14:05 Ascot

Saturday 2 October 2021

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:25

Oakman Group Rous Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 14:08 | Winning time: 1m 1.28s

(9)

Hurricane Ivor¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 110| D

3/1

Real improver for current yard, confirming the promise of York run when landing the Portland at Doncaster and made seamless transition to Group 3 company when following up a week later. Big player.

Form: 120311

(7)

Tis Marvellous^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 109| CD

5/1

Likeable sort who powered away to complete a double in a listed race at Beverley in August. Behind Hurricane Ivor at Newbury a fortnight ago but is 2 lb better off and has a good Ascot record.

Form: 443113

(8)

Dakota Gold³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 105| BF| CD

3/1

Smashing sprinter who had a cracking 2020, winning Group 3/trio of listed events. Lightly raced this term, not really firing in the Beverley Bullet last time but easing ground will help.

Form: 11-5207

(6)

Minzaal³⁷¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 111

6/1

Confirmed debut promise when impressive winner at Salisbury and looked potentially Group 1 class when following up in last year's Gimcrack. Third in the Middle Park a month later but off since.

Form: 4113-

(1)

Significantly¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 105| CD

17/2

Won back-to-back big-field C&D handicaps in the summer and hasn't been discredited in a higher grade since, fourth behind Hurricane Ivor and Tis Marvellous at Newbury a fortnight ago.

Form: 114684

(5)

Snazzy Jazzy¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Phil Dennis| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 97

33/1

Silver Cup winner here during his time with Clive Cox. Yet to hit top form in five runs for current yard and this is a stiff assignment.

Form: 5-04670

(2)

Strong Johnson^t⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Dylan Hogan| T: J H Scott| OR: 100| D

22/1

Irish raider who was successful twice over the minimum trip within a week in August. Cracking second in a good-quality handicap 6 days ago but this asks a different question.

Form: 411072

(3)

Keep Busy¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 101| BF| D

6/1

Smart filly who resumed winning ways in 5f listed event at Ayr in June. Hasn't really fired since, though easing underfoot conditions won't be a problem.

Form: 517593

Non-Runners

(4)

King Of Stars¹⁷

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: M Appleby J: S De Sousa

Forecasts

Dakota Gold (3/1), Hurricane Ivor (3/1), Tis Marvellous (5/1), Minzaal (6/1), Keep Busy (6/1), King Of Stars (8/1), Significantly (17/2), Strong Johnson (22/1), Snazzy Jazzy (33/1)

It's hard to make a compelling case for DAKOTA GOLD on this season's exploits but easing underfoot conditions will be right up his street and he is the class act in the field if he can get back to his peak form. Hurricane Ivor won a Group 3 last time so demands respect, while Minzaal adds intrigue to the race on belated reappearance.