16:00 Ascot

Friday 9 May 2025

All13:5014:2014:5515:2516:0016:3517:10

Motivator 20th Derby Anniversary Handicap

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 1m 11.13s

(6)

Wheels Of Fire¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 82

8/1

Made most of good opportunity when off the mark in 7-runner Lingfield novice (5f) in August. Lightly raced since, fitter for return when chasing home an impressive winner in 13-runner handicap at Southwell (6f) 12 days ago. Appeals for each-way purposes back on turf.

Form: 3315-62

(15)

Corolla Point^h¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: D C Costello| T: C Appleby| OR: 82

11/4

Expensive recruit from the breeze-ups who made a winning start in a Yarmouth novice (5.2f) in October. Solid return to action when fourth of 13 in novice at Doncaster (6f, good) 14 days ago, coming from further back than the trio that beat him. Remains with potential now handicapping.

Form: 1-4

(12)

Mollie Foster²²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: H Crouch| T: E Walker| OR: 82| D

10/1

Fairly useful form as a juvenile, winning 5-runner Haydock novice (6f) in July. Respectable efforts on 2 of her 3 starts thereafter, runner-up in valuable Sales' race at the Curragh (6f) in September. Returns with yard going great guns and confidence behind her in the betting would look significant.

Form: 21922-

(13)

Hucklesbrook²¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: J Mitchell| T: R A Teal| OR: 81| D

10/1

Lightly-raced sort who built on his previous promise with a hood fitted when winning 11-runner nursery at Kempton (6f) in October, leading 1f out and having bit in hand. Gelded ahead of return and manner of that display suggests there could be more to come as a 3-y-o.

Form: 84521-

(11)

I Maximus^b1²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Finley Marsh| T: R Hughes| OR: 80| D

15/2

Gelded prior to return and well backed, improved after 6 months off when dead-heating for first in 8-runner maiden at Chelmsford (6f) in March. Possibly stretched by the increase in trip when fourth of 9 on handicap debut at Newbury (7f) since and return to sprinting looks a plus. Blinkers go on.

Form: 327-14

(7)

Kiniro²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: T E Whelan| T: Harry Charlton| OR: 80| D

14/1

Lingfield maiden scorer (6f) who has finished placed both starts in handicaps since, latterly when 1½ lengths third of 10 to Vocal Legend at Lingfield (6f) 21 days ago. 3 lb better off with that rival now and unlikely we've yet to see the best of him yet. Turf debut.

Form: 94-123

(16)

Tuco Salamanca^t²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Nicola Currie| T: Ollie Sangster| OR: 79

9/2

Landed the hat-trick in a 7f Newcastle handicap in March. Excuses on account of quick turnaround next start and, tongue tied, looked unlucky not to go very close when fourth in 3-y-o handicap on AW Finals Day at Newcastle (6f) 21 days ago. Unexposed as a sprinter and this mark clearly within range.

Form: 7-11144

(9)

Morte Point¹⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 79| D

20/1

Came from last to first when making a winning debut in a Salisbury maiden (6f) last July. Seen in action only twice since, shaping as if needing the run after 4 months off when eighth of 9 in nursery at Kempton (6f) in December. Feasible to think he could have more to offer as a 3-y-o.

Form: 138-

(4)

Coul Angel²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Billy Loughnane| T: M Appleby| OR: 79| D

10/1

Has some strong form on AW to his name and he showed a good attitude when doubling his tally at Southwell (6f) in March. Never looked like following up when eighth of 10 to Vocal Legend in handicap at Lingfield (6f) 21 days ago but he's not one to write off now making turf debut.

Form: 4-31518

(8)

South Shore Island^h¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: R Havlin| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 79

66/1

Showed fairly useful form in maidens without success for Michael O'Callaghan in Ireland last summer. Off 7 months/gelded, never remotely threatened when fourth of 8 in maiden at Brighton (6f) 10 days ago and this should reveal more.

Form: 65320-4

(3)

Priapos¹⁸¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 78| BF| D

18/1

Overcame clear signs of greenness to make a winning debut at Windsor (6f) last June. Consistent rather than progressive in handful of starts thereafter but surprise where he not capable of better as a 3-y-o given the stable he represents.

Form: 14047-

(2)

Vocal Legend²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Jason Watson| T: C Hills| OR: 78| D

10/1

Dark Angel colt who continues to go the right way, improving on the form showed when winning a maiden at Southwell (6f) when following up in 10-runner handicap (3/1) at Lingfield (6f, AW) 21 days ago, leading final strides. Appeals as the type to progress further back on turf. Claims.

Form: 62-211

(5)

Up The Pace¹⁸⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: K Shoemark| T: E Smyth-Osbourne| OR: 76

33/1

Improved to make a winning nursery debut at Salisbury (7f) in September, showing a decisive turn of foot. Good third at Goodwood (7f, heavy) next time but absent since coming home last of 7 in nursery at Kempton (7f) 6 months ago. Others make greater appeal.

Form: 435137-

(14)

Iconic Times¹⁷⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Cieren Fallon| T: H Main| OR: 75| D

66/1

Good-topped gelding who displayed race-by-race progress as a juvenile, transformed under a change of tactics when making all in 8-runner novice at Kempton (6f) in November. Still low-mileage but that wasn't a strong piece of form and more needed now handicapping.

Form: 071-

(1)

Letsbeatsepsis²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Hollie Doyle| T: G & J Moore| OR: 68

33/1

Didn't kick on as expected from his promising debut third in a C&D maiden in 2 subsequent runs last summer and never threatened after 8 months off when last of 9 on handicap debut at Newmarket (7f, good, 33/1) 22 days ago. Needs to step up plenty on that returned to sprinting.

Form: 334-9

(10)

Azuinthejungle⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Faye McManoman| T: N Tinkler| OR: 62

25/1

Lightly-raced maiden who has returned an improved model, stepping forward on his reappearance run when again finding only one too good in 5-runner handicap at Musselburgh (5f) 7 days ago. However, this rates a much tougher assignment from 1 lb out of the weights.

Form: 4855-22

Forecasts

Corolla Point (11/4), Tuco Salamanca (9/2), I Maximus (15/2), Wheels Of Fire (8/1), Coul Angel (10/1), Hucklesbrook (10/1), Vocal Legend (10/1), Mollie Foster (10/1), Kiniro (14/1), Priapos (18/1), Morte Point (20/1), Azuinthejungle (25/1), Up The Pace (33/1), Letsbeatsepsis (33/1), South Shore Island (66/1), Iconic Times (66/1)

Already a 3-time winner on all-weather since the turn of the year, TUCO SALAMANCA looked extremely unlucky not to go very close when fourth on Finals Day at Newcastle (6f) 3 weeks ago, getting no sort of run before finishing with a flourish. Clearly still on a workable mark and still unexposed as a sprinter, he earns the vote in the hope he can confirm his recent improvement back on turf. Corolla Point, Vocal Legend and Kiniro are a trio of others with plenty to recommend them, too.