15:25 Ascot

Friday 12 July 2024

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Long Harbour Derek Lucie-Smith Handicap (Rnd)

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 1m 42.5s

(7)

Magnum Opus¹¹^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Callum Shepherd| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 84| D

9/1

Improved with each of his 3 runs at 2 yrs, culminating in a fairly decisive success at Chelmsford (1m) in November. Too keen tried in a visor on return/handicap debut at Sandown and much more like it when scoring in good style with the headgear discarded at Pontefract (1m, good). Up 6 lb.

Form: 061-01

(3)

Apiarist⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: S A Gray| T: K A Ryan| OR: 88

17/2

Came good at the fourth time of asking when edging ahead late on to bag a valuable sales race in the mud at York last October. Never dangerous on return at Newmarket but better effort when third in a 12-runner Haydock handicap (8.2f, good to soft) next time (gelded since). Place possibilities.

Form: 4241-53

(9)

Ebt's Guard¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Aidan Keeley⁽³⁾| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 87| D

4/1

Consistent type who deservedly opened his account when landing the odds in 1m Thirsk maiden last month. Has gone close on each of his 3 starts in handicaps this season, including at Yarmouth (1m, good to firm) a fortnight ago, and should give another good account.

Form: 46-3212

(2)

T'challa³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 86| D

6/1

Made it third time lucky when narrowly prevailing in a 1m Windsor novice (good to firm) last month, the front 2 pulling clear of the rest. Mark for this handicap debut is plausible, particularly with further progress likely, and he's one to consider.

Form: 271

(1)

Respectful⁵⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Hollie Doyle| T: R & J & J Insole| OR: 86

33/1

Left his first 2 efforts well behind when winning 11-runner novice at Ayr in September. Followed up at Redcar a month later but reappearance effort at York left much to be desired (since changed hands and gelded).

Form: 5411-0

(6)

Cerulean Bay¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S M Levey| T: D O'Meara| OR: 85

7/1

Successful first 2 starts of his 3-race juvenile campaign (sole defeat was in Group 3 company) and encouraging efforts in handicaps at Beverley and Haydock during the spring. However, he has struggled to land a telling blow subsequently and looks vulnerable.

Form: 6-43845

(5)

Zain Blue³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Connor Beasley| T: J Butler| OR: 79

10/1

Fairly useful form in maiden/novice events at 2 yrs and shaped well switched to a handicap when chasing home The Ice Phoenix on the straight course here in May. However, efforts since has lacked spark and it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 24-3205

(8)

Global Asset^p1⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: A J Farragher| T: W J Haggas| OR: 79| BF| D

3/1

Brought along steadily as a 2-y-o and has predictably improved switched to handicaps this season, finding just one too strong at Windsor and Nottingham either side of his breakthrough success at Newmarket (1m, good to firm). Now tried in cheekpieces and looks sure to be involved in the finish.

Form: 073-212

(4)

Bigbertiebassett³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: R Havlin| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 77| BF

8/1

Gelded during the winter and made a fairly encouraging reappearance here when fourth in the handicap won by The Ice Phoenix. Not in the same form at Haydock next time, though, and one or two of these look stronger.

Form: 1998-45

Forecasts

Global Asset (3/1), Ebt's Guard (4/1), T'challa (6/1), Cerulean Bay (7/1), Bigbertiebassett (8/1), Apiarist (17/2), Magnum Opus (9/1), Zain Blue (10/1), Respectful (33/1)

There should be more to come from T'CHALLA, who pulled clear with another well-bred type when opening his account at Windsor and has been handed what looks a fair mark for this handicap debut. William Haggas has saddled the winner of this race a couple of times in recent years and his representative Global Asset is a big threat having done little wrong on each of his three starts this season. Ebt's Guard and Magnum Opus are others to consider.