14:20 Ascot

Saturday 9 May 2026

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:40

Carey Group Victoria Cup (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 14:21 | Winning time: 1m 24.81s

(9)

Witch Hunter³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 103| CD

40/1

Won the Buckingham Palace over C&D at 2023 Royal Ascot. Proved he's still capable of running to a smart level when winning at Newcastle in January. Hasn't been in the same form in 3 subsequent outings, although he was left with too much to do when ninth of 14 back at Newcastle on Good Friday.

Form: 3-51489

(23)

Golden Mind^t³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Warren Fentiman⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 103| D

33/1

Form is a bit up and down but smart handicapper on his day, including 3 wins last year and also fourth in the International over C&D. Left disappointing reappearance behind when second of 10 in handicap at Musselburgh (7f, soft) 35 days ago.

Form: 0001-72

(10)

Royal Zabeel³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Jason Watson| T: M Appleby| OR: 102| D

40/1

5-y-o who boasts a fine record on all-weather, proving better than ever when registering a second success in listed company at Southwell (6f) in November. One of best turf efforts when fourth of 10 at Musselburgh (7f, soft) 5 weeks ago

Form: 1871-04

(29)

Ten Pounds^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Andrea Pinna⁽⁷⁾| T: Joey Ramsden| OR: 101| D

22/1

A smart 6f/7f winner (also third in last year's Wokingham here) for Harry Charlton. Started for new yard with a solid Southwell fourth in January but has failed to build on it twice since, although there were excuses at Leicester last time.

Form: 341-488

(21)

Completely Random^t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Kaiya Fraser| T: Harry Charlton| OR: 100

18/1

Has returned better than ever this year, winning handicap and listed race (dead-heated) over 6f at Lingfield. Well beaten in a 6f Group 3 on turf last month but last year's Wokingham fifth shows he's effective on the grass. Shaped well on previous attempt over 7f.

Form: 074-110

(26)

The Wizard Of Eye^p¹⁸⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: N Callan| T: Tom Clover| OR: 99| CD

20/1

Won this race for Charlie Fellowes on his 2024 reappearance. Returned form over a year off to finish creditable 1¾ lengths third of 12 to Witch Hunter at Newcastle (7f) for new yard last autumn. Not in the same form at Kempton 5 weeks later. Absent again since but he seems to go well fresh.

Form: 7160/39-

(2)

Popmaster³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: E Walker| OR: 98| C| D

40/1

Likeable 8-y-o who has been at the top of his game on all-weather this year, winning at Kempton (1m) and runner-up on 3 other occasions. Respectable seventh of 14 in handicap at Newcastle (1m) on Good Friday but that underlines his mark is probably high enough for competitive races.

Form: 321227

(20)

Serengeti²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Rob Hornby| T: M Murphy| OR: 98| D

150/1

Dual winner for Aidan O'Brien and shaped well on first start for Dylan Cunha when runner-up at Wolverhampton in November. However, it's been downhill since, including well held in Newbury Spring Cup last month having changed stable again.

Form: 125-450

(12)

Great Acclaim^v1¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 98| D

12/1

Reacted really well to blinkers last summer, winning at Goodwood and Chepstow (both 7f) before running 3 crackers in defeat, including twice over C&D. All the sharper for reappearance when third of 13 at Haydock (7f, good to firm) 14 days ago. First-time visor replaces blinkers. On the shortlist

Form: 2240-03

(16)

Pellitory²²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97| D

40/1

Useful 3-time 7f winner for James Owen. No easy task improving one out of that stable but this 52,000 gns purchase has joined a yard which does well in top handicaps.

Form: 478550-

(18)

Khafiz^h¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: E Bethell| OR: 97| D

22/1

Twice a winner in novice company over 7f for Roger Varian last season. Showed he retains his ability when fifth of 12 in 7f handicap at Haydock on return for new yard a fortnight ago. The mount of Callum Rodriguez from the Bethell pair.

Form: 11793-5

(17)

Hickory^b²¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J A Osborne| OR: 96| CD

12/1

Winning start for this yard in this race last year and added to his strong C&D record at the end of 2025, winning a classified event before runner-up in the Challenge Cup. Has to enter calculations.

Form: 635212-

(1)

Defence Minister⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: H Al Jehani| OR: 96| D

11/1

Had some strong handicap form last season without winning, including fourth of 20 to Great Aclaim over 7f at Glorious Goodwood. Returned from a gelding operation to win with a bit in hand at Kempton (7f) in March and one for the shortlist here off 4 lb higher.

Form: 90249-1

(28)

Yorkshire^t²⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: J Mitchell| T: E Bethell| OR: 95| D

28/1

Six wins from 19 starts, the latest in 7f Kempton handicap last April. Ended 2025 with respectable efforts in the Buckingham Palace (sixth of 27) and International (ninth of 21) over C&D but they show he needs more to win off his current mark. Off 9 months. Rodriguez looks elsewhere.

Form: 1/51469-

(19)

Mudbir^p²⁵⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 95| BF| D

3/1

Made good progress last year, including 7f Glorious Goodwood win. Not seen to best effect from widest stall when seventh of 12 back there final start. First-time cheekpieces worn on that occasion are retained. Could be even more to come from this lightly-raced 4-y-o in 2026. Obvious appeal.

Form: 2/15117-

(14)

So Darn Hot^p1³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: K Shoemark| T: E Walker| OR: 95

28/1

Progressive in 2025, ended his time with Kevin Philippart de Foy with a decisive success at Windsor (6f) in June. Ended the year with a pair of creditable efforts on all-weather but has started 2026 with 2 lesser efforts. Bounce back needed in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 3135-06

(8)

Star Anthem²³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Harry Davies| T: C G Cox| OR: 94WS

66/1

Useful but remains with only a maiden win to his name. Been off for 7 months (had breathing operation) and the percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form: 3/79308-

(22)

Tribal Chief^t⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Billy Loughnane| T: D Menuisier| OR: 93

9/2

Won 4 handicaps at around 1m in 2024 and firmly back on the up when scoring at Goodwood (1m, good to firm) last August. Respectable seventh of 20 in Balmoral here on final start and reappeared with good third of 21 in the Lincoln at Doncaster (1m, good to soft). First 7f start for a while.

Form: 96107-3

(3)

Shiplake^h¹¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: D Egan| T: K P De Foy| OR: 92| D

14/1

Improved since stable switch, winning a pair of 7f Southwell handicaps over the winter. His best form for his previous yard came on turf so there's no reason why his improvement should be confined to all-weather. High on the list for a trainer with recent winning form in this race.

Form: 74361-1

(4)

Nostrum²¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 92| D

40/1

Smart earlier for Sir Michael Stoute earlier in his career but struggled for David O'Meara in 2025. Joined another good stable but has lots to prove on reappearance.

Form: 868000-

(27)

Jordan Electrics²³

Age: 10| Weight: 9-0| J: Lauren Young⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 91

28/1

Proved a revelation in 2024, winning 7 times and climbing over 30 lb in the weights. Still proved competitive on occasions last year and showed he's back on a workable mark when second of 18 at Newmarket last month. That was his first attempt over 7f at the ripe old age of 9. Not discounted.

Form: 8080-02

(6)

Morte Point²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 91| D

50/1

On the up when winning 3 of his final 4 starts last year (all 7f). Looked rusty when well held on 7f Newmarket reappearance and should be sharper with that behind him.

Form: 21211-0

(25)

Nikovo²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Dylan Hogan| T: M Herrington| OR: 90| D

80/1

More of a force on the all-weather nowadays and well held in Spring Cup back on turf at Newbury 3 weeks ago. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 233160

(5)

Humam²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Marco Ghiani| T: S C Williams| OR: 90| D

66/1

Ready all-the-way winner of 7f York handicap on final start for Andrew Balding last June (subsequently sold for 190,000 gns) and pick of efforts for this yard was a creditable third of 13 at Newmarket (7f) in September. Better than he could show on 6f reappearance there and this is more his trip.

Form: 18534-0

(15)

Shafdar¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Edward Greatrex| T: Ian Williams| OR: 89

12/1

Resumed his progression with 8.5f Epsom handicap success 11 days ago. The smooth and rapid way he made his headway into contention there suggests he could still be well treated off 5 lb higher and that he has the speed to cope with a drop back to 7f.

Form: 5-31201

(13)

Storm Free²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: C Lee| T: J Tate| OR: 89| BF| D

18/1

Upped his game last term, scoring twice from 4 starts. Made quite an encouraging return from 6 months off when sixth of 18 in 7f Newmarket handicap 23 days ago. Still not fully exposed.

Form: 2/1321-6

(11)

Aalto^t¹⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Nicola Currie| T: Ian Williams| OR: 89| D

66/1

Went close to landing a second successive Bunbury Cup at Newmarket last July but largely struggled later in 2025. His mark has dipped as a result but has too much to prove back from 5 months off.

Form: 207078-

(24)

Jumby²³

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: Oliver Carmichael⁽⁷⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 89| CD

40/1

Smart in his prime, including Group 2/3 wins. However, hasn't got his head in front since 2023 and there wasn't enough in last month's Newmarket reappearance to suggest that is likely to change now.

Form: 33640-8

Non-Runners

(7)

Houquetot¹⁰⁶

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: James Owen J: Paddy Bradley

Forecasts

Mudbir (3/1), Tribal Chief (9/2), Defence Minister (11/1), Great Acclaim (12/1), Hickory (12/1), Shafdar (12/1), Shiplake (14/1), Completely Random (18/1), Storm Free (18/1), The Wizard Of Eye (20/1), Ten Pounds (22/1), Khafiz (22/1), Jordan Electrics (28/1), So Darn Hot (28/1), Yorkshire (28/1), Golden Mind (33/1), Houquetot (33/1), Royal Zabeel (40/1), Jumby (40/1), Nostrum (40/1), Popmaster (40/1), Pellitory (40/1), Witch Hunter (40/1), Morte Point (50/1), Aalto (66/1), Humam (66/1), Star Anthem (66/1), Nikovo (80/1), Serengeti (150/1)

MUDBIR's defeat on his final 3-y-o start shouldn't be taken as evidence that the handicapper has got him and he's taken to resume his progression on his reappearance. Shiplake impressed with 2 all-weather wins for new trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy over the winter and is second choice. Defence Minister, Great Acclaim, Shafdar and Ascot specialist Hickory head the many dangers.