16:45 Ascot

Saturday 5 October 2024

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

Berkshire Healthcare Charity Handicap

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 1m 0.87s

(12)

Dream Composer^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Sam Feilden⁽⁷⁾| T: H J Evans| OR: 98| CD

16/1

Has made the frame twice in good quality C&D handicaps this year and resumed winning ways at Pontefract (5f, good) on penultimate start. Poor effort in the Portland at Doncaster next time, though, and he's probably a shade too high in the weights for now.

Form: 540310

(7)

Jm Jungle²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 93| D

11/2

Several good efforts in defeat this season prior to landing a 22-runner York handicap (5.4f, good to firm) in August. Went down all guns blazing off 4 lb higher in the Portland and, versatile ground-wise, this 4-y-o is likely to be in the thick of things once again.

Form: 704513

(5)

Woolhampton²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: David Probert| T: B R Millman| OR: 92| CD

10/1

Had usual headgear left off when recording her third victory of 2024 over C&D last month, with Badri just over 2 lengths adrift in fourth and Haymaker fifth. However, she was never in the hunt in the Portland 7 days later and while she was second in this race 12 months ago, others make more appeal.

Form: 663010

(9)

Venture Capital²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S A Gray| T: K A Ryan| OR: 92| D

10/3

Dual winner at 2 yrs and has landed 2 of his last 3 starts, either side of a good second in a 3-y-o handicap over 6f here in August. Proved himself over the minimum trip when proving 1½ lengths too good for Haymaker at Doncaster last time but this is more demanding up 6 lb.

Form: 668121

(1)

Vintage Clarets¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 91| D

11/2

Enjoyed a very successful 2023 campaign, scoring 4 times and, having shaped better than the bare result in the Portland, he got back on the winning trail at Chester (5f, soft) a fortnight ago. Remains on a good mark up 3 lb and another bold show anticipated.

Form: 708801

(10)

Haymaker²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: H Crouch| T: H Morrison| OR: 87| BF| D

8/1

Successful twice earlier this season and several solid efforts in defeat, too, including when a close third in a big-field C&D handicap in July. Second to Venture Capital at Doncaster last month and, now 5 lb better off with that rival, there's a good chance that he will reverse those placings here.

Form: 230652

(11)

Badri²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: D Tudhope| T: M Herrington| OR: 87| CD

6/1

Signed off a highly productive 2023 campaign (won 5 times) by landing this race off a 13 lb higher mark. Held by several of these judged on this season's form, though and his record suggests that a faster surface would be preferable.

Form: 925644

(6)

Cajetan^p¹⁵⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J Channon| OR: 85

16/1

Gelded following 2-y-o campaign and showed improved form equipped with cheekpieces during the spring, scoring twice over 6f on the AW either side of a creditable effort in a big-field Newmarket handicap. On the downside, he's been absent for 5 months and is unproven on ground this slow.

Form: 266-161

(8)

Jacquelina¹¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Grace McEntee⁽³⁾| T: P S McEntee| OR: 84| D

40/1

Enjoyed a terrific run of form in May/June, winning 5 of her 6 starts in turf sprint handicaps on various ground-types during that period. However, she's gone up 9 lb for her decisive Chepstow victory when last seen in June and this represents a significant rise in class.

Form: 111121

(3)

Faustus^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: Mia Nicholls⁽⁵⁾| T: R Cook & J Bridger| OR: 78| D

14/1

Successful for Robert Cowell at Nottingham in June and off the mark for present connections when narrowly prevailing at Newbury (5.2f, good to firm) in August. Put in another good shift when third in C&D race won by Woolhampton last time but one suspects that he will again find one or two too good.

Form: 716313

(4)

Fantasy Master^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: D Egan| T: Darryll Holland| OR: 77| D

14/1

Tends to go well at this time of year and duly returned to form when accounting for 13 rivals at Doncaster (5f, good) last month. Remains feasibly treated up 5 lb and, having performed with credit on each of his 3 previous visits to Ascot, he has to enter calculations.

Form: 637351

(2)

Alcazan¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-3| J: Hayley Turner| T: R A Teal| OR: 75| CD

22/1

Bagged handicaps over this C&D and at Brighton during the summer prior to posting a couple of respectable efforts in defeat, most notably when sixth of 14 in a valuable York contest. Latest effort at Yarmouth lacked spark, though, and she looks vulnerable.

Form: 011646

Forecasts

Venture Capital (10/3), Vintage Clarets (11/2), Jm Jungle (11/2), Badri (6/1), Haymaker (8/1), Woolhampton (10/1), Fantasy Master (14/1), Faustus (14/1), Cajetan (16/1), Dream Composer (16/1), Alcazan (22/1), Jacquelina (40/1)

JM JUNGLE is clearly at the top of his game at present, following his success at the York Ebor meeting with a near-miss in the Portland at Doncaster, and he is taken to get his head back in front here. He may have most to fear from Vintage Clarets, who rediscovered his shooting boots at Chester recently and a 3 lb rise for that is negligible. Fantasy Master also resumed winning ways last time and he is also shortlisted, along with Haymaker.