Racecards
16:10 Ascot
Ruffler Bank Handicap (Class 3)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 6f
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £14,000 added
- Form 54-0616
- Age 4
- Weight 9-13
- Official Rating 89
went right start, in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 94-9567
- Age 9
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer R Harris
- Jockey Hadden Frost
reared leaving stalls, towards rear, switched right and headway 2f out, soon ridden, one pace final furlong
- Form 135111
- Age 4
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer P D Evans
- Jockey Richard Evans
hampered start, nudged along from halfway, some late progress, never on terms
- Form 511622
- Age 4
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 85
hampered start, disputed lead after 2f until weakened 2f out
- Form 80-0159
- Age 5
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer M Blanshard
- Jockey James Doyle
went right start, led, ridden and headed well over 1f out, faded
- Form 260-341
- Age 3
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer W R Swinburn
- Jockey A Kirby
mid-division, switched left and headway 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, driven out
- Form 1-05223
- Age 4
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 82
prominent, led well over 1f out, soon ridden and headed, kept on
- Form 5469-02
- Age 5
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer P R Chamings
- Jockey Jim Crowley
prominent, ridden and every chance 2f out, faded inside final furlong
- Form 44-4022
- Age 5
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey W Buick
mid-division, headway 2f out, soon ridden and edged left, ran on, went 2nd near finish
- Form 6920-71
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer P L Gilligan
- Jockey L Morris
always towards rear
- Form 241132
- Age 4
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer Miss Gay Kelleway
- Jockey Hayley Turner
bumped start, towards rear, stayed on from over 1f out, never on terms to challenge
In depth
Verdict
Dressed To Dance is on fire at present but Shifting Star looked a star in the making when winning at Goodwood and is preferred. Walter Swinburn's gelding twice finished a beaten favourite in nurseries last year and again seemed held by the handicapper on his first two starts this season. However, he found a really good turn of foot from an unpromising position last time to win in the style of a progressive individual. He's up in the weights but can take the rise in his stride. Dressed To Dance joined David Evans following a win in a claimer at Windsor. She's now rated 30lbs higher having won three of her five subsequent starts but her improvement has shown no sign of abating and she can't be left off the short-list. This is Woodcote Place's first run at this trip and he could struggle to go the pace but Brunelleschi looked back to his best last time and could get involved. Dingaan has the ability but struggles to win on grass as does Golden Desert. Golden Dixie isn't badly treated but has rarely run well here whilst Toms Laughter looks to be in the handicapper's grip. Typically competitive fare but Shifting Star looks progressive and is taken to continue his climb up the ranks.
Formwatch
Southandwest (IRE) 10-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders, ridden and effort 2f out, soon one pace, 6th of 12, 6l behind Masai Moon (9-2) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Jun.
Golden Dixie (USA) 7-1 (9-10) Prominent, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 9, 4l behind Pawan (8-12) at Warwick 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
Dressed To Dance (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (10-2) Slowly into stride, mid-division, headway to chase leaders 2f out, carried left over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Windsor 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jun beating Farthermost (9-13) by 1l, 15 ran.
Toms Laughter 3-1 (9-10) Chased winner, ridden over 2f out, no impression, 2nd of 9, 4l behind My Gacho (9-2) at Leicester 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Charles Darwin (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 9, 20l behind John Keats (8-10) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jun.
Shifting Star (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Held up, switched left 2f out, soon ridden, ran on well to lead close home, won at Goodwood 6f 3yo hcp (4) gd in Jun beating Fabreze (9-1) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Golden Desert (IRE) 2-1fav (9-7) Steadied start, pulled hard in rear, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on well, 3rd of 8, 3/4l behind Gallantry (9-4) at Warwick 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jun.
Woodcote Place 8-1 (9-9) Took keen hold, edged right on bend over 3f out, headway over 2f out, kept on to go 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Kafuu (9-11) at Warwick 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Dingaan (IRE) 6-1 (9-7) Chased winner, ridden over 1f out, no impression final furlong, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Royal Storm (8-9) at Folkestone 7f hcap (4) gs in Jun.
Brunelleschi 12-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ridden and ran on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Newmarket 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jun beating Resplendent Alpha (9-3) by a nk, 13 ran.
Punching 13-2 (9-11) Tracked leaders, effort to challenge winner when hung left 1f out, soon no impression, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Elusive Hawk (9-8) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs.
Lunces Lad (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) In rear, pushed along over 3f out, no headway, 7th of 9, 7l behind Peter Island (8-12) at Warwick 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jun.