15:23 Ascot

Wednesday 30 April 2025

All13:1013:4014:1514:5015:2315:5516:30

eventmasters.co.uk 40th Anniversary Handicap

Off time: 15:23 | Winning time: 59.0s

(2)

Zoulu Chief¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Hollie Doyle| T: H Main| OR: 86

12/1

Easy to back and shaped as if badly needing the run after 13 months off when last of 11 in handicap at Newbury (6f, good) 19 days ago. This will reveal more.

Form: 88095-0

(10)

Blind Beggar^p³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Frederick Larson| T: M Appleby| OR: 83| D

28/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2024 and was below form at Wolverhampton (6.1f) on most recent outing. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 52-3459

(6)

Duran¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: N Tinkler| OR: 83| D

7/2

Successful 3 times during a good 3-y-o campaign and final outing last term best excused on account of where he was drawn when eighth of 17 at York (5f, soft) in October. Ran well back from 6 months off when second at Beverley (5f) a fortnight ago and another good run looks on the cards.

Form: 71718-2

(7)

Rebel Empire^t⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Joe Leavy⁽³⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 82

14/1

Proved better than ever when resuming winning ways at Chelmsford City in January and soon back to form when third in 4-runner event at Newcastle (6f, 4/1) last time. Needs to prove he's as effective on turf, though.

Form: 21-6103

(9)

Good Earth¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: M Herrington| OR: 82| D

25/1

Capable sprinter on his day who stepped up on his reappearance run when third of 7 in handicap at Beverley (5f, good to soft) 14 days ago. Just 1 lb above last winning mark and could go well.

Form: 5200-83

(3)

Jenever²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: Jessica Macey| OR: 81| D

6/1

Looked as good as ever returning from 5 months off when fifth of 13 in handicap at Newcastle (6f) 20 days ago. Can give another good account.

Form: 52402-5

(5)

Blue Day¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Shepherd| T: Harry Charlton| OR: 81

7/2

Proved easy to back and shaped as if better for the run after 5 months off when beating only one home in 12-runner handicap at Kempton (6f) 15 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Not ruled out.

Form: 33206-0

(8)

Isle Of Lismore¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: K Shoemark| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 78| BF| CD

15/2

C&D winner who ended 2024 out of sorts but took a big step back in the right direction when fourth of 9 in handicap (7/2) at Newmarket (5f, good) on reappearance 13 days ago. Lurking on a good mark if able to build on that.

Form: 85977-4

(4)

Fletcher's Flight²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Billy Loughnane| T: P J McBride| OR: 74| D

3/1

Three wins from 7 runs last year and returned from 6 months off with a respectable third in 7-runner handicap at Yarmouth (6f, good to firm) 25 days ago. Won't be inconvenienced by the return to 5f and merits consideration.

Form: 13115-3

Non-Runners

(1)

Sir Les Patterson¹⁹

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: Harry Eustace J: Oisin Murphy

Forecasts

Fletcher's Flight (3/1), Blue Day (7/2), Duran (7/2), Sir Les Patterson (5/1), Jenever (6/1), Isle Of Lismore (15/2), Zoulu Chief (12/1), Rebel Empire (14/1), Good Earth (25/1), Blind Beggar (28/1)

ISLE OF LISMORE won a division of this corresponding event from an appreciably higher mark last season and, having taken a big step back in the right direction on his Newmarket reappearance, he could well be up to repeating the feat. Duran can go well once again, with Jenever completing the shortlist having returned as good as ever at Newcastle recently.