16:35 Ascot

Friday 14 July 2023

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Signature Capital Handicap

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 2m 14.91s

(3)

Wind Your Neck In⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: A Kirby| T: P D Evans| OR: 86| D

12/1

Struggled in only 3 starts last year and while his reappearance second at Bath represented a step back in the right direction, he failed to land a meaningful blow at Newbury last time. Others preferred.

Form: 1/770-28

(7)

Satono Japan^v⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: R Kingscote| T: A West| OR: 84

66/1

Successful on AW sole start as a 2-y-o but went winless thereafter for Sir Michael Stoute. Fairly low-key start on Flat/2 tries over hurdles for present stable and percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form: 3/26439-

(1)

Enthrallment²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: K P De Foy| OR: 83

16/1

First run since leaving Dermot Weld when creditable fourth of 14 in handicap at Kempton (1½m) last month, not knocked about. However, backward step at Goodwood since and he looks vulnerable on the back of that.

Form: 3503-46

(5)

Perfect Thunder³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Jason Watson| T: P Owens| OR: 82

10/1

Got the better of subsequent Irish Oaks second/listed winner Toy when landing a 7f maiden at the Curragh for Joseph O'Brien last spring. Stepped up on low key reappearance/debut for new yard when fifth of 11 at Beverley (1¼m, good to firm) last month and she's a player off 2 lb lower here.

Form: 8230-05

(8)

Pledge Of Honour²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Jefferson Smith| T: D K Ivory| OR: 78| D

6/1

Proved resurgent last term, gaining fourth handicap success at Doncaster in August. Runner-up on 2 of his 3 starts this season, including at York (10.2f, good to firm) last time, and he's likely to give another good account.

Form: 114-022

(9)

Lion Kingdom^t⁸⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Cieren Fallon| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 85

10/3

Improved with each of his 3 starts as a juvenile and shaped well when fourth in a 15-runner Newmarket handicap (1m, good to soft) on return in April. This stiffer test may help unlock improvement and he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 431-4

(2)

Elraaed^p³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 84| D

6/1

Opened his account with a game display in first-time cheekpieces (retained) upped to this trip at Windsor (good to soft) last month. Gelded since and will need to up his game in order to follow up on this handicap debut.

Form: 5-51

(6)

Intricacy^p1¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: J Fanning| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 83

2/1

Scored at Wolverhampton (8.6f) in December and better form in defeat since, runner-up in handicaps at Sandown and Ffos Las the last twice. Trip/ground fine and likely to be in the mix if responding well to the first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 21-2422

(4)

God Of Fire⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Ray Dawson| T: S C Williams| OR: 80

16/1

Progressive in maidens, winning a 12-runner event over 9.5f at Wolverhampton in January. However, limitations seemingly exposed in turf handicaps since returning from a break and likely to come up short once more.

Form: 54-138

Non-Runners

(10)

Fantasy Believer⁸

Weight: 10-0| Age: 6

T: E Walker J: Billy Loughnane

Forecasts

Intricacy (2/1), Lion Kingdom (10/3), Elraaed (6/1), Pledge Of Honour (6/1), Fantasy Believer (6/1), Perfect Thunder (10/1), Wind Your Neck In (12/1), Enthrallment (16/1), God Of Fire (16/1), Satono Japan (66/1)

This step up in trip should suit LION KINGDOM, who didn't get the best of runs when fourth on his return/handicap debut at Newmarket during the spring and he remains with potential. Intricacy is due to go up 3 lb for his recent Ffos Las second and is feared most ahead of Perfect Thunder and Fantasy Believer.