16:10 Ascot

Friday 12 May 2023

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

Peroni Nastro Azzurro 'Live Every Moment' Handicap

Off time: 16:13 | Winning time: 1m 16.44s

(3)

Bickerstaffe³⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: K Shoemark| T: R A Teal| OR: 95| CD

9/1

Progressive in sprint handicaps during 2021, ending campaign with success over C&D in October of that year. Seen only once subsequently, well beaten on yard debut at Newmarket (6f) 12 months ago. Market should prove a useful guide on back of another lengthy absence.

Form: 71061/0-

(2)

Orazio²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: C Hills| OR: 93| D

13/8

Made up into a useful 2-y-o in 2021. Missed whole of last year but confirmed promise of his belated reappearance run at Kempton to score in good style at Newmarket (6f) 23 days ago. That was a useful display and highly likely there's more to come. Big shout from 4 lb higher mark.

Form: 130/61

(9)

Sterling Knight^v¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: K Stott| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 92| CD

11/2

C&D winner who enjoyed a very productive 2022 campaign, career-best display when landing 12-runner Haydock handicap (6f, heavy) in October. Feasible to think he will come on for last month's reappearance spin at Doncaster (6f) 2 weeks ago and visor may put an extra edge on him now.

Form: 35011-4

(1)

Baldomero^p⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: David Egan| T: M Appleby| OR: 91

40/1

Versatile 5-y-o (effective over as far as 1¼m) and he ran right up to his best in race that has worked out well when runner-up at Wolverhampton (6f) in March. No surprise to see another good showing if handling underfoot conditions.

Form: D-89242

(8)

Marshal Dan²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Joshua Bryan| T: H Main| OR: 90| D

16/1

Newbury winner from 6 lb lower in October and excellent effort from the front when third on return at Redcar (6f, heavy) in April. Rare below par display at first-named venue has followed but he rates a likely type to bounce back.

Form: 0814-30

(10)

Able Kane⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: R Coakley| T: B R Millman| OR: 89| D

12/1

Seen to good effect when running out a ready winner at Ffos Las (7.3f) last summer but ended the campaign in pretty tame fashion and no upturn back from 6 months off at Doncaster 6 weeks ago. Others appeal more for win purposes.

Form: 03400-0

(4)

Sir Thomas Gresham²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: S Hitchcott| T: S Durack| OR: 88| D

6/1

Without a win since 2018 but very lightly raced subsequently and he's shaped with encouragement on 2 of his 3 starts since returning from a lengthy absence, fourth in 15-runner Newbury handicap (6f) 3 weeks ago. Can ill afford another tardy start here, however.

Form: 942/954

(7)

Chairmanoftheboard^p⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Charles Bishop| T: J Channon| OR: 88| D

10/3

Useful sprint handicapper who comes here in excellent form, runner-up in first-time cheekpieces in big field Newmarket handicap (6f) 6 days ago, headed final 100 yds and keeping on. Eased in class turned out quickly and conditions no problem. Lots to like operating from same mark.

Form: 636-832

Non-Runners

(5)

Popmaster⁶

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: E Walker J: Tom Marquand

(6)

Gisburn²¹

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: R Hannon J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Orazio (13/8), Chairmanoftheboard (10/3), Sterling Knight (11/2), Sir Thomas Gresham (6/1), Bickerstaffe (9/1), Gisburn (10/1), Able Kane (12/1), Popmaster (12/1), Marshal Dan (16/1), Baldomero (40/1)

Having confirmed he retains plenty of ability at Kempton in January, ORAZIO put up a useful effort when scoring over this trip at Newmarket 23 days ago, and with the prospect of more to come, he can make another bold bid. Sterling Knight, with his reappearance behind him, is of interest in a first-time visor with conditions holding no fears. Chairmanoftheboard arrives in fine form and also rates a big threat.