15:45 Ascot

Saturday 4 November 2023

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:4516:15

Sodexo Live! Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:49 | Winning time: 6m 8.68s

Eldorado Allen^t¹⁸⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁷⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 154

11/2

Very smart sort who has had his limitations exposed at the top level but merits respect back in a handicap on return.

Form: 245754-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Two For Gold^p²¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 154| CD

10/1

Gallant second in Gr 1 Ascot Chase in 2022 and easily best effort from 3 starts last season when winning veterans event over C&D. Good record fresh so respected on return.

Form: 12P/501-

Monbeg Genius^t²³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 147| BF| D

11/2

Highly progressive novice chaser who readily completed his hat-trick at Chepstow in February. Ran a cracker when clear third of 23 to Corach Rambler in Ultima at Cheltenham (25f, good to soft) last time. Likely has more to offer and rates a major player.

Form: 1/41113-

Beauport²⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Jordan Nailor| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 142| BF

9/2

Progressive hurdler who made fine start over fences when landing listed chase at Carlisle on last season's return. Failed to build on that but shaped better than distance beaten suggests in Kim Muir at Cheltenham and yet to be asked for everything when falling at fifteenth at Aintree final start.

Form: 4/1249F-

Flegmatik^p,t¹⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: C Gethings| T: D Skelton| OR: 139| DWS

33/1

Mixed record last season, best effort when close second of 13 in handicap chase (10/1) at Kempton (24f, good to soft) in February.

Form: P/30926-

Victtorino²²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 138

20/1

Useful chaser in France, scoring twice at up to 21.9f last year. Made a low-key start for this yard over hurdles in March when last seen and back over fences now.

Form: 612574-

Coeur Serein^p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: K Brogan| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 132| D

40/1

Back to winning ways in a small field at Newbury in February but is becoming increasingly unreliable and poor efforts next 3 of 4 starts.

Form: 81P5-F7

Mucho Mas^t²³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 129| D

5/1

Progressive as a novice chaser who bids for a hat-trick after wins around 3m at Lingfield in December and Sandown in March.

Form: 02/2211-

Unanswered Prayers^p²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 128| BF

22/1

Had point experience and put that to good use on first start over fences at Cheltenham a year ago. Disappointed since, however, including on return.

Form: 5152P-5

Zhiguli¹⁹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: David Noonan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 128| D

20/1

Resuming winning ways at Sandown in March, jumping well out in front. Excuses last 2 starts but more needed on return.

Form: P3513P-

Yeah Man¹⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: J J Burke| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 124| D

5/1

Winner in hurdle at Thurles in February and wasted no time getting back on track when excellent second of 12 in handicap chase (4/1) at Down Royal (26.2f, good to soft) when last seen in May. Up against it from 4 lb out of the handicap, however.

Form: 52210-2

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 5p in the pound

Non-Runners

Larry²¹⁶

Weight: 10-9| Age: 10

T: G & J Moore J: J E Moore

Forecasts

Beauport (9/2), Yeah Man (5/1), Mucho Mas (5/1), Eldorado Allen (11/2), Monbeg Genius (11/2), Two For Gold (10/1), Larry (12/1), Victtorino (20/1), Zhiguli (20/1), Unanswered Prayers (22/1), Flegmatik (33/1), Coeur Serein (40/1)

MONBEG GENIUS had his winning run ended when third in the Ultima at Cheltenham but he couldn't have shaped much better and he remains one to keep on side for the coming season. Beauport's first season over fences didn't go as well as might have been expected but he's likely to be ready here, while Two For Gold must be respected given his record here.