13:30 Ascot

Saturday 11 May 2024

All13:3014:0514:4015:1015:4516:2016:55

Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% Handicap

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 2m 31.94s

(12)

Think First^h1¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: N Callan| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 91

9/1

Useful performer who is unexposed for this stable (ran with some encouragement on hurdling debut) and finished well when runner-up at Epsom on return to the Flat. Hooded and likely to be suited by a strong pace, so one to consider.

Form: 55967-2

(6)

Youthful King⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Charles Bishop| T: L A Dace| OR: 89

6/1

Useful sort who has held his form well this year and wasn't seen to best effect when only fifth at Newmarket a week ago, not getting a clear passage. Can't be ruled out.

Form: 6-53455

(2)

Haku⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Billy Loughnane| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 86| D

40/1

Likeable type who scored at Wolverhampton in February and backed it up with a good second there 56 days ago. Freshened up now but yet to prove he's every bit as good on turf as AW.

Form: 51-2712

(4)

Way Of Life¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Joe Leavy⁽⁵⁾| T: J G Portman| OR: 85| D

18/1

Hasn't won for a while but produced a solid effort when second of 11 in handicap at Windsor (11.4f, good to firm) 19 days ago. Reliable type who should be on the premises again.

Form: 42-2232

(3)

Palace Boy⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: George Rooke| T: R J Smith| OR: 85

14/1

Fairly useful hurdler who is still unexposed on the Flat and impressed when scoring twice on AW this winter. Shaped as if still in form at Newcastle 43 days ago, so he's one to keep in mind returning to turf.

Form: 31/1-127

(9)

Maso Bastie^b¹⁸⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: M L W Bell| OR: 84

16/1

Fairly useful handicapper who made a creditable debut for this yard (left James Fanshawe) at Kempton 6 months ago. Still not fully exposed and has won fresh before.

Form: 139206-

(8)

Appier¹⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Brandon Wilkie⁽⁵⁾| T: S Woods| OR: 83| D

50/1

Won at Newcastle and Lingfield in 2023 but ended season in a lull. Others preferred after 6 months off.

Form: 315406-

(13)

Great Bedwyn³²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 82| D

14/1

Generally progressive as a 3yo and was well on top at the finish having come from rear to score at 10 months ago. Concern that he's not been seen since but one to note if the market speaks in his favour.

Form: 0/31761-

(10)

King Of The Plains²²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: James Horton| OR: 82| D

6/1

Well-bred 4yo who got back on track in no uncertain terms when making a winning handicap debut at Newcastle on final outing for Charlie Johnston 7 months ago. Hard to know if he'll be fully tuned up for this, though.

Form: 322P41-

(11)

Kotari⁶^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Watson| T: G & J Moore| OR: 77

16/5

Has returned better than ever, scoring at Windsor and following up at Salisbury 6 days despite a slow start. Longer trip should be no issue and he's the one to beat under a penalty.

Form: 722/6-11

(1)

Rhythmic Intent⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: S C Williams| OR: 81| D

16/1

Is on a long losing run and no sign that he's about to break that sequence when failing to beat a rival at Southwell last time.

Form: 62-6830

(5)

Enthused^p¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: S D Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 81| D

33/1

Fairly useful dual-purpose performer who ran respectably when third at Southwell last time. Should give his running again but liable to find others better treated in this.

Form: 100/303

(7)

Graham²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Hollie Doyle| T: R Hannon| OR: 78| D

9/1

Left 2-y-o form well behind switched to handicaps last year, winning twice and making the frame 6 times from his 8 starts. Shaped as if needing return at Newbury 3 weeks ago and now steps up in trip.

Form: 12241-0

(14)

Obsidian Knight¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: David Egan| T: T Kent| OR: 74| D

12/1

Didn't need to improve to win 10-runner handicap at Chelmsford City (10f, 7/2) 16 days ago, doing well to overcome his early pulling. Remains well treated but not quite as effective on turf as AW.

Form: 52376-1

Forecasts

Kotari (16/5), King Of The Plains (6/1), Youthful King (6/1), Graham (9/1), Think First (9/1), Obsidian Knight (12/1), Great Bedwyn (14/1), Palace Boy (14/1), Rhythmic Intent (16/1), Maso Bastie (16/1), Way Of Life (18/1), Enthused (33/1), Haku (40/1), Appier (50/1)

KOTARI arrives thriving and scored with something to spare at Epsom last time, so he's the one to beat under a penalty. Think First is a danger following a positive Flat debut for this stable and Palace Boy is one to be interested in back on turf.