16:40 Ascot

Friday 24 July 2026

All14:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:12

Chapel Down Handicap

3YO plus | Class 4 | 7f | 13 Runners | Turf

(7)

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Callum Hutchinson| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 81| D

A dual 7f/1m winner last year. Ran well on seasonal reappearance when third over 6f here in May but well held both runs since, last of 11 at Doncaster (7f) last time.

Form: 516-300

(13)

Havana Blue¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 80| D

Winless since Beverley in summer of 2024 but back on track of late, second of 17 in handicap over C&D 13 days ago. Can go well again despite a 3 lb weights rise.

Form: 54-6542

(5)

Gallant^t²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: Tom Marquand| T: Oli Rix| OR: 79

Keen-going sort who scored over 1m for Andrew Balding last June. Hasn't built on his best effort for present yard when second at Chelmsford (6f) in February. Others appeal more.

Form: 260757

(1)

Independent Expert⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Finley Marsh| T: J & S Best| OR: 78| D

Scored over 7f at Naas for Denis Hogan in March but hasn't reproduced that form since, including for new yard at Epsom and Windsor last 2 runs.

Form: 685568

(2)

Dapper Guest^v¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: D Egan| T: G G Margarson| OR: 78| D

A 3-time 7f winner in 2025 but yet to hit top form this season and came in last of 13 in handicap at Newmarket (7f) 13 days ago.

Form: 9-08640

(10)

Mr Writer²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 82| D

Progressive son of Dark Angel who gained a second win in his last 3 starts in 7-runner handicap at Leicester (7f) 20 days ago. Up 4 lb but weighted to go close again.

Form: 2-42151

(11)

H Key Lails^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: S C Cronin⁽⁵⁾| T: M J Attwater| OR: 75| D

Had a productive winter on the all-weather before making a winning return on the turf at Lingfield (7f) in June. Only seventh of 10 in handicap at Sandown (1m) 21 days ago though so bounce back is needed.

Form: 5-23317

(4)

Be Frank⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Billy Loughnane| T: Ian Williams| OR: 72| D

Off 9 months and not seen to best effect with sixth of 11 in handicap at Chester (7f) last month, nearest finish. A fair 7f winner in 2025 so he enters calculations with Billy Loughnane back up.

Form: 36545-6

(12)

Illy's Roo¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Kaiya Fraser| T: G Tutty| OR: 78| D

Gained a second success for Gemma Tutty with a career best in 11-runner handicap at York (1m) 14 days ago. Up 6 lb here though and drops back to 7f so more is required.

Form: 387771

(6)

Mystic Moment²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Oisin Murphy| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 77| D

Breakthrough success at Epsom last July for Eve Johnson Houghton but yet to hit top form in 3 runs for her new yard this season, eighth of 10 in handicap at Epsom (7f) 23 days ago. Needs to take a step forward.

Form: 337-658

(9)

Wield⁷⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: J Mitchell| T: J Parr| OR: 77

Lightly-raced maiden. Signed off for Andrew Balding with good second in 7f Newmarket maiden in April but beat only one on yard/handicap debut there (7f) following month.

Form: 4-325

(8)

King Of War^p,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: J F Egan| T: M Wigham| OR: 68| D

Resumed winning ways at Brighton in June. Posted a good third of 8 in handicap at Chester (7f) 14 days ago so needs considering.

Form: 84-3153

(3)

Tex^p,t⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: P Cosgrave| T: George Baker| OR: 67

Yet to win and saw his run of good form come to a halt when twelfth of 14 in handicap at Kempton (1m) in May. The sort to bounce back after a break though.

Form: 333-230

Forecasts

Havana Blue (11/4), Mr Writer (7/2), Illy's Roo (6/1), Walson's Law (10/1), King Of War (12/1), Be Frank (12/1), Gallant (12/1), Tex (14/1), H Key Lails (16/1), Dapper Guest (16/1), Mystic Moment (20/1), Wield (25/1), Independent Expert (25/1)

Not so competitive as the numbers suggest and James Fanshawe's improving MR WRITER is fancied to make light of a 4 lb rise for a recent Leicester victory and bag a third success from his last 4 starts. Havana Blue is feared most on the back of a good C&D second ahead of Be Frank and King of War.