Racecards
14:45 Ascot
Royal Ascot Cricket Club Hurdle (Showcase Handicap) (Class C)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Form 0-12100
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey A O'keeffe
in touch, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, every chance 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 6PP0P0
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
soon in touch, ridden 4 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, soon well behind
- Form 0-4U15F
- Age 11
- Weight 11-8
tracked leaders, driven along and lost place after 8, soon well behind
Anatar (IRE)
13- Form 121100
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up mid-division, steady headway after 3 out, ridden to dispute lead 2 out, led last, headed soon after, led again run in, all out
- Form 51P213
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer Noel T Chance
- Jockey T J Phelan
tracked leaders, headway 4 out, led 2 out, ridden when headed approaching last, led again until headed close home, no extra
- Form 513-233
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
held at rear, driven 7th, hard ridden approaching 2 out, kept on
- Form 11-6140
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
with leader, led 6th, headed after 3 out, weakened
Ben Ewar
55- Form 5-4P5P0
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer K Cunningham-Brown
- Jockey A Thornton
held up rear, driven and stayed on from 3 out, switched right after last, ran on
- Form 100-F60
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
led, headed 6th, ridden 4 out, weakening 2 out, eased when beaten, soon tailed off
- Form 4D4U23
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
soon tracking leaders, ridden when every chance 2 out, weakening approaching last
- Form 31210-3
- Age 6
- Weight 10-6
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey A Dempsey
held at rear, hit 6th, unseated rider next
- Form 524640
- Age 6
- Weight 10-2
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Mr J E Moore
held at rear, ridden for headway after 3 out, joined leaders and every chance last, no extra soon after
In depth
Verdict
The showcase race at Ascot is a wide-open affair, with half of the 13 runners boasting some sort of chance. Martin Pipe is double-handed with Galant Moss and Anatar. The latter is the preferred of the pair, having contested the Lanzarote and the Coral Cup on his last two starts, not being disgraced in either. He was successful at Sandown and Uttoxeter prior to those efforts and will find this less exacting. No Collusion is a tough cookie, obviously picking up some tips from Looks Like Trouble, with whom he has worked in the past. The suspicion is that he was taken off his feet at Kelso last time, and this longer trip will be more suitable. Jollie Bollie should not be out of it despite topweight, while Mr Markham reverts to hurdles after falling over fences last time. A former smart timber-topper and twice a winner here, Josh Gifford's charge is well treated on form of old and should not be discounted. As we said earlier, it's wide open, with the likes of Just Murphy, Orangerie and Barton Dante expected to run well, but Anatar gets the vote.