15:00 Ascot

Friday 26 July 2024

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Chapel Down Handicap

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 1m 30.18s

(3)

Zouzanna¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: Harry Charlton| OR: 82| BF| CD

3/1

Below expectations when favourite on reappearance, but left that behind when third at Newbury (7f, good to firm) last month, faring best of those held up. Unable to land a blow at Newmarket latest but she is a previous C&D winner and this is a drop in grade.

Form: 136-937

(2)

Billy Mill¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Saffie Osborne| T: B R Millman| OR: 78| D

12/1

Has held his form well since striking at Newcastle in March, posting another solid effort in defeat when third over 1m at Chelmsford last month. Rare turf outing over C&D a fortnight ago but did enough to think he's still in good nick.

Form: 133434

(9)

Musical Mystery³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: S De Sousa| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 76| D

9/1

Gained fourth win since joining this yard at Brighton in May and sound third under a penalty at Lingfield a week later. Latest effort easy to excuse given he reared leaving the stalls and was badly hampered at a crucial stage.

Form: 0-83130

(7)

Red Maids^t²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: W Buick| T: M G Rimell| OR: 75| D

11/2

Back-to-back winner in 2023 and is back in good order of late, runner-up in a brace of handicaps at Newbury. Nudged back up 2 lb but she can remain competitive.

Form: 0-84522

(10)

Amsterdam²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| OR: 79

7/2

Mid-field effort on debut proved to be strong form and well backed, he found only a stablemate too good at Salisbury. Shade disappointing at Haydock 3 weeks ago but a well-run 7f will be right up his street and he retains potential as a handicapper.

Form: 6-25

(5)

Tadreeb^v1¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Jason Watson| T: M J Attwater| OR: 71| D

20/1

Missed the majority of 2023 and below par so far this year, albeit C&D run last time isn't a race to judge him too harshly on. AW profile is more convincing, though.

Form: 4-57060

(8)

North View^p³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Jim Crowley| T: P W Chapple-Hyam| OR: 77

7/2

Found improvement when second at Kempton (7f) last month but unable to back that up at Newmarket a month ago. Still early days.

Form: 21-0425

(11)

Mumayaz^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: N Callan| T: A W Carroll| OR: 67| D

20/1

Already a dual AW winner in 2024 and solid second at Brighton (6f, good) last month. Plausible excuses at Newmarket but harder to excuse heavy defeat at Epsom since.

Form: 146259

(1)

Al Shabab²⁸⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: David Probert| T: Ian Williams| OR: 74| BF

40/1

Lightly-raced maiden who returned to pick of his form when second in a Chelmsford novice (7f) in October on final start for Andrew Balding. Changed hands for 38,000 gns and gelded thereafter and feasible to think he can do better now handicapping as a 3-y-o, for all mark demands it.

Form: 03302-

(4)

The Bitter Moose^p1²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Harry Davies| T: H Palmer| OR: 74| D

18/1

Dual winner on the AW to end 2023 and ran creditably when third of 7 in handicap at Lingfield (7.6f, good) keeping on once in clear inside final 1f. Doncaster effort was a backward step and cheekpieces reached for.

Form: 11-5338

Non-Runners

(6)

Final Watch¹⁴

Weight: 10-1| Age: 6

T: W Stone J: K Shoemark

Forecasts

Zouzanna (3/1), Amsterdam (7/2), North View (7/2), Red Maids (11/2), Musical Mystery (9/1), Billy Mill (12/1), Final Watch (14/1), The Bitter Moose (18/1), Tadreeb (20/1), Mumayaz (20/1), Al Shabab (40/1)

This is the weakest band of handicap than ZOUZANNA has ever contested and, as a previous C&D winner, a bold showing looks on the cards with Oisin Murphy retained. Red Maids is going through a good spell currently and she can remain competitive, while an improved showing from Amsterdam would come as no surprise.