15:35 Ascot

Friday 28 July 2023

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

John Guest Racing Handicap

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 2m 40.85s

(2)

Gaassee^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 100| D

11/8

Career back on track after a couple of disappointing runs to start 2023 when keeping on for fourth in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock (1½m, good to firm) 3 weeks ago. Good shout here if he can build on that.

Form: 130-704

(1)

Max Mayhem³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: K P De Foy| OR: 97

6/1

Plenty to like about reappearance/yard debut success at Kempton (11f) in April. Quickly proved his Epsom running all wrong when sixth in Duke of Edinburgh over C&D latest (without being seen to best effect) and he's not out of things.

Form: 873-186

(8)

Nolton Cross²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Harry Davies⁽³⁾| T: H Palmer| OR: 93| D

12/1

Three AW wins earlier in the year and has shown he's as effective on turf when third at Ayr and sixth in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock (Gaassee ahead in fourth) in recent weeks. Not discounted with Davies taking 3 lb off.

Form: 216036

(6)

Oneforthegutter^p1¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: W Buick| T: Ian Williams| OR: 89| CD

10/3

Useful handicapper who snapped a losing run when edging ahead late on over C&D (soft) 13 days ago, looking well suited by the step up in trip. Cheekpieces added now. Should go well under William Buick.

Form: 040-881

(3)

City Streak²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Watson| T: A M Balding| OR: 87

6/1

Won at Chester in May. Good second in Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar next time and best not judged on his latest well-held fifth to the reopposing Youthful King at Windsor as he lost all chance when hampered over 1f out.

Form: 22-3125

(9)

The Whipmaster^p²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: T P Queally| T: G & J Moore| OR: 87

17/2

Improved model last season, rattling off quick-fire 4-timer before finishing second in this race. Back to winning ways at Windsor(11.5f) in June but ran poorly behind Youthful King back there since. Cheekpieces are refitted on the back of that.

Form: 678-016

(7)

Protected Guest²²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: David Probert| T: G G Margarson| OR: 85| D

66/1

Unreliable individual. Fifteen runs since last win in 2022. Second of 7 to Saratoga Gold at Kempton (1½m) 22 days ago but he was beaten 7 lengths. It's likely that losing run will go on.

Form: 330282

Non-Runners

(4)

Saratoga Gold¹³

Weight: 9-11| Age: 5

T: C Hills J: K Shoemark

(5)

Youthful King²⁷

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: L A Dace J: Aidan Keeley

Forecasts

Gaassee (11/8), Oneforthegutter (10/3), Youthful King (9/2), City Streak (6/1), Max Mayhem (6/1), The Whipmaster (17/2), Nolton Cross (12/1), Saratoga Gold (12/1), Protected Guest (66/1)

GAASSEE is one to be interested in now he's back in form and can give the weight away. Recent C&D scorer Oneforthegutter is unexposed over this trip and is feared most ahead of Andrew Balding's City Streak, who had an excuse when behind Youthful King at Windsor last time and had been in good form prior to that.