16:48 Ascot

Friday 4 September 2026

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:4817:25

Ascot Hospitality Handicap (Str)

Off time: 16:48 | Winning time: 1m 42.03s

(10)

Blue Rc⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Rob Hornby| T: J Tate| OR: 104| BF| D

14/1

Added to his tally at Southwell in January and showed himself to be better than ever when runner-up for the third time since in 28-runner Royal Hunt Cup over C&D at the Royal Meeting. Rare underwhelming effort here last time but no surprise if he were quickly back to form.

Form: 122920

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(6)

Classic³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 100| D

5/1

Won at Newbury in May and arrives here on the back of a good third in the 18-runner Golden Mile at Goodwood 35 days ago (would've finished a place closer granted a cleaner run). Strong-travelling style should lend itself well to this track.

Form: 8-21983

(3)

Hard Endeavor⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Rossa Ryan| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 100| D

8/1

Won an all-weather novice at Kempton last year and has stepped forward with each run in handicaps this season, headed only late on when runner-up in 14-runner Coral Challenge at Sandown (1m, good to firm, 7/1) 62 days ago. Still relatively low mileage and he holds a big shout here.

Form: 315-042

(8)

Urban Lion⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: George Bass| T: J Channon| OR: 99| D

18/1

Generally progressive in 2025 and took another step forward when digging deep for success in the Lincoln at Doncaster on return. However, has finished down the field on all 3 starts since and others make more appeal at present.

Form: 09-1009

(5)

Ozat^t1²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: James Doyle| T: Ian Williams| OR: 97| BF| D

11/1

Good eighth of 28 in Royal Hunt Cup here in June and was also much better than the result when down the field in the Golden Mile at Glorious Goodwood. Left with too much to do when third of 10 in handicap at this course (1m, good to firm) 27 days ago and suspicion remains he's on a handy mark.

Form: 008003

(2)

Arctic Thunder²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Ashley Lewis⁽³⁾| T: E Walker| OR: 96| C| D

11/2

Easily ended a long losing sequence in 4-runner handicap at Salisbury (1m, good) in July and stepped up again to defy a 7 lb higher mark in a deeper race at Haydock (13 ran) 4 weeks. Helped by being held up in a strongly-run race there but hard to discount given current vein of form.

Form: 076811

(11)

Hickory^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J A Osborne| OR: 95| CD

15/2

Goes well on the straight track here and proved at least as good ever when getting off the mark for the year in 11-runner handicap (good to firm) in July (form worked out well). Fared best of those that raced on unfavoured part of track at Newmarket 3 weeks ago and he should be in the mix.

Form: 060615

(1)

Spanish Voice^t⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Colin Keane| T: A M Balding| OR: 94| D

9/2

Gained a third victory of the season in 1m handicap at Newmarket in June and found himself quickly getting back to form with the benefit of a good position when ½-length third of 11 to Hickory in handicap at this C&D (good to firm) 41 days ago.

Form: 710153

(4)

Witch Hunter²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Joe Leavy| T: R Hannon| OR: 94| C| D

33/1

Back to winning ways in 11-runner handicap at Thirsk (1m, good) at the start of last season and quickly returned to form when 2½ lengths sixth of 8 in handicap at Newbury (7f, good to firm, 12/1) 20 days ago. Perhaps vulnerable to better-treated rivals, though.

Form: 000106

(12)

Moonfall⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Jack Callan| T: G Boughey| OR: 97| CD

15/2

Winner of 6.5f novice at Newbury last summer and looked potentially smart when stepping up on his return to win a typically red-hot renewal of the Britannia Stakes over C&D at the Royal meeting here. Only matched that form when fourth of 8 at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) 55 days ago, though.

Form: 317-514

(7)

Jolly Jack Tar⁴⁰²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 92

16/1

Back from 6 months off to make a winning handicap debut at Chelmsford in June 2025. Tackled turf for the first time when well held in the Chesterfield Cup at Glorious Goodwood next time and is likely best watched returning from 13 months off.

Form: 313/10-

(9)

Zennor Storm^p¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 91| BF| D

8/1

on 7f maiden and 1m novice on all-weather at Kempton late in 2025. Back on the up after being gelded, building on a good York fourth when length second of 19 at Glorious Goodwood, finishing strongly from off the pace. Possibly unsuited by softer ground when only mid-field back at York since.

Form: 1-90428

(13)

Mythical Guest²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: K T O'Neill| T: G G Margarson| OR: 78

40/1

Is on a long losing run but was placed 6 times in 2025 and was a good third at C&D in July. Unable to put things to bed after hitting the front when filling the same position in a 10-runner race at Newmarket 3 weeks ago and he's opposable from 7 lb out of the weights.

Form: 099343

Forecasts

Spanish Voice (9/2), Classic (5/1), Arctic Thunder (11/2), Hickory (15/2), Moonfall (15/2), Zennor Storm (8/1), Hard Endeavor (8/1), Ozat (11/1), Blue Rc (14/1), Jolly Jack Tar (16/1), Urban Lion (18/1), Witch Hunter (33/1), Mythical Guest (40/1)

HARD ENDEAVOUR is less exposed than most here and can progress again from his promising Sandown second to land this good prize. Course specialist Hickory is also shortlisted, with his win here in July looking strong form, whilst Ozat hasn't had the rub of the green on his most recent outings and likely remains on a competitive mark.