14:10 Ascot

Saturday 7 September 2024

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Chapel Down Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 2m 38.12s

(11)

Imperial Sovereign^v1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin| T: K R Burke| OR: 97

12/1

Debut winner at Newcastle and shaped well when runner-up in a Kempton novice (11f) in March. Come up a little short at listed/Group 2 level and seemed to find stamina stretched on handicap debut when ninth in Melrose at York latest. Visor reached for back down in trip.

Form: 1-2669

(8)

French Duke^h1³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: James Doyle| T: R Varian| OR: 97| D

4/1

Sea The Stars colt who caught the eye when sixth in King George V handicap here in June and duly confirmed as much when opening his account (hooded) in 10-runner Goodwood handicap (12f) 38 days ago. Up 9 lb on back of that but of firm interest again.

Form: 84-261

(7)

Goodwood Odyssey^b¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: D Menuisier| OR: 95| D

7/2

Highly promising start when winning 2 of first 3 starts and found further progress equipped with blinkers when a ready winner of a soft-ground Goodwood handicap (12f) last month. Yard continue in good form and unlikely he's reached his limit on that evidence.

Form: 1-21731

(5)

Solomon^h²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Shepherd| T: W J Haggas| OR: 92| BF

10/1

Looked potentially smart when bolting up over shorter at Haydock (10.2f) in August and not seen to anything like best effect when fifth in a C&D handicap 4 weeks ago, the steady gallop counting against him. Represents leading yard and he remains with untapped potential.

Form: 213815

(6)

Houstonn²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 92

14/1

Opened his account in maiden company at Windsor (10f) in July and emerged with credit to finish placed both starts in handicaps since, latterly when second at Newbury (10f) 3 weeks ago. Step back up in trip will hold no fears but his mark has crept up a little more.

Form: 24-5132

(4)

Kamboo¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: R Kingscote| T: R Hughes| OR: 92| D

17/2

AW novice winner in December who was flying too high returning in the Derby at Epsom and, having shaped better than bare result at Royal Ascot next time, he capitalised on drop in to calmer waters when winning 13-runner Newcastle handicap (12.5f) 16 days ago, cosily. Better still to come.

Form: 61-001

(9)

Poniros^h1⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett| OR: 91| BF

9/2

Won 1m Nottingham maiden on debut last autumn and has progressed in defeat, solid second behind Kings Gambit in London Gold Cup (10f) in May. Not in quite the same form in 2 starts since but gelded ahead of this and fancied to get back on track. Hood on 1st time.

Form: 13-2208

(3)

The Reverend^p1¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: David Probert| T: W J Haggas| OR: 86| BF

4/1

Overcame inexperience to make a winning debut at Newmarket (7f, soft) in November and similar form both starts under a penalty this summer, latterly when runner-up at Hamilton (11f, heavy) 2 weeks ago. Can make his presence felt now handicapping with cheekpieces fitted.

Form: 1-22

(1)

Whathappensinvegas^h,t1⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: S De Sousa| T: Ian Williams| OR: 78

40/1

Gained success of 2024 in 4-runner handicap at Hamilton (11f) in June. Mixed bag in defeat subsequently but latest fourth at Newmarket (10f) was one of his better efforts. However, this a lot more demanding back up in trip.

Form: 213794

Non-Runners

(10)

High Order⁹⁸

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: J & T Gosden J: R Havlin

(2)

Galactic Charm²³

Weight: 8-6| Age: 3

T: M L W Bell J: Andrew Breslin

Forecasts

Goodwood Odyssey (7/2), The Reverend (4/1), French Duke (4/1), Poniros (9/2), Kamboo (17/2), Solomon (10/1), High Order (10/1), Imperial Sovereign (12/1), Houstonn (14/1), Galactic Charm (25/1), Whathappensinvegas (40/1)

FRENCH DUKE proved more professional in a first-time hood and duly confirmed earlier promise when opening his account at Goodwood (12f) 38 days ago. He looks the type who could go on progressing and is selected to come out on top again. The William Haggas trained-pair Solomon and The Reverend head the dangers, with another last-time-out winner Goodwood Odyssey another in the mix.