16:20 Ascot

Friday 2 September 2022

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:25

Champagne Jacquart Handicap (Str)

Off time: 16:21 | Winning time: 1m 41.78s

(7)

Positive³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 103

10/3

Winner of Group 3 Solario at Sandown in 2019. Useful form the following year but having missed all of 2021, he could never land a blow on belated return to action in handicap company in July. This will reveal more.

Form: 64634/0

(6)

Dubai Mirage^p⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Tom Marquand| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 102| D

11/2

Carries his head awkwardly, though has looked more straightforward this year and ran up to his best to end a long losing run in 10-runner handicap at Salisbury in June. Looked anchored by 5 lb higher mark over this C&D a month later.

Form: 242215

(3)

Dashing Roger⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Nicola Currie| T: W Stone| OR: 101| CD

50/1

Further progress when bagging 1m handicaps at Sandown and this venue last summer. However, ended 2021 campaign on something of a low-key note and belated reappearance effort at Haydock lacked spark, for all that the run may have been needed.

Form: 13107-0

(4)

Greatgadian²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Ray Dawson| T: R Varian| OR: 101| D

7/2

Much improved this year, winning a couple of small-field Chelmsford handicaps over 10f. Couple of heavy defeats switched to turf after but much more like it when third here a month ago. One to consider.

Form: 8-11003

(5)

Bopedro^p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| D

7/1

Irish Cambridgeshire winner in 2021 who ran a race full of promise on first outing since leaving Jessica Harrington (for 80,000 gns) when fourth over C&D in July. Race wasn't run to suit back here a month ago and cheekpieces replace visor.

Form: 6-50848

(2)

Rebel Territory³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: R L Moore| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 98| D

9/4

Picked up where he left off in 2021 with victory in 1m Sandown handicap in May, showing a good attitude in the process. Solid sixth in a big Glorious Goodwood handicap off this mark next time and he's a big player with Ryan Moore booked.

Form: 3161-16

(1)

Notre Belle Bete⁷⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 97| D

11/1

Three-time winner on AW and ran well at Newmarket (9f) in April. Brushed aside both starts after but given a break and could easily get back on track.

Form: 191360

Non-Runners

(8)

Raising Sand⁸

Weight: 8-11| Age: 10

T: J A Osborne J: Saffie Osborne

Forecasts

Rebel Territory (9/4), Positive (10/3), Greatgadian (7/2), Dubai Mirage (11/2), Bopedro (7/1), Notre Belle Bete (11/1), Raising Sand (20/1), Dashing Roger (50/1)

REBEL TERRITORY is fresh for this time of year and following an excellent effort in a deeper handicap than this at Glorious Goodwood, is fancied to strike from the same mark. Greatgadian confirmed he's as effective on turf here last time and is a threat, along the quirky Dubai Mirage.