Form: 17-0619

(11)

Spanish Star¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: David Probert| T: P R Chamings| OR: 74

12/1

Successful in the mud at Leicester in October and has acquitted himself well on each of his 4 starts this season, including when third to Little Boy Blue over 6f here in May. One to consider.

Form: 02-3322

(5)

Le Reveur^v¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M Murphy| OR: 74| D

13/2

Enjoyed a productive 2020 campaign and positive start to this season when going close at Kempton (7f). Failed to fire back at 1m there next time, though, and he's likely to find a few too good.

Form: 5222-26

(3)

Mabre¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Darragh Keenan| T: P D Evans| OR: 73

7/2

Produced a career-best when resuming winning ways at Windsor (1m, soft) 12 days ago. This is more demanding up 4 lb, but conditions won't be a problem and he's not discounted.

Form: 499451

(10)

Top Secret^h¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: R Havlin| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 72

12/1

Plenty of decent efforts in defeat for Clive Cox and stepped up on low-key reappearance when fourth of 9 at Newbury (7f, good to soft). However, more will be needed if he's to open his account here.

Form: 2336-74

(8)

Raging Rascal⁸³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: T Ward| OR: 79

14/1

Shaped well in a 7f Goodwood maiden on sole 2-y-o start, but he has failed to build on that in 2 subsequent starts and big step forward needed on this handicap debut. Gelded.

Form: 2-37

(2)

North Of Amazing⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 72

9/1

Runner-up in a heavy-ground Newmarket novice on final 2-y-o start and step back in the right direction when fourth at Sandown (7f, good to soft) last weekend. 1 lb lower now and each-way chance.

Form: 82-3454

Non-Runners

(1)

Qasbaz⁸

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: D M Loughnane J: Callum Shepherd

(14)

Captain Claret¹⁷

Weight: 9-1| Age: 4

T: Eve Johnson Houghton J: Charles Bishop

Forecasts

Mabre (7/2), Le Reveur (13/2), Edgewood (7/1), Be Prepared (15/2), Flaming Spear (9/1), North Of Amazing (9/1), Cold Stare (9/1), Qasbaz (10/1), Top Secret (12/1), Spanish Star (12/1), Little Boy Blue (12/1), Raging Rascal (14/1), Captain Claret (16/1), Song of The Isles (66/1)

The suggestion is COLD STARE, who is not the easiest to catch right but he'll relish the prevailing conditions and a reproduction of his effort at Thirsk in May would give him every chance in a wide-open race. Spanish Star has been knocking on the door this season and should be on the premises once more, while last-time-out winners Mabre and Little Boy Blue also enter calculations.