15:35 Ascot

Saturday 5 October 2024

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

Bet MGM Challenge Cup (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 1m 27.51s

(11)

Carrytheone^h,t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: J P Spencer| T: M L W Bell| OR: 104| D

14/1

A two-time 7f scorer this term who posted a good fourth of 13 to Two Tempting in handicap at Chester (7.6f, good to firm) 35 days ago when caught further back than ideal. Bold showing expected off the same mark.

Form: 345134

(17)

Popmaster²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Saffie Osborne| T: E Walker| OR: 104| C| D

9/1

Course winner8 but yet to score in 2024 and only 9 lengths sixth of 9 to Kinross in Park Stakes at Doncaster (7f, good) 21 days ago. Others appeal more.

Form: 677056

(7)

Rhoscolyn^t¹⁰^{(ex 6)}

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97| D

33/1

Added to his fine record in the mud when taking Goodwood handicap (8f) 10 days ago. Things will be tougher under 6 lb penalty here but he must enter calculations.

Form: 100001

(15)

Rebel Territory²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 101| CD

16/1

Landed Victoria Cup over C&D last May. Only twice raced since and not disgraced when eighth of 13 in handicap over C&D (good to soft) 28 days ago. Can give another good account.

Form: 65/11-68

(9)

Streets Of Gold^p²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Oliver Carmichael⁽⁷⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 100| D

33/1

No win since his 2-y-o days but he added another good run over this C&D when sixth in the Victoria Cup in May. Respectable sixth in first-time cheekpieces back here last time but a bit more is needed for win purposes.

Form: 960396

(1)

Two Tempting³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: D Egan| T: J G Portman| OR: 99| C

25/1

Is enjoying a fine season and he bagged a fifth win in 13-runner handicap at Chester (7.6f, good to firm) 35 days ago by ¾ length from Divine Libra. Up another 4 lb but he's not taken lightly in his current mood.

Form: 011871

(8)

Brewing²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Hayley Turner| T: W J Haggas| OR: 98| D

33/1

Boasts an excellent strike rate and made it five wins in 7f Kempton handicap in January. Not disgraced after 7 months off on his turf debut when fifth at Doncaster (6.5f) so enters calculations.

Form: 1/41-615

(16)

Golden Mind²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 99

14/1

A fairly useful 6f winner at 2yrs. Only twice raced this season but posted a very good second of 9 in handicap at Doncaster (7f, good to soft) 20 days ago. One to consider.

Form: 3134-92

(6)

Bopedro^v⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: T P Queally| T: D O'Meara| OR: 96| D

28/1

Losing run is mounting up but plenty of creditable efforts to his name this season, tenth of 31 in Cambridgeshire at Newmarket a week ago. Can make his presence felt.

Form: 056020

(3)

Star Of Orion^t1,p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Hart| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 96| BF| D

25/1

Back to his best for his new yard when placed at Newmarket and Sandown (2) in recent weeks. Likely to be in the mix again.

Form: 43-9233

(10)

Divine Libra³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: David Probert| T: C Hills| OR: 96| D

28/1

Scored at Chester in May and in good form of late, second of 13 to Two Tempting at Chester (7.6f, good to firm) 35 days ago. Ought to be thereabouts despite a 2 lb rise.

Form: 136082

(18)

Mirsky^h1¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Mark Winn| T: D O'Meara| OR: 96| BF

22/1

Useful ex-French performer who arrives in good nick, eighth of 14 in 1m Ayr handicap two weeks ago. One for the shortlist.

Form: 590528

(5)

Fresh^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: D Tudhope| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 95| CD

16/1

A frequent visitor here over the years and he got back to winning ways in 6f course handicap four weeks ago. Can't be discounted despite a 2 lb rise.

Form: 057231

(12)

Qirat⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 97| D

10/3

Bagged a second win from 4 runs this year in 14-runner handicap at Goodwood (7f, good to soft) 41 days ago. Up 5 lb but that form has been franked so big shout with further progress on the cards.

Form: 12-1651

(4)

Germanic²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Cieren Fallon| T: W J Haggas| OR: 95| D

12/1

Successful on his second start at Newcastle in June. Cheekpieces on for 1st time when an excellent third of 9 in handicap at Doncaster (7f, good to soft) 20 days ago. Can improve further so he's a likely player.

Form: 0123

(14)

Akkadian Thunder²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 93| D

5/1

A dual 7f winner at Newcastle and Doncaster this summer and posted a very good second of 13 over C&D last time, faring best of those held up. Firmly in the picture.

Form: 102102

(2)

Volterra⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S A Gray| T: K A Ryan| OR: 94| D

11/2

Looked firmly on the up when scoring at Newmarket in May and resumed his progress when a fine second of 16 in 1m York handicap last month. That form reads very well so holds good claims despite a 4 lb weights rise.

Form: 31-1002

(13)

United Approach^p1²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: C Lee| T: J Tate| OR: 90

16/1

Lightly-raced sort who posted a career best when second of 6 in conditions event over C&D (good to soft) 29 days ago. Cheekpieces go on and in the picture.

Form: 51/1-422

Forecasts

Qirat (10/3), Akkadian Thunder (5/1), Volterra (11/2), Popmaster (9/1), Germanic (12/1), Carrytheone (14/1), Golden Mind (14/1), Fresh (16/1), United Approach (16/1), Rebel Territory (16/1), Mirsky (22/1), Star Of Orion (25/1), Two Tempting (25/1), Bopedro (28/1), Divine Libra (28/1), Rhoscolyn (33/1), Streets Of Gold (33/1), Brewing (33/1)

This is wide open but Ralph Beckett's upwardly-mobile QIRAT could prove the answer given he handles soft conditions well and the form of his recent Goodwood victory has been well advertised. Fellow 3-y-o Germanic also looks to have better days ahead of him and heads the list of dangers, although a solid case can also be made for Akkadian Thunder, Volterra, Carrytheone and Mirsky in this fiercely competitive handicap.