20:00 Brighton

Tuesday 20 June 2023

All18:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

Royal Ascot On Sky Sports Racing Handicap

Off time: 20:00 | Winning time: 1m 24.98s

(2)

Whistledown¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: George Bass⁽³⁾| T: J Channon| OR: 67| C| D

6/1

Course winner. Was returning from an 8-month break when fifth of 6 in handicap (12/1) at Goodwood (6f, good to firm) 11 days ago. Should be sharper now and, down 2 lb, she's worth a second look.

Form: 22186-5

(1)

Be Prepared^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: K T O'Neill| T: R Cook & J Bridger| OR: 63| D

5/2

Twelve runs since last win in 2021. Last of 7 in handicap at Lingfield (7f, good to firm, 5/1) 21 days ago. Needs to bounce back but would be a danger to all off this reduced mark if able to do so.

Form: 90-5067

(4)

Diamond Cottage^h⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: William Carson| T: M S Saunders| OR: 61| CD

9/4

C&D winner. 2 wins from 6 runs this year. Latest win here in May. 8/1, fourth of 6 in handicap at Chepstow (7.1f, good to firm) 4 days ago. Each-way claims.

Form: 613614

(8)

River Wharfe^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: George Wood| T: A W Carroll| OR: 61| CD

14/1

C&D winner. 11/2, 7¾ lengths tenth of 11 to Diamond Cottage in handicap at this C&D (good to firm) 28 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Looks vulnerable.

Form: 627650

(5)

Lucky Mascot^b1¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Dylan Hogan| T: B R Johnson| OR: 56

11/2

18/1, good second of 5 in handicap at this C&D (firm) 11 days ago. Possibilities off the same mark if able to build on that in first-time blinkers.

Form: 7-78402

(3)

Vitesse Du Son^p⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Christian Howarth⁽⁵⁾| T: Alice Haynes| OR: 53| C| D

11/2

Course winner. Latest win at Wolverhampton in December. Seventh of 11 in handicap at Lingfield (7f, AW, 22/1) 83 days ago, met some trouble. Others preferred.

Form: 217-057

Non-Runners

(7)

Kitaab¹⁷

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: Ian Williams J: Callum Hutchinson

(6)

Ajrad²¹

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: M J Attwater J: A J Farragher

Forecasts

Diamond Cottage (9/4), Be Prepared (5/2), Kitaab (11/4), Vitesse Du Son (11/2), Lucky Mascot (11/2), Whistledown (6/1), Ajrad (8/1), River Wharfe (14/1)

Question marks surround the majority of these and AJRAD is the suggestion. He hasn't performed badly at Lingfield the last twice and is now 1 lb below his last winning mark. He may have most to fear from Whistledown, who produced two of her better efforts of 2022 at this course and a recent spin at Goodwood will have blown away the cobwebs. Lucky Mascot will be a threat if building on her latest C&D effort and, if he lines up here rather than at Thirsk, Kitaab will also be a player.