14:35 Ascot

Saturday 9 September 2023

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

bet365 Handicap

Off time: 14:39 | Winning time: 1m 25.74s

(12)

Bless Him^h⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-12| J: Hayley Turner| T: D M Simcock| OR: 101| C| D

12/1

Course winner who wasn't seen to best effect when fourteenth of 25 in handicap at this C&D (good to soft) 42 days ago, having hopeless task from position. One to consider.

Form: 2-67540

(1)

Ropey Guest^v¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: T P Queally| T: G G Margarson| OR: 99| D

20/1

Bagged a second success of 2023 with a career best in 19-runner handicap at York (7.9f, good to firm) 16 days ago. Up 4 lb but he's not taken lightly.

Form: 010201

(5)

Escobar^t¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-8| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97| CD

40/1

Smart performance when winning over C&D last October. Yet to scale same heights this season though and only fourth of 5 in handicap at Goodwood (8f, soft) 13 days ago. Others appeal more.

Form: 000804

(8)

Star Of Orion¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Laura Pearson| T: R M Beckett| OR: 97| BF| D

9/1

Ended a 2-year losing run in 7f handicap at Newmarket in July and has posted fine placed efforts in International here and at Goodwood since. Can go well again.

Form: 226132

(4)

Spangled Mac^p,t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: G Boughey| OR: 96| D

4/1

Confirmed earlier promise in first-time cheekpieces when landing 11-runner handicap at Newbury (7f, good) 21 days ago by 1¼ lengths from Popmaster. Another bold showing is on the cards despite a 3 lb rise.

Form: 794801

(10)

Popmaster²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Ross Coakley| T: E Walker| OR: 96| C

10/1

Back in top form this year, scoring over 6f here in July and excellent second of 11 to Spangled Mac at Newbury (7f, good) 21 days ago. Enters calculations once more.

Form: 021002

(9)

Quinault^h,t²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Luke Catton⁽⁵⁾| T: S C Williams| OR: 97| D

8/1

One of the success stories of the season so far, completing a remarkable six-timer at Newmarket (6f) in July. Posted another solid effort when third of ten over 6f here 28 days ago, ridden too aggressively. Well in the mix.

Form: 111113

(6)

Orbaan^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 92| CD

16/1

C&D winner who recorded a respectable 4 lengths eleventh of 19 to Ropey Guest in handicap at York (7.9f, good to firm) 16 days ago. It's 12 runs since his last win in 2022, though.

Form: 097950

(14)

Hickory^v⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 89| D

11/2

Got right back on track in a first-time visor when second of 25 in International over C&D (good to soft) 42 days ago, finishing well. Not taken lightly despite a 2 lb rise.

Form: 1-44202

(3)

Havana Blue⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Fahy| T: C G Cox| OR: 93| D

18/1

Opened his account in 7f handicap at Newmarket in May and followed up in good style there following month. Failed to last home upped to 1m when tenth of 12 at Newmarket 49 days ago so he's very much one to consider back at 7f.

Form: 3-28110

(7)

Abduction¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Shane Gray| T: J S Goldie| OR: 87| D

12/1

Resumed winning ways at Ayr (7f) in August before a good second of 5 to Love De Vega at Musselburgh (7.2f, good to firm) 10 days ago. Can give another good account.

Form: 550012

(11)

Love De Vega¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: David Probert| T: C Johnston| OR: 86| D

20/1

Arrives on a hat-trick after recent wins at Hamilton (6f) and Musselburgh (7f). Can't be discounted despite taking a further 6 lb rise.

Form: 70-6711

(2)

Top Secret^h²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 86| CD

25/1

Took this event in 2021 but he came in only tenth of 11 to Spangled Mac in handicap at Newbury (7f, good) 21 days ago. Sort to bounce back though.

Form: 11-2820

(13)

Mobashr^h⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen| T: M Appleby| OR: 81| D

15/2

Scored at Doncaster in July and got back on song when second of 13 in handicap at Newcastle (7.1f) 9 days ago, finishing well. Needs considering.

Form: 123202

Forecasts

Spangled Mac (4/1), Hickory (11/2), Mobashr (15/2), Quinault (8/1), Star Of Orion (9/1), Popmaster (10/1), Abduction (12/1), Bless Him (12/1), Orbaan (16/1), Havana Blue (18/1), Love De Vega (20/1), Ropey Guest (20/1), Top Secret (25/1), Escobar (40/1)

SPANGLED MAC resumed winning ways in some style in first-time cheekpieces at Newbury and with the headgear again sported he can make light of a 3 lb rise. Havana Blue should benefit from this return to 7f and could emerge as the chief threat, although Quinault can't be ruled out too as he bids for win number seven of 2023. Star of Orion and Love de Vega complete the shortlist in a cracking handicap.