17:00 Ascot

Age

8

Weight

9st 1lbs

Or

97

C&D winner who finished runner-up in the Portland at Doncaster and in a Group 3 here last season. Exploits have been rather mixed since the turn of the year but he finds himself on a competitive mark if dispelling a lesser effort at Epsom (6f, soft) 2 weeks ago.

Age

4

Weight

9st 6lbs

Or

102

Useful sort who doubled his career tally in a 16-runner handicap at Sakhir (Bahrain) in April and looked unlucky not to follow up back on these shores when second behind a stablemate at Chester 6 weeks ago, short of room at a crucial stage. This tougher back up in trip but he's not ruled out.

Age

4

Weight

9st 3lbs

Or

99

Low-mileage 4-y-o who picked up where he left off after 7 months off when scoring at Goodwood in May and further progress when bringing up the hat-trick away from the Sussex Downs at Newbury (6f) 5 weeks ago. Respected for excellent stable who had a winner here on Wednesday.

Age

4

Weight

9st 1lbs

Or

97

Showed improved form when scoring at Lingfield and Newcastle first 2 starts this year. In better heart than recent form figures would imply, not ideally placed when eleventh of 22 in handicap at York (6f) 38 days ago. Unlikely we've seen all he has to offer yet on turf.

Age

4

Weight

9st 8lbs

Or

104

Got back on the up with an impressive victory in 19-runner Coral Sprint Trophy at York (6f) in October. Raised 10 lb on the back of that and he improved further when second over same C&D on return to action in May, finishing off his race very well. Up further 5 lb but one to be very positive about.

Age

4

Weight

9st 9lbs

Or

105

Low-mileage 4-y-o who was most impressive when making a winning debut for Andrew Balding at Newmarket (6f) in April and, well in under a penalty, followed up with the minimum of fuss back there at the Guineas Meeting. 10 lb higher now but he has to be high on the shortlist again.

Age

4

Weight

9st 1lbs

Or

97

Improved again following a gelding operation, successful at Haydock (6f) in September and all the better for his Newmarket reappearance with cheekpieces added when going in again at Carlisle (6f) 3 weeks ago. Remains low mileage and big player under a penalty for top stable.

Age

4

Weight

9st 5lbs

Or

101

Completed a hat-trick last spring at Chester and ended the season with solid efforts in Ayr Gold Cup and Coral Sprint Trophy. Shaped as if the run was needed after 7 months off (also had breathing operation) when well held at York in May and this can reveal more. Tongue strap on 1st time.

Age

4

Weight

9st 5lbs

Or

101

Sparsely raced since running out a ready winner of the Queen Mary in 2024 but she shaped as if retaining all her ability after a further 9 months off when fourth in 6-runner listed race at Lingfield (5f) in February. Tongue tie worn then is retained following a breathing operation.

Age

4

Weight

9st 1lbs

Or

97

Low-mileage 4-y-o who impressed when making a winning return at Newcastle (6f) in April and further progress when finishing a neck second behind Far Above Dream at Goodwood since. Fact he hung/flashed tail under pressure issued warning signs but no doubting he has more wins in him. Cheekpieces on.

Age

4

Weight

9st 4lbs

Or

100

Low-mileage 4-y-o who justified good support when landing small field Goodwood handicap (6f) in August. Had softer ground as an excuse in the Ayr Gold Cup on final start and feasible to think last month's Salisbury run was needed. Return to quicker ground certainly rates a plus back in a handicap.

Age

5

Weight

9st 3lbs

Or

99

A smart 6f/7f winner who posted an excellent third in this race 12 months ago in the care of Harry Charlton. Yet to get his head in front for present yard but teed himself up nicely for another crack at this with a good second in listed company at Carlisle (5f) 3 weeks ago.

Age

5

Weight

9st 11lbs

Or

107

Progressive 5-y-o who won a maiden at Dundalk in January and further progress has followed, running a cracker starting out for new yard when third in listed company at Salisbury (6f) in May, that despite racing freely. Again goes minus a hood but he remains open to improvement now handicapping.

Age

4

Weight

9st 2lbs

Or

98

Came into his own during autumn of 2-y-o campaign and has done likewise last season, impressing when landing the Ayr Silver Cup (6f, soft) in September. Appeared beaten on merit when sixth in listed company here (5f) on final start but not ruled out on return for stable in excellent heart.

Age

7

Weight

9st 4lbs

Or

100

Chester specialist who recorded his eighth course success when landing a 10-runner handicap there in May, beating Dubai Bling by a head. Not seen to best effect either start since, left poorly placed when down the field at Epsom 2 weeks ago but he finished well held in this contest 12 months ago.

Age

5

Weight

9st 2lbs

Or

98

Landed back-to-back handicap/listed contests on all-weather in January and shaped better than bare result having been poorly placed when tenth in last month's Victoria Cup here 6 weeks ago. Shaped well when fifth in this race last year and he has services of Ryan Moore this time. Cheekpieces on.

Age

5

Weight

9st 7lbs

Or

103

Multiple all-weather scorer who added to his tally at Lingfield (7f) in February before a good second in listed company next time. Below that level making belated turf debut in 7f listed contest at Haydock 6 weeks ago and looks to have plenty on his plate from this mark back in a handicap.

Age

5

Weight

9st 1lbs

Or

97

Listed winner when trained in France and worked his way back to form this year for present yard, capitalising on a drop in grade when successful at Goodwood (6f) 2 weeks ago. Can remain competitive under a penalty back up in class.

Age

5

Weight

9st 1lbs

Or

97

C&D winner who was progressive throughout 2025 who stepped up plenty on his seasonal return at York when running out a convincing winner of 6f Epsom handicap (soft) for second consecutive season 2 weeks ago. Effective on this faster ground and he holds solid each-way claims.

Age

5

Weight

9st 0lbs

Or

96

Won a big-field handicap at York, his third win of the campaign last summer, and shaped really when fourth of 7 in handicap at Windsor (6f, good to firm) 26 days ago, the gaps just not opening when he needed them to. This understandably rates much tougher, however.

Age

5

Weight

9st 6lbs

Or

102

5-y-o who enhanced his fine all-weather record when taking listed contest at Southwell (6f) in November. Lightly raced since, matching the best of his turf form when fifth in last month's Victoria Cup (7f) and he's another holding definite each-way claims returned to sprinting.

Age

5

Weight

9st 4lbs

Or

100

Useful form in the US earlier in his career. Mixed record for a host of different yards recently but right back to best for Richard Hannon of late, his speed looking a real asset when landing 14-runner handicap at Thirsk (6f) 3 weeks ago. 5 lb penalty to shoulder but that may not prove his limit.

Age

5

Weight

9st 7lbs

Or

103

Smart gelding who won the International here last summer before running out a clear-cut winner of the Stewards' Cup under a penalty a week later. Excuses when down the field in pair of Group contests at Meydan earlier this year and no surprise to see him give a good account (has gone well fresh).

Age

5

Weight

9st 9lbs

Or

105

Acquitted himself well in top-end handicaps last summer and he found things panning out well when landing Ayr Gold Cup (6f, soft) in September. Added to his tally at Meydan (5f) in February and whilst he had excuses in Group 1 company last time, he has a career-high mark to contend with here.

Age

6

Weight

9st 2lbs

Or

98

Irish raider who ran right up to his best when successful in 10-runner listed race at Naas (6f, soft) in October. Looked a bit rusty on return to action at Cork but easy to overlook his latest run back at Naas having met with trouble in running. Returns to handicaps from a competitive mark.

Age

7

Weight

9st 8lbs

Or

104

Smart performer at his best but he's been very lightly raced in recent seasons and ran poorly after 14 months off in listed company at Doncaster in March. That hardly an ideal preparation ahead of an assignment like this on handicap debut. Tongue strap on 1st time following breathing operation.

Age

4

Weight

9st 12lbs

Or

108

Enthusiastic sort who acquitted himself well several times in 2025, including when second in Jersey Stakes here. Did best of those that raced near the strong pace when second in Salisbury listed contest on return 4 weeks ago, albeit looking very awkward under pressure. This tough on handicap bow.