16:05 Ascot

Friday 5 September 2025

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

Molton Brown Classified Stakes

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 1m 30.01s

(3)

Fine Interview³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: James Doyle| T: H Al Jehani| OR: 89

3/1

Three-time winner (all on soft/heavy going) last season and, after a couple of below-par efforts, shaped well when fifth of 20 in handicap at Glorious Goodwood (7f, good) last time. Major player with conditions to suit.

Form: 21-3835

(4)

Hickory^b²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J A Osborne| OR: 90| CD

6/1

Winning start for this yard in the Victoria Cup over C&D in May. Another good run in a valuable handicap here when third in July and soon left behind a lesser effort when narrowly denied at Windsor (8.1f, firm) 22 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 776352

(7)

Isla Kai⁷¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Rowan Scott| T: N Tinkler| OR: 90| C| D

66/1

Useful handicapper who scored twice at Ripon (both at 8f) in 2023. However, down the field at Ayr on final outing that year and has been off for 23 months since. Others preferred following his lengthy absence.

Form: 873317/

(1)

Lord Bertie^h²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 85| CD

7/1

All 3 wins on ground softer than good, though caught the eye on second start for current yard when fifth of 14 at Doncaster (7f, good to firm) in June. Hasn't kicked on in 3 starts since (tends to start slowly), but easier conditions should help with hood back on.

Form: 0-65008

(9)

Angel Hunter³⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Joe Leavy| T: R Hannon| OR: 90| D

25/1

Improved form when making a winning nursery debut in 17-runner contest at York last summer, before seeming unsuited by small-field scenario when third of 4 in novice at this C&D a year ago. Will need to get back on the up making his return.

Form: 34313-

(2)

Arctic Grey⁶²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S Hitchcott| T: R Hannon| OR: 90

66/1

Made a winning start in handicaps at Goodwood in May but has raced freely when well below that level both starts since, in the Britannia (8f) here in June and at Sandown (7f, good to firm) the following month. Others more persuasive.

Form: 12107

(5)

Brave Mission⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 89| BF| D

3/1

Winner at Kempton on final outing last year and improved further when runner-up on handicap debut at this C&D in May. Excuses in the Britannia back here next time, but could finish only fifth of 11 at Newmarket (7f, good to firm) in July. Has been gelded since.

Form: 521-205

(8)

Fondo Blanco¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Ray Dawson| T: R Varian| OR: 88| BF

4/1

Winner of 6f York novice (soft) on second of 2 starts as a juvenile and has run well when finishing second in 3 of his 4 starts this season, beaten only by an improver at Southwell (7.1f) last time. Enters calculations with the potential of better still to come.

Form: 31-2272

(6)

Jewelry³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 88| BF

22/1

Looked potentially useful when making a winning start at Newbury last summer. However, failed to fire in a Salisbury Group 3 next time and after 11 months off she again ran below expectations when third in a Kempton novice (7f) 30 days ago. This run should reveal more.

Form: 18-3

(10)

Rare Change³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Billy Loughnane| T: R Hughes| OR: 90| D

14/1

Gelded during the winter and improved to win 3 of first 4 handicaps over 6f/7f on good ground this year. Excuses at Newcastle in June but was never involved at Goodwood (7f, good) a month ago. Needs to get back on track tackling softer conditions than previously.

Form: 110170

(11)

Veblen Good⁶²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S H James| T: K R Burke| OR: 89

16/1

Confirmed debut promise when winning a Wolverhampton novice last autumn and improved form on first 2 starts this season, running well when fourth in 16-runner handicap at York (6f) in June. Not ideally placed in listed race at Deauville last time, so he could bounce back.

Form: 21-246

Forecasts

Fine Interview (3/1), Brave Mission (3/1), Fondo Blanco (4/1), Hickory (6/1), Lord Bertie (7/1), Rare Change (14/1), Veblen Good (16/1), Jewelry (22/1), Angel Hunter (25/1), Arctic Grey (66/1), Isla Kai (66/1)

Returned to this longer trip, FINE INTERVIEW got back on track when fifth in a big-field handicap at Goodwood last time and he can return to winning ways with softer conditions to suit. He is taken to see off the challenge of Hickory, who is respected back at this venue, while Fondo Blanco could also be in the mix.