15:20 Ascot

Saturday 30 October 2021

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Bateaux London Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 6m 12.20s

Vinndication^p,t²⁰³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 158| CD

10/3

Winner of all 3 starts here (twice over fences), including 2019 renewal of this race off a 7 lb lower mark. Solid second in Charlie Hall at Wetherby on return last season and another bold show likely.

Form: 14/2U60-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Bennys King²⁵²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 157| C

25/1

Successful 4 times from 11 starts over fences, the latest a 21f handicap here last December. Third in the Betfair Ascot Chase on final start of last term, but current mark demands a clear career-best.

Form: 52/5123-

Mister Malarky^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Kimber⁽⁷⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 151| CD

20/1

Talented when on-song, as he demonstrated when landing a well-run C&D handicap last term. However, recent reappearance effort was uninspiring and he struggled in this race 12 months ago and in 2019.

Form: U173P-0

Real Steel^t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150

28/1

Dual 2½m Grade 2 winner in Ireland in 2019/20, but failed to build on encouraging return last season and there were very few positives to glean from reappearance effort this time round at Chepstow.

Form: P6/3PP-0

Regal Encore^t¹⁸²

Age: 13| Weight: 11-3| J: R P McLernon| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 149| CD

14/1

Not the easiest to catch right but he does like it here, notching fourth C&D success when landing this race 12 months ago (also second to Vinndication in 2019 renewal). Couldn't rule out.

Form: 1P320P-

Sojourn^t²⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 142| DWS

15/2

Bolted up on return at Carlisle last term before finding just one too good in the Tommy Whittle at Haydock. Excuses for rare below par display when last seen in February and since undergone a wind op.

Form: 312/12P-

Johnbb²⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 140

13/2

Improved when successful at Wetherby on return last season and ended that campaign with a fine second upped to 25f at Aintree in April. Resumes on a 3 lb higher mark, but merits respect all the same.

Form: 316/1F2-

Didero Vallis²¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 139

25/1

Returned to form when striking at Catterick (25f) in February and signed off with good Kelso third in first-time cheekpieces. However, improvement needed on return here off a career-high mark.

Form: 68P1P2-

One More Fleurie¹⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: C J Todd⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 138| D

12/1

Progressive novice last term, winning his last 4 completed starts, the latest a competitive 3m handicap at Ayr in April. Gone up 10 lb for that, but further progress cannot be ruled out.

Form: 611F11-

Captain Chaos²²³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 138| BF| CD

40/1

Produced best effort yet when narrowly outpointing Regal Encore over this C&D in February. He's none too reliable, though, and wasn't in the same form at Carlisle the following month.

Form: PP0414-

Jerrysback²⁰⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 138| D

6/1

Solid efforts in defeat on 3 of his 4 previous visits here, not least when third in a strong 21f handicap in January. Pulled up both subsequent starts, but claims off this reduced mark if on-song.

Form: 303/3PP-

Glen Forsa^t1²⁰⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: G Sheehan| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 137| D

14/1

Very smart novice in 2018/19, but lightly-raced and largely below during last 2 seasons. Makes debut for new connections here and sports a first-time tongue strap.

Form: 3/F740P-

Checkitout¹⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132| D

11/1

Looked a chaser on the up with back-to-back 3m wins at Southwell and Ludlow in the spring. However, failed to fire final 2 starts of last season and faces an uphill task here.

Form: 26118P-

Larry^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 131

9/1

Dual winner over fences during 2018/19 campaign. Very lightly-raced since and, as was the case in the 2019 running of this race, it's likely that he'll come up short.

Form: 108/P8-U

Forecasts

Vinndication (10/3), Jerrysback (6/1), Johnbb (13/2), Sojourn (15/2), Larry (9/1), Checkitout (11/1), One More Fleurie (12/1), Regal Encore (14/1), Glen Forsa (14/1), Mister Malarky (20/1), Didero Vallis (25/1), Bennys King (25/1), Real Steel (28/1), Captain Chaos (40/1)

A decisive winner of this in 2019, VINNDICATION is taken to maintain his 100% record here. Kim Bailey's charge is 7 lb higher this time round, but he's still on a fair mark judged on his reappearance second in the Charlie Hall last term and his record when fresh augurs well. Johnbb is unexposed as a stayer and may emerge as the main danger ahead of Jerrysback and last year's winner Regal Encore.