Racecards
16:00 Ascot
Sodexo Prestige Handicap (Class 3)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £9,700 added
- Form 1123-08
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer M Wigham
- Jockey William Carson
held up, ridden 2f out, no impression
- Form 1245-76
- Age 6
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer R M Beckett
- Jockey Jim Crowley
tracked leader, ridden to lead narrowly over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
- Form 05-7894
- Age 5
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer J Noseda
- Jockey J P Spencer
dwelt, held up in steadily run race, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on to go 3rd towards finish, not reached leaders
- Form 83-2285
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 82
in rear, ridden 2f out, kept on, never nearer
- Form 114221
- Age 7
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 81
tracked leaders, eased out entering final 2f, quickened to lead inside final furlong, soon incommand, edged left near finish
- Form 211223
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer B J Llewellyn
- Jockey J Fortune
set steady pace, ridden and tried to quicken 2f out, headed narrowly over 1f out, no extra near finish
- Form 5/1214-3
- Age 8
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer Mrs A M Thorpe
- Jockey S W Kelly
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out
In depth
Verdict
PENDRAGON may be able to improve again to land this ahead of King's Masque and the disappointing The Which Doctor. Brian Ellison's gelding scored by a cosy length over this trip at Beverley and conditions should be similar here. As a seven-year-old his improvement comes as a slight surprise but there's no denying it as he's now won four of his seven starts on the level this year and we're hopeful he can make it five despite a 6lb rise. King's Masque looks to hold Mabuya and Seeking The Buck on recent efforts and should run well again off this rating of 78, one that saw him take third last time. The Which Doctor is back down to a good mark and could well improve for stepping back up to 1m2f but he did look laboured at Windsor and is opposed despite the strong form of the yard. Mabuya is 2lbs lower than when well beaten over course and distance last time but has paid the price for some solid placed efforts at the start of the year while Seeking The Buck is a trip specialist who won a better race than this off the same mark last term, but his 2010 showings haven't been to the same standard. Credit Swap likes it here but he isn't bred to get the trip and didn't appear to at Chester, Putra One likes softer ground and Dishdasha hasn't won a turf flat race to date, so the way looks clear for Pendragon.
Formwatch
Credit Swap 14-1 (8-13) Held up in rear, outpaced over 2f out, never a factor, 8th of 12, 7l behind Thin Red Line (9-1) at Chester 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gs in May.
Seeking The Buck (USA) 3-1 (10-0) Raced wide, in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 8l behind Jutland (8-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Jun.
The Which Doctor 11-4 (9-9) Dwelt, in rear, ridden 3f out, never on terms, 4th of 6, 5l behind Guilded Warrior (9-10) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jun.
Mabuya (UAE) 11-2 (9-8) Led after 2f, ridden and headed approaching 1f out, kept on and edged left near finish, 5th of 9, 7l behind Greylami (10-0) at Ascot 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gf.
Pendragon (USA) 10-11fav (9-7) Tracked leading trio on rail, not clear run and switched left over 1f out, soon challenging, led inside final furlong, ran on well, ridden out, won at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf beating Snowed Under (9-11) by 1l, 9 ran.
King's Masque 4-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, ridden to challenge when not much room over 1f out, unable to quicken final 100 yards, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Granny Mcphee (9-4) at Chester 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Dishdasha (IRE) 9-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, ridden to chase leading pair over 2f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong, no impression, 3rd of 7, 5l behind King's Masque (8-12) at Chepstow 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in May.
Putra One (IRE) 6-1 (9-3) Led 2f, led again over 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 12, 14l behind Itlaaq (9-5) at Haydock 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Jun.
Sedgwick 9-1 (9-5) Keen in rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 8, 2 3/4l behind King's Colour (9-11) at Epsom Downs 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gf.