14:25 Ascot

Friday 28 July 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

John Guest Racing Brown Jack Handicap

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 3m 35.74s

(3)

Appier²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Davies⁽³⁾| T: S Woods| OR: 87

25/1

Enhanced his excellent strike rate at Lingfield in June. Effort rather flattened out over 2m at Newcastle last month (slowly away) so stamina for this test not yet confirmed.

Form: 4-31315

(5)

Blazeon Five⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: J Mitchell| T: R A Teal| OR: 84| CD

17/2

First 3 wins on the AW but she's very effective on turf, gaining latest win over this C&D in May. Goodwood race a fortnight later may have come too soon and she's likely to get back on track after a short break.

Form: 222516

(7)

Temporize⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: T E Whelan| T: S Hosie| OR: 83

20/1

Hit the ground running last summer but form has levelled off in handicaps since, posting a fair effort on stable debut when mid-field at Newbury last week. Back up in trip.

Form: 04-3326

(4)

King Eagle³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: R L Moore| T: N J Henderson| OR: 83

6/4

Creditable effort at Newcastle on final run for Michael Bell last October and, having been gelded/had another breathing operation, he's cranked it up notch for Nicky Henderson, winning both starts. Lots more to come, particularly over this sort of trip.

Form: 5543-11

(1)

Tamilla¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 82

7/1

Dual winner last term and signed off her 3-y-o campaign with a respectable effort at Haydock. Ran up to that sort of form when fourth over 12f here a fortnight ago but he'll need to settle better to get home over 2m.

Form: 114-794

(9)

Malakahna^p,t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: W Buick| T: Ian Williams| OR: 82| CD

9/2

Won over C&D and at Newmarket on final 2 starts in 2022. Following a fruitless stint over hurdles, she has resumed in this sphere with a trio of placed efforts this summer.

Form: 611-322

(6)

Pledgeofallegiance^v1²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 83

10/3

Different proposition since stepped up to 1¾m and fitted with cheekpieces, winning handicaps at Redcar and Doncaster in recent months. Bombed out turned out a week later at Haydock but no surprise were he to regain the progressive thread in a change of headgear.

Form: 852110

Non-Runners

(8)

Traila³⁴

Weight: 10-2| Age: 5

T: D M Simcock J: Callum Shepherd

(2)

Monsieur Lambrays⁴⁷

Weight: 9-7| Age: 7

T: B J Llewellyn J: David Probert

Forecasts

King Eagle (6/4), Pledgeofallegiance (10/3), Malakahna (9/2), Traila (6/1), Tamilla (7/1), Blazeon Five (17/2), Temporize (20/1), Appier (25/1), Monsieur Lambrays (33/1)

KING EAGLE is a handicapper going places for Nicky Henderson, and with 2m expected to draw out further improvement, the hat-trick looks firmly on the cards. Pledgeofallegiance flopped at Haydock but could hardly be in better hands to bounce back in a change of headgear, with Blazeon Five completing the shortlist.