15:35 Ascot

Saturday 4 October 2025

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

BetMGM Challenge Cup (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 1m 30.89s

(2)

Rahmi²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Rory Mulligan⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 112| D

12/1

Showed benefit of reappearance when producing a career best effort to win a 16-runner handicap at the Curragh (7f, good) on Irish Champions weekend. A really smart effort will be needed to defy this lofty mark but he's a fresh horse for the time of year.

Form: 2031-41

(13)

Carrytheone^h,t⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: C Lee| T: M L W Bell| OR: 108| C| D

28/1

Capped a highly productive 2024 with a win in the Balmoral here (1m, soft) on Champions Day but nowhere near that form in 2 outings in 2025. The return to a big-field handicap may suit but has something to prove for now.

Form: 3461-88

(18)

Two Tribes^b¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: George Wood| T: R Spencer| OR: 103| BF| CD

22/1

Completed a notable midsummer double in the International over C&D (good to firm) and Stewards' Cup at Goodwood (6f, good). Another fine run when fourth of 20 at the York Ebor meeting and he was caught on the wrong side when only tenth in the Ayr Gold Cup a fortnight ago.

Form: 031140

(9)

Native Warrior^v²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J P Spencer| T: K R Burke| OR: 103| CD

9/4

Firmly back on the up since visored, producing a smart effort when coming from the rear to beat Great Acclaim by 1½ lengths in a 20-runner race over C&D 4 weeks ago. Even an 8 lb rise shouldn't prevent him making a bold bid if in similar form.

Form: 0-92131

(12)

Great Acclaim^b²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 100| D

16/1

Right back on form since blinkered, including a Glorious Goodwood win at the end of July. Good 1½ lengths second of 20 to Native Warrior over C&D (good) 28 days ago, faring best of those ridden prominently. Another 3 lb higher now but still much respected.

Form: 271122

(17)

Thunder Roar¹⁴^{(ex 6)}

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: D C Costello| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 93| D

22/1

Promising fourth of 20 to Native Warrior over C&D before resuming winning ways in 1m handicap at Ayr (soft) 2 weeks ago. Should be competitive under a 6 lb penalty.

Form: 020841

(1)

Balmacara¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 97| D

14/1

Back to best when 2½ lengths second of 6 to Cicero's Gift in listed race at Sandown (1m, heavy) 17 days ago. On a good mark if he can reproduce that level back in a handicap but doesn't have a great record in big fields so far.

Form: 20-0302

(10)

Tarkhan^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: William Carver| T: J A Osborne| OR: 96| D

33/1

Listed winner on soft during his time in Germany. Back to that sort of level for new connections when runner-up in 7f soft-ground handicaps at Sandown and Newbury in recent months. Behind a few of these over C&D on good in between but would enter the reckoning if the ground eases.

Form: 004272

(3)

Yanifer³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Aiden Brookes⁽³⁾| T: H Bethell| OR: 96| D

33/1

Back to winning ways when making all over the extended 7f at Chester at the end of August. Up to a clear career-high mark back on the back of that and might prove vulnerable as a result.

Form: 8-77221

(7)

Purosangue^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 96| BF

14/1

Fourteen runs since last win in 2023 but he has a reduced mark to work with and latest fourth of 25 in the Ayr Gold Cup with cheekpieces added (retained) was creditable. Runs off 2 lb lower here. Respected with De Sousa taking the reins for the first time.

Form: 790664

(6)

Apiarist¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Billy Garritty| T: K A Ryan| OR: 95| D

11/2

Has won 3 times on AW but been less effective on turf, running poorly behind Thunder Roar at Ayr a fortnight ago.

Form: 038400

(16)

Akkadian Thunder⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Mark Winn| T: D O'Meara| OR: 95| D

17/2

Doncaster winner in June and has contested several top-level handicaps since, including a good third off this mark at the Doncaster St Leger meeting. Met trouble on both outings since and almost certainly still in form. Second in the Buckingham Palace over C&D at the Royal meeting.

Form: 909379

(5)

Mirabeau¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Cieren Fallon| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 97| D

10/1

Two wins as a juvenile came on soft. Improved third of 20 to Native Warrior in C&D handicap (good) last month and not seen to best effect (not clear run 1f out) at Newbury since.

Form: 5-35036

(4)

Hickory^b²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: Edward Greatrex| T: J A Osborne| OR: 93| CD

9/1

Winning start for this yard in the Victoria Cup over C&D in May. Another good run in a valuable handicap at this venue when third of 17 over 1m in July and he underlined his liking for the straight course here when landing a classified stakes over this trip last month.

Form: 763521

(8)

Jumby¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: Oliver Carmichael⁽⁷⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 93| CD

50/1

Smart in his prime, including Group 2 win. Still capable of useful form but has drawn a blank in 8 handicap starts this season and his stable has more obvious contenders.

Form: 903364

Non-Runners

(15)

Hafeet Alain¹²⁸

Weight: 9-0| Age: 9

T: E Walker J: K Shoemark

(11)

Dosman⁴⁴

Weight: 8-10| Age: 4

T: J A Osborne J: Tyler Heard

(14)

Linwood¹⁴

Weight: 8-9| Age: 3

T: R Hannon J: Joe Leavy

Forecasts

Native Warrior (9/4), Apiarist (11/2), Akkadian Thunder (17/2), Hickory (9/1), Mirabeau (10/1), Rahmi (12/1), Purosangue (14/1), Balmacara (14/1), Hafeet Alain (14/1), Linwood (14/1), Great Acclaim (16/1), Two Tribes (22/1), Thunder Roar (22/1), Carrytheone (28/1), Yanifer (33/1), Tarkhan (33/1), Jumby (50/1), Dosman (50/1)

AKKADIAN THUNDER has been a lot better than the result in 2 recent starts and boasts some good C&D form so might prove the answer for David O'Meara. Last month's C&D 1-2 Native Warrior and Great Acclaim are likely to get involved again. Purosangue and Tarkhan also make the shortlist.