17:30 Ascot

Saturday 9 September 2023

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

National Racehorse Week Handicap

Off time: 17:35 | Winning time: 59.19s

(3)

Existent^p,h²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: S C Williams| OR: 97| D

14/1

Often highly-tried since scoring twice on the AW in 2022. Some decent efforts since returned to handicap company, particularly when runner-up at Goodwood (5f, good) on penultimate start, but he was (not for the first time) slow off the blocks when below par over this C&D last time.

Form: 995026

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(4)

Acklam Express⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Faye McManoman| T: N Tinkler| OR: 92| D

20/1

Pretty useful at 2 yrs (listed winner) but arrives here on a long losing run and efforts so far this year do little to suggest that he's about to turn things around.

Form: 500670

(6)

Fernando Rah^p1⁸⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: J P Fahy| T: C G Cox| OR: 92| D

20/1

Found only one too goo on reappearance at Wolverhampton in February but not in the same form on both subsequent starts, looking a tad rusty back on turf after 9 weeks off at Windsor (5f, good to soft) in June. Absent since and sports first-time cheekpieces here.

Form: 240-265

(11)

Mountain Peak²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Ross Coakley| T: E Walker| OR: 90| CD

28/1

Yet to fire this season but he has scored 3 times over this C&D, most recently a valuable handicap off a 12 lb higher mark last summer. Needs to bounce back but will be a big threat if able to do so.

Form: 38-0079

(9)

Navello^p,t³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: W Buick| T: G Boughey| OR: 90| D

12/1

Returned to form with cheekpieces reapplied when landing 20-runner Epsom Dash (5f, good to firm) in June. However, his subsequent effort at Goodwood was pretty tame, even allowing for the fact that he had the worst of the draw.

Form: 571310

(2)

Bedford Flyer^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Frederick Larson⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 90| D

7/2

Bounced back following a couple of low-key efforts when runner-up off a 1 lb higher mark at Doncaster (5f, good to firm) 3 weeks ago. Went close on latest visit here back in 2021 and he has to enter calculations.

Form: 636002

(14)

Haymaker³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: David Probert| T: H Morrison| OR: 88| BF

11/2

Progressive 4-y-o who confirmed the promise of his reappearance third on heavy at Newbury when scoring at Windsor (6f, good to soft) in May. Best to draw a line through his latest effort and he's one to consider.

Form: 3-31420

(10)

Call Me Ginger⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 87| CD

11/2

Won 3 times last year, notably the Portland at Doncaster, and opened his 2023 account when getting on top in the shadow of the post at Chester (5.5f, good to soft) last weekend. Remains on a good mark up 4 lb and he's a major player.

Form: 654071

(1)

Spring Bloom⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: S W Kelly| T: R Eddery| OR: 86| BF| D

18/1

Resumed winning ways at Newmarket (5f, good) in May and promising to come good again of late, finding only a well-treated rival too strong at Sandown last weekend. 1 lb lower here and should make his presence felt.

Form: 106432

(5)

Dynamic Force²⁸⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: R Havlin| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 86| D

33/1

Bagged a couple of handicaps for this yard in 2022 but bit to prove following a low-key campaign for Taleb Ali in Bahrain.

Form: 910154-

(12)

Swayze⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 85| D

9/2

Winner of sprint handicaps at Newcastle and Haydock earlier this season. Wasn't disgraced in a competitive heat at Newcastle and now 2 lb lower but one or two of these make appeal for win purposes all the same.

Form: 143605

(7)

Above^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Saffie Osborne| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 84| D

9/1

Snapped a losing run when making a winning start for this yard at Newmarket (5f, good) a fortnight ago. Remains very competitively handicapped up 4 lb and he has to be high on any shortlist.

Form: 703581

(8)

Woolhampton^b¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Oliver Searle⁽⁷⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 85| CD

16/1

Has taken well to the fitting of blinkers and didn't need to improve to record a first success in handicap company in 7-runner heat over this C&D in July. However, below par both subsequent starts and others look stronger.

Form: 552190

Non-Runners

(13)

Mine's A Double⁴³⁴

Weight: 9-2| Age: 5

T: D & C Kubler J: Jason Watson

Forecasts

Bedford Flyer (7/2), Swayze (9/2), Call Me Ginger (11/2), Haymaker (11/2), Above (9/1), Navello (12/1), Existent (14/1), Mine's A Double (14/1), Woolhampton (16/1), Spring Bloom (18/1), Acklam Express (20/1), Fernando Rah (20/1), Mountain Peak (28/1), Dynamic Force (33/1)

CALL ME GINGER did well under the circumstances when getting up close home at Chester recently and he makes plenty of appeal in his follow-up bid off a 4 lb higher mark. Next on the list is Above, who also resumed winning ways last time and remains on an attractive mark for his new yard. Bedford Flyer and Spring Bloom should both be on the premises, too.