Racecards
15:35 Ascot
United House Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (Class 1)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £100,000 added
- Winner: £56,270
- 2nd: £21,200
- 3rd: £10,610
- 4th: £5,300
- Form 1/F4430-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 155
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
towards rear, dropped to rear and struggling 12th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
- Form F1PP02-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
chased winner, pushed along before 2 out, lost 2nd 2 out, chased leading pair, well held when weakened approaching the last
- Form 912F08-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up towards rear, reached mid-division 10th, pushed along and struggling towards rear after 14th, no chance after
- Form 64/112F-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey L P Aspell
chased leaders, mistake 13th, lost place next, struggling after
- Form 1112F-4
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
held up towards rear, mid-division 8th, headway approaching 4 out, 3rd approaching 2 out, soon switched left and went 2nd 2 out, challenged last, driven and kept on run in, always held
- Form U15104-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 148
chased leaders on outside, ridden and weakened before 16th
- Form 1-3012F
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer A L T Moore
- Jockey D J Casey
mistake 1st, chased leaders, switched left and blundered 2 out, soon driven and hung right, plugged on into 4th approaching the last
- Form P31P7-1
- Age 9
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey T J O'Brien
always towards rear, tailed off 3 out
- Form P6/1P9-1
- Age 6
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
raced wide, held up towards rear, struggling 14th, no chance after
- Form 2553P4-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey R P McLernon
chased leading pair, driven after 3 out, dropped to 4th before 2 out, went modest 3rd again before the last
- Form 528017
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey Charlie Deutsch
held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, mistake 13th, headway approaching 4 out, driven in 7th and no impression before 2 out
- Form 024F0-9
- Age 9
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Tom Bellamy
not fluent, towards rear, blundered 2nd, stayed on from 2 out, never going pace to get involved
- Form 3565P-1
- Age 7
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
made all, strongly pressed last, stayed on gamely run in
- Form 12510-4
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey W T Kennedy
mid-division, driven before 3 out, soon one pace and no impression
- Form 221-29P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey Donal Devereux
chased leaders, weakened before 3 out
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Merry King is only a pound higher than when runner-up in this 12 months ago behind Houblon Des Obeaux. The latter's trainer, Venetia Williams, runs Katenko this time but he remains high enough in the weights. Cantlow has never quite fulfilled his potential but What A Warrior comfortably landed a gamble on his first start for Dan Skelton and is interesting near the foot of the weights. Le Bec, Black Thunder and Gevrey Chambertin all make their handicap debut over fences and the latter has bags of scope. He didn't beat much at Bangor but won a Grade 3 over hurdles around this time last year off a 4lb higher mark so his chance is obvious. MIDNIGHT APPEAL finished behind Roalco De Farges at Cheltenham two weeks ago but ran well for a long way before being eased. On 10lb better terms, Alan King's nine-year-old has a chance of reversing the form and could be a bit of value today. Restless Harry staged something of a revival last season and is useful on his day but is probably better in small fields while Pass The Hat is up against strong stayers here.
Formwatch
Katenko (FR) 66-1 (11-10) Held up mid-division in touch, mistake 13th, lost place 17th, weakened 3 out, 11th of 13, 35l behind Lord Windermere (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Vino Griego (FR) 25-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, ridden before 3 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, headed last, rallied run-in, just held close home, 2nd of 17, hd behind Duke Of Lucca (10-7) at Aintree 3m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr.
Cantlow (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Mid-division, 15th halfway, ridden in 7th entering straight, no extra approaching last, 8th of 26, 14l behind Shutthefrontdoor (10-13) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp chs (1) in Apr.
Le Bec (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, headway 15th, in touch when fell 4 out, in a race won by O'Faolains Boy (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs G1 (1) gd in Mar, 15 ran.
Black Thunder (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Mostly with leader, not fluent 1st, lost place and not much room after 10th, hampered 12th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 5, 30l behind Wonderful Charm (11-10) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f int chs (2) sft in Oct.
Restless Harry 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division, mistake and lost place 4th, headway 13th, outpaced 17th, rallied 3 out, stayed on flat, unable to get on terms with leaders, 4th of 19, 3 1/2l behind Hadrian's Approach (11-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
Pass The Hat 5-2 (11-11) Held up, mainly 3rd, 4th 5 out, fell next, in a race won by Burn And Turn (11-10) at Limerick 2m 3f chs gd in Oct, 4 ran.
Roalco De Farges (FR) 8-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, driven and stayed on well flat, clear towards finish, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Oct beating Standing Ovation (10-6) by 4 1/2l, 13 ran.
Gevrey Chambertin (FR) 1-4fav (10-12) Led, headed 3rd, led briefly 5 out, tracked leader, ridden and dropped to 3rd 2 out, looked held, 5 lengths down next, rallied run-in, ran on to lead towards finish, readily, won at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Oct beating Buck Magic (10-12) by 3/4l, 3 ran.
Merry King (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Mid-division, headway before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, no impression, 4th of 29, 16l behind Al Co (10-0) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
Grandads Horse 16-1 (11-1) Mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, outpaced next, no impression before last, 7th of 17, 17l behind Sybarite (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Midnight Appeal 8-1 (11-2) Mid-division, blundered 1st, headway 11th, mistake 3 out, 5th when mistake 2 out, no extra and not fluent last, weakened flat, 9th of 13, 24l behind Roalco De Farges (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Oct.
What A Warrior (IRE) 7-4fav (11-7) Led to 4th, led again 16th, clear before 2 out, kept on strongly, won at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct beating Rockiteer (11-5) by 10l, 10 ran.
Ardkilly Witness (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Mid-division, pushed along when not fluent 4 out, mistake and no impression 3 out, stayed on last, unable to get on terms, 4th of 13, 8l behind Ulzana's Raid (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (3) gs in Oct.
Lamboro Lad (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) In touch, not fluent 3rd or 6th, weakened after 7th, pulled up after, in a race won by It's A Gimme (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Jul, 13 ran.