17:25 Ascot

Saturday 29 July 2023

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:5017:25

Whispering Angel Handicap

Off time: 17:27 | Winning time: 1m 1.35s

(1)

Existent^t,v¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Rossa Ryan| T: S C Williams| OR: 100| D

18/1

Highly tried since winning a pair of AW handicaps early last year but shaped with some promise switched back to handicaps when 2½ lengths fifth of 15 to The Big Board at this C&D (soft) 14 days ago, faring best of those held up. Not fully ruled out.

Form: 6-74995

(5)

Dusky Lord^t1³¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Luke Catton⁽⁵⁾| T: S C Williams| OR: 98| D

66/1

Proved a revelation with cheekpieces refitted when landing the Ayr Silver Cup (6f) in fine style. Has since left Roger Varian but 9 lb rise may not be enough to stop him if able to back that performance up here after 10-month absence. Tongue strap applied.

Form: 420301-

(15)

Bond Chairman⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: W Buick| T: B Smart| OR: 98| D

10/1

Proved better than ever, on return from 9 months off, when narrowly taking 8-runner handicap at Doncaster (5f, firm) 41 days ago. 3 lb rise fair but this looks a much deeper contest.

Form: 42484-1

(12)

Arecibo^p,t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Marco Ghiani| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 95| D

28/1

Twenty one runs since last win in 2021, albeit having kept some good company in that time. 25/1, 4¼ lengths tenth of 15 to The Big Board in handicap at this C&D (soft) 14 days ago. Others are more persuasive at present.

Form: 080730

(13)

Kimngrace^p⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: George Rooke| T: R Hughes| OR: 94| D

16/1

Successful in listed company at Lingfield in February. Yet to build on that performance, though again had excuses on softer ground when down the field at Newmarket last time, finding herself isolated from the main group. In better heart than form figures suggest and she's respected.

Form: 16-1508

(4)

Bergerac^b²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: N Callan| T: K A Ryan| OR: 93| D

20/1

Reacted well to blinkers when winning back-to-back handicaps at Newmarket and York last summer. Sparingly seen and hasn't made much impact this season, and though headgear is reapplied here, he's probably better over further and needs to up his game to make a serious impression.

Form: 1604-88

(11)

Significantly^p²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Ryan Sexton⁽³⁾| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 93| CD

11/2

C&D winner ar Royal Ascot in 2021 and with cheekpieces applied, he improved on recent efforts to win 10-runner handicap at Haydock (6f, good to firm, 4/1) 23 days ago by ½ length from Khunan. Still not long with this yard and there's plenty to like about his chances.

Form: 0788-41

(7)

Rhythm N Hooves³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 96| CD

9/4

Very progressive on AW early this year, winning at Newcastle in March and Chelmsford in April. Translated that progress to turf, producing a career best to land a 26-runner C&D handicap at Royal Ascot (good to firm, 12/1) 36 days ago. 9 lb rise makes things tougher but he can't be ruled out.

Form: 21101

(9)

The Big Board¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R Hannon| OR: 96| CD

5/1

Most progressive this season, notching her third win of season in a 15-runner handicap (22/1) at this C&D (soft) 14 days ago. That effort represented a career best and she can give another good account.

Form: 24-1011

(14)

Intrinsic Bond²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Hart| T: M Wigham| OR: 91| D

16/1

Won the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon last year ut has only fired once from 5 starts this season. More needed having left Tracy Waggott since his latest outing.

Form: 0-08280

(10)

Isle Of Lismore⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Saffie Osborne| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 87| D

18/1

Consistent this season, gaining deserved first success of the year in 9-runner handicap at Newmarket (5f, good) 8 days ago. That effort represented a career-best but has work to do to overcome 7 lb higher mark now.

Form: 422421

(8)

Call Me Ginger¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 85| CD

11/1

Scored 3 times last year (including over this C&D). Becoming well treated and wasn't really seen to best effect at Ayr earlier in the month, though others still look more persuasive despite his tempting mark.

Form: 71-0765

(3)

Night On Earth^p,t1⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: S D Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 81| D

50/1

Won on final start for Michael Appleby last summer but hasn't particularly recaptured that form for his current connections, only sixth of 7 in handicap (14/1) at Windsor (5.1f, good to soft) 47 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time.

Form: 6-04406

(6)

Rock Melody⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: William Pyle⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 80| D

10/1

Has won twice over 5f at Musselburgh this summer and has held her form well in defeat both starts since, again running with credit when- third of 13 in handicap (5/1) at Hamilton (6f, good) 8 days ago. In good heart but this is a stronger contest than she usually contests.

Form: 661133

Non-Runners

(2)

Khunan⁸

Weight: 8-6| Age: 4

T: R A Fahey J: David Egan

Forecasts

Rhythm N Hooves (9/4), The Big Board (5/1), Significantly (11/2), Khunan (15/2), Bond Chairman (10/1), Rock Melody (10/1), Call Me Ginger (11/1), Intrinsic Bond (16/1), Kimngrace (16/1), Isle Of Lismore (18/1), Existent (18/1), Bergerac (20/1), Arecibo (28/1), Night On Earth (50/1), Dusky Lord (66/1)

Plenty here hold strong claims, though former Royal Ascot winner SIGNIFICANTLY perhaps makes most appeal. The five-year-old appears to have been freshened by a recent stable switch to the fine Julie Camacho yard and has the benefit of useful claimer Ryan Sexton offsetting some of the weight added for his recent Haydock win. Recent C&D winners The Big Board and Rhythm N Hooves could well prove capable of improving further, whilst Kimngrace, Khunan and the returning Dusky Lord also merit respect.