15:00 Ascot

Saturday 27 July 2024

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:5017:25

Moet & Chandon International Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 1m 27.37s

(4)

Make Me King^p²⁸^{(ex 3)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: James Doyle| T: H Al Jehani| OR: 102| D

16/1

Behind a few of these in the Buckingham Palance over C&D at the Royal meeting but produced an improved and smart handicap performance when winning at Newcastle (7f, AW) 9 days later, looking suited to a more patient ride. Carries a 3 lb penalty.

Form: 5-54981

(5)

Fivethousandtoone^v²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 104

28/1

Lightly raced 6-y-o who has improved for the application of a visor this year, including a win in a valuable 6f AW handicap at Newcastle on Good Friday. Respectable 2¾ lengths fourth of 11 in Group 3 back at Newcastle 4 weeks ago. Raced mainly at 6f but was second over 7f on final start last year.

Form: 211904

(3)

Orazio³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: W Buick| T: C Hills| OR: 103| BF| C

10/1

Raced solely at 6f. Won here last year under William Buick and back to his best when third of 27 in the Wokingham at the Royal meeting last month. Capable of playing a prominent role if his stamina holds now stepping up to 7f.

Form: 600-303

(1)

Northern Express^p1¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 102| D

22/1

A real credit to connections who was a good fourth in this 12 months ago. Yet another fine York run when second of 14 a fortnight ago and he should give it his usual good shot in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 2-57252

(6)

Carrytheone^h,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: P J Dobbs| T: M L W Bell| OR: 101| BF| D

10/1

Back to form with a bang for new yard when winning big-field handicap at Newmarket in May and better than result when reaching the frame in Buckingham Palace over C&D at the Royal meeting and Bunbury Cup back at Newmarket since. Big player if getting the breaks this time.

Form: 6-90134

(10)

Ropey Guest^v¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: T P Queally| T: G G Margarson| OR: 99| D

28/1

Plenty of good efforts in top handicaps but he hasn't made an impact in his 3 previous attempts in this race and ran no more than respectably in the Bunbury Cup a couple of weeks ago.

Form: 062-509

(16)

Bless Him¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 9-6| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock| OR: 98| C| D

16/1

A regular in these big handicaps, including a near miss in this race in 2022. Added another good effort over C&D when third in the Victoria Cup on his reappearance but he's been well held on all 3 outings since.

Form: 50-3008

(12)

Metal Merchant²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: J Channon| OR: 97| C| D

9/1

Returned with an improved performance to win Newbury Spring Cup (1m). Second home in his group in the Hunt Cup at the Royal meeting and not seen to best effect when seventh at Sandown (1m again) latest. Likely still in form and the drop to a stiff 7f shouldn't be an issue for this strong traveller.

Form: 10-1277

(15)

Billyjoh³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Rossa Ryan| T: M Appleby| OR: 95| BF

11/2

Back-to-back winner on AW in February and has remained in good heart since, again making the frame when finding only a most-progressive type too strong in the Buckingham Palace over C&D at the Royal meeting. Can make his presence felt.

Form: 472242

(7)

Divine Libra¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: C Soumillon| T: C Hills| OR: 95| BF| D

18/1

Had a solid 3-y-o season and took it up another notch with a 7f Chester win in May. Followed that with a good third to Carrytheone at Newmarket 10 days later and he's been better than result in the Buckingham Palace here and Bunbury Cup since. It remains likely he has a bigger performance in him.

Form: 3-91360

(11)

Dancing Magic⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: K Shoemark| T: R A Teal| OR: 94

33/1

Yet to get his head in front (0-14). Did run well for second at the Chester May meeting but down the field at Sandown since. Others are preferred.

Form: 540-620

(8)

Summerghand^v¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 8-13| J: Tom Marquand| T: D O'Meara| OR: 91| BF

20/1

Down to his lowest mark for years and he showed he can still mix it in top-end handicaps when 3¼ lengths third of 20 to Aalto in Bunbury Cup at Newmarket (7f, good) a fortnight ago. Runs off 2 lb lower here.

Form: 807033

(18)

Fresh^t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Billy Loughnane| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 91| CD

17/2

A course regular, including a win this race in 2022. Operating a little below that level lately but his handicap mark reflects that and his latest second over 6f here provides hope he may have another big run in a top handicap here in him.

Form: 0-50572

(14)

Aalto¹⁴^{(ex 3)}

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: L Morris| T: Ian Williams| OR: 87| D

13/2

Useful sort who has taken his form up a notch this month, building on the promise of his Haydock second when running out a 2-length winner of the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket (7f, good) a fortnight ago. Big player under a 3 lb penalty.

Form: 7-24521

(17)

New Image⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 89| D

8/1

Progressive sort who has won 3 times this year and improved again when close third of 17 in 7f York handicap 6 weeks ago. Likely capable of even better and has his name on a good handicap before long.

Form: 131413

(2)

Hickory^v⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 88| BF| D

14/1

Second in this under Saffie Osborne 12 months ago and added another good effort over C&D when fourth of 21 in the Victoria Cup in May. Not so good in a change of headgear (cheekpieces for visor) at Newbury since but his record here affords him respect. Visor back on.

Form: 230-248

(9)

Riot^v,t¹⁵^{(ex 3)}

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: Hollie Doyle| T: D O'Meara| OR: 84| D

33/1

Right back to his best when landing a 20-runner handicap at the York Dante meeting in May and struck again when getting on top close home at Doncaster (7f, good to firm) last month. Not clear run when fifth of 18 back at York latest and still in good form.

Form: 014015

(13)

Eminency^t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: S De Sousa| T: S C Williams| OR: 85

22/1

Mostly respectable efforts since joining this yard at the start of the year but he's now 0-11 in handicaps and bit of a surprise were he to break his duck in a race as warm as this.

Form: 0-96245

Forecasts

Billyjoh (11/2), Aalto (13/2), New Image (8/1), Fresh (17/2), Metal Merchant (9/1), Carrytheone (10/1), Orazio (10/1), Hickory (14/1), Make Me King (16/1), Bless Him (16/1), Divine Libra (18/1), Summerghand (20/1), Northern Express (22/1), Eminency (22/1), Ropey Guest (28/1), Fivethousandtoone (28/1), Riot (33/1), Dancing Magic (33/1)

CARRYTHEONE is due a change of luck and can turn around Bunbury Cup form with Aalto, who should go well again under a 3 lb penalty. Divine Libra wasn't seen to best effect in the Bunbury Cup and also makes the shortlist along with the progressive New Image and Buckingham Palace runner-up Billyjoh.