16:00 Ascot

Wednesday 1 May 2024

All13:1013:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Naas Racecourse Handicap (Div 2)

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 1m 2.57s

(4)

Isle Of Lismore¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: K Shoemark| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 85| D

11/1

Winner at Newmarket's July course last summer and stepped up on his seasonal comeback when third in a 14-runner event on the Rowley Mile there 15 days ago. Seems to be building up to something and can't be ruled out.

Form: 4219-33

(9)

Lil Guff¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: W Buick| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 84| D

6/1

Won twice in the space of a week at Bath and Sandown last summer but shaped as if needing the run on her seasonal return and didn't get the rub of the green in listed company last time. Not ruled out back at last winning mark.

Form: 5224-78

(8)

Change Sings¹⁸²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: George Downing| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 82| BF

11/1

Front-runner did well after joining this yard last year, winning 3 times on the all-weather over 6/7f. Interesting dropped to the minimum trip for the first time.

Form: 413115-

(3)

Fair Wind^h¹⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: R Kingscote| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 82| D

5/1

Ended last season on a high note, producing a career best when winning 9-runner handicap at Windsor (5.1f, good to soft). Still low mileage in sprint terms and should have more to offer this season.

Form: 214201-

(7)

Thunder Star²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Tom Marquand| T: Jessica Macey| OR: 80| D

10/1

Improved when winning 3 times last season and shaped as if retaining all ability when third on comeback run at Thirsk (5f, heavy) 22 days ago. Not ruled out.

Form: 11919-3

(1)

Brave Nation^h1²⁰⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: H Crouch| T: M L W Bell| OR: 80| D

6/1

Lost his way as a 2-y-o and didn't offer much last season until a more encouraging fourth in a C&D handicap (good to firm, 50/1) in October. Off 6 months. Hood on 1st time. Intriguing to see whether he can build on that.

Form: 9/70094-

(2)

Kuwait City¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Jim Crowley| T: J Butler| OR: 79| D

9/2

Had slipped below his last winning mark and capitalised on a marked drop in grade when winning a 10-runner handicap at Yarmouth (5.2f, good to firm, 9/2) 18 days ago. Did well to overcome a pace bias there and he's a player from only a 2 lb higher mark.

Form: 90829-1

(5)

Juicy⁸⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Hollie Doyle| T: R Spencer| OR: 78| D

3/1

Made her a belated debut a winning one at Southwell in December and very much caught the eye when fourth in a Newcastle handicap in February, finishing with running left after meeting repeated trouble. Switched to turf now with more to come.

Form: 1-24

Non-Runners

(6)

Jumbeau²³⁷

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: Tom Clover J: Connor Planas

Forecasts

Juicy (3/1), Kuwait City (9/2), Fair Wind (5/1), Brave Nation (6/1), Lil Guff (6/1), Jumbeau (13/2), Thunder Star (10/1), Isle Of Lismore (11/1), Change Sings (11/1)

JUICY looked ahead of her mark when getting a luckless run at Newcastle last time and Richard Spencer's filly gets the nod on her turf bow. Kuwait City overcame the run of the race to score at Yarmouth last time and also merits respect, whilst Fair Wind appeals as the type who should do better still this season.