15:00 Ascot

Saturday 23 July 2022

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

Moet & Chandon International Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 15:04 | Winning time: 1m 27.9s

(19)

Accidental Agent^b¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 112| CD

20/1

Queen Anne winner in his prime and has shown he's still capable of really smart form in handicaps, successful in 7f Newmarket contest on return, second in the C&D Victoria Cup and not beaten far behind Bless Him in the Bunbury Cup a fortnight ago. Dismiss at your peril.

Form: 08-1277

(6)

Jumby^p1¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Hollie Doyle| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 106| CD

13/2

Four-time winner (including over C&D) who has ran cracking races in third in top-end handicaps the last twice, chasing home Bless Him and Ropey Guest in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket. Still fairly lightly raced over 7f and a player in first-time cheekpieces. Can start slowly.

Form: 11-3633

(2)

Tactical¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: R L Moore| T: A M Balding| OR: 104| C| D

11/1

Won Windsor Castle/Newmarket Group 2 as a 2-y-o and in top form this term, shaping very well from unfavourable track position in the C&D Buckingham Palace and then fading in the Group 2 Summer Mile back here. There's a good prize at around this trip with his name on it.

Form: 575-064

(14)

Rhoscolyn^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Cieren Fallon| T: D O'Meara| OR: 104| D

28/1

Racked up a hat-trick in handicaps around 7f last year and back on the up with a huge effort in third in the Buckingham Palace, splitting Ropey Guest and Chiefofchiefs. Well beaten in the Bunbury Cup subsequently but should bounce back.

Form: 9-34630

(8)

Asjad³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: P J McDonald| T: James Horton| OR: 102

40/1

Has taken his form up a notch for his new yard, scooping a big pot in a 21-runner 6f York handicap in May. Poorly placed but shaped as if still in good order in the Wokingham here last month and could have more to offer on first crack over 7f.

Form: 20-1010

(10)

Dark Shift³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: W Buick| T: C Hills| OR: 102| CD

10/3

Building up a tremendous record on this straight track, pulling out plenty to land a good renewal of the Royal Hunt Cup last month. Up a further 6 lb but strong-travelling style coupled with his turn of foot is tailor-made for this type of race and he looks sure to go well again back in trip.

Form: 611-011

(21)

King Zain⁸⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: James Doyle| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 102| D

6/1

Has made a fine start for this yard, wasting little time in reaching a smart level as he easily won 5-runner 7f Kempton handicap 11 weeks ago. Another 8 lb rise to overcome now back on turf and contesting a big-field handicap for the first time, but he has the scope to do better still.

Form: 4554-21

(3)

Bless Him^h¹⁴^{(ex 3)}

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock| OR: 99| C| D

12/1

2017 Britannia Handicap winner who caught the eye in the Royal Hunt Cup before scooping another big prize under this rider in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket a fortnight ago, overhauling Ropey Guest late on. Got to be respected under a penalty.

Form: 513771

(16)

Aratus³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: C G Cox| OR: 100| D

12/1

Completed a 4-timer in 7f Goodwood handicap last summer and is probably in better heart than this season's form figures suggest, racing in the unfavoured group in the Royal Hunt Cup. Drop back in trip will suit and he could go well.

Form: 111-390

(5)

Documenting¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Hart| T: K Frost| OR: 99| CD

40/1

Won big-field 7f handicaps at York and over C&D 2 years ago and back in form of late, not beaten far at those tracks the last twice (in the Buckingham Palace first occasion). More needed to take a hand in this.

Form: 212-093

(12)

Fresh^t³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 98| BF| C

8/1

Goes well at this track, not beaten far in the Victoria Cup over C&D and not seen to best effect in the Wokingham the last twice. Clearly on a good mark for when everything drops right.

Form: 330-249

(13)

Star Of Orion¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett| OR: 96| D

20/1

Dual Newmarket winner who wasn't disgraced in the Victoria Cup and Buckingham Palace Stakes but was well beaten in the Bunbury Cup a fortnight ago. Down 2 lb and lost out by a short head in this last year so could revive.

Form: 877-800

(15)

Chiefofchiefs^v³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 8-12| J: Colin Keane| T: C Fellowes| OR: 96| C

14/1

Another who goes well in big-field Ascot handicaps, successful in the 2020 Wokingham consolation and fourth in the main one in 2021 and again in last month's Buckingham Palace (forced to switch 2f out, finished well). Should hold his own again.

Form: 456-304

(20)

Air To Air²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Rossa Ryan| T: G Boughey| OR: 95| BF| D

15/2

Returned with victory in 5-runner 7f Yarmouth handicap last month, comfortably coming clear. Has a really positive profile and his style of racing will suit itself well to the demands of high-end handicaps. Up 4 lb and can make a bold bid.

Form: 11972-1

(18)

Lion Tower²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 93| D

33/1

Did well in 2021 and has continued the good work this term, just kept up to his work when successful over 7f at York last month. Disappointing at Sandown next time and needs a revival on his first visit to Ascot.

Form: 8-53210

(7)

Ropey Guest^v¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Callum Hutchinson⁽⁵⁾| T: G G Margarson| OR: 93| D

12/1

Has just 2 wins to his name but putting together an excellent CV in the good-quality handicaps, runner-up in the Buckingham Palace and Bunbury Cup the last twice, first home in his group behind Bless Him at Newmarket under this rider. Just 1 lb higher and clearly one for the shortlist.

Form: 45-5422

(11)

Northern Express¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: G Lee| T: M Dods| OR: 92| D

20/1

Good record at York, impressive when winning big-field 7f handicap last month. Good second off this mark back there a fortnight ago, conceding first run, and wouldn't rule out a big showing (slowly away only previous start here).

Form: 8-22612

(17)

Eagleway^v1²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: Joey Haynes| T: I Furtado| OR: 90| D

66/1

Back to winning ways at Southwell in January and sixth in the Lincoln. Well held in the Victoria Cup (second in 2021 running) and Leicester handicap since though and needs a boost from the change of headgear.

Form: 3-14605

(4)

Tammani¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: Rowan Scott| T: D O'Meara| OR: 90| D

125/1

Well placed as he got off the mark for current yard at Redcar (7f) in June but poor efforts twice since and this is surely too tough.

Form: 447149

(1)

Orbaan^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-3| J: S De Sousa| T: D O'Meara| OR: 87

40/1

In good form, placed in competitive Epsom handicap on Oaks day, behind Northern Express at York, and again behind a thriving one at Ayr 3 weeks ago. This is a whole different test though and he's just 1-26 for this stable.

Form: 009322

(22)

Top Secret^h³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Hayley Turner| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 85| BF| CD

20/1

Both his wins have come in C&D handicaps and he went close at Newbury on his return in April. Poor twice since though and faces a stiff task back at this venue.

Form: 210-209

Non-Runners

(9)

Raising Sand⁴⁴

Weight: 8-2| Age: 10

T: J A Osborne J: Saffie Osborne

Forecasts

Dark Shift (10/3), King Zain (6/1), Jumby (13/2), Air To Air (15/2), Fresh (8/1), Tactical (11/1), Bless Him (12/1), Aratus (12/1), Ropey Guest (12/1), Chiefofchiefs (14/1), Northern Express (20/1), Accidental Agent (20/1), Star Of Orion (20/1), Top Secret (20/1), Rhoscolyn (28/1), Lion Tower (33/1), Raising Sand (33/1), Documenting (40/1), Orbaan (40/1), Asjad (40/1), Eagleway (66/1), Tammani (125/1)

DARK SHIFT is tailor-made for these type of races and can enhance his excellent Ascot record further and follow-up his Royal Hunt Cup win. There is a bigger performance in Air To Air, who impressed in his successful Yarmouth comeback, and can go well. Tactical has another big pot in him, while Fresh, one of several not seen to best effect in the Wokingham, deserves a change of luck.