15:55 Ascot

Saturday 12 August 2023

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:30

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic (Handicap)

Off time: 15:56 | Winning time: 2m 38.74s

(8)

Satin²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-2| J: Declan McDonogh| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 95

9/1

Winner at Listowel in June and back on the up to land an 8-runner handicap at Killarney last month. More to come and expected to feature under another positive ride.

Form: 60-1641

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(7)

Struth^p1¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-1| J: Matthew Chadwick| T: C Johnston| OR: 94| D

11/1

Kicked off the campaign with success at Chester (12.3f, heavy) in May and has posted some creditable efforts since. Latest run in bad ground at Goodwood is probably best excused, so not completely dismissed.

Form: 120336

(4)

Like A Tiger¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-13| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J Ferguson| OR: 92| BF

3/1

Looked on the up when resuming with Newmarket handicap win over 10f in April. Back on track when fifth at Yarmouth last time and still relatively unexposed.

Form: 231-165

(6)

Regal Empire¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: Hollie Doyle| T: J Tate| OR: 91

13/2

Dual winner (at up to 11.1f) at Southwell last winter and acquitted himself well on turf more recently, latest when third of 10 in handicap at Yarmouth 16 days ago. Should give another good account.

Form: 312733

(11)

Rajasthan⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Hayley Turner| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 87

5/1

Shaped well on both outings as a juvenile and didn't need to improve to open his account in a maiden at Salisbury 45 days ago. Handicapper has taken no chances with opening mark but progress on the cards upped in trip.

Form: 32-1

(10)

Intinso³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: L Morris| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 87| BF

14/1

Scored on debut in a Newcastle novice (1m) back in October. Back on track when third in similar event at Chelmsford last time but needs to settle better if he's to get this trip on handicap debut.

Form: 1-73

(9)

Sovereign Spirit²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Kazuo Yokoyama| T: A M Balding| OR: 84| D

18/1

Three 1½m handicap wins this year, the latest at Beverley where he narrowly prevailed in June. Has remained in form since, runner-up at Newbury last time, and merits respect again.

Form: 118142

(3)

Golden Move²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: O Peslier| T: R A Fahey| OR: 82| D

10/3

From a good family and took a marked step forward to complete a successful handicap debut upped to this trip at Doncaster 3 weeks ago. That form looks solid and he's expected to go well again.

Form: 6-241

(5)

French Invasion¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: C Johnston| OR: 82| D

25/1

Taking winner on debut at Kempton (12f) in January before following up under a penalty at Lingfield a month later. Possibly not 100% when third on handicap debut at Southwell next time and probably didn't handle the testing ground returning from 5 months off at Goodwood recently.

Form: 1130

(1)

Golden Maverick¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen| T: Ian Williams| OR: 81

14/1

Highly progressive this season and typically responded well to pick up his fifth win of the campaign in cosy fashion at Doncaster last time. Well-run race can bring further progress, and he's well capable of getting involved for all that he's up in grade. RESERVE.

Form: 162111

Non-Runners

(12)

Rogue Sea³⁵

Weight: 9-9| Age: 3

T: Tom Clover J: Thore Hammer-Hansen

(2)

Scintillante¹⁵

Weight: 9-1| Age: 3

T: A M Balding J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Like A Tiger (3/1), Golden Move (10/3), Rajasthan (5/1), Rogue Sea (6/1), Regal Empire (13/2), Satin (9/1), Struth (11/1), Intinso (14/1), Golden Maverick (14/1), Sovereign Spirit (18/1), French Invasion (25/1), Scintillante (25/1)

GOLDEN MOVE relished the step up to this distance when opening his account on handicap debut at Doncaster last time and a well-run race should bring further improvement out of him, so he gets the narrow vote in what looks a competitive affair. Satin also arrives on the up and is feared most, while Rajasthan appeals as the type to benefit from a step up to this distance, so he also makes the shortlist.