
17 runners have been declared for the £45,000 sprint handicap on Friday’s Ascot card and our experts fancy the oldest runner in the line-up. Read the full race preview for our betting tips.
IN SUMMARY: Quite a few of these clashed in a valuable contest over C&D a couple of weeks ago and the progressive 5yo Royal Birth, who came from off the pace for a last-gasp success, and Robot Boy, who made a very bold bid from the front, are both afforded plenty of respect today. However, this can go to the class act, MEDICEAN MAN. Jeremy Gask’s 10yo is the oldest horse in the line-up but was a very close second in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes over C&D on fast ground just 13 months ago and was a creditable sixth on ground much softer than he prefers when bidding to go one better in this year’s renewal of that race. He’s in calmer waters now back in a handicap, is on a workable mark and is almost certain to have this race run to suit. Stepper Point, Desert Law and Alpha Delta are others to consider.
1 Caspian Prince – Ran right up to best form to gain narrow-margin win in the “Dash” at Epsom (5f, good to soft) on Derby day, his second success in that race; also gave decent account in York Listed race last time but has no margin for error off current mark and may find today’s ground a bit too lively.
2 Medicean Man – Getting long in the tooth now but ran as well as he ever has when short-head second in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes over C&D (good to firm) just over a year ago and stayed on well for a very respectable sixth in this year’s renewal of that race; commands respect back in a handicap.
3 Dutch Masterpiece – Yet to strike form this season and finished well down the field when sent to the Curragh for latest assignment 26 days ago; well handicapped if able to replicate the form of his C&D Listed success in October but others have more pressing claims.
4 Red Baron – Landed a big prize at Musselburgh (5f, good to firm) last year and was in similar form when second at Thirsk (5f, good to firm) in May but both runs last month were disappointing and he remains on a tough mark; needs refitted cheekpieces to have positive effect.
5 Desert Law – Faded in the closing stages when sent of favourite for the valuable C&D event won by Royal Birth a fortnight ago but certainly didn’t run badly that day and his earlier third at the Curragh was a good performance; no surprise if he’s in the thick of things.
6 Stepper Point – Has some high-class form to his name, including a Group 2 success at the Curragh (5f, good to firm) a year ago; beaten less than 2l in valuable C&D event won by Royal Birth a fortnight ago, having been up with the pace throughout, and is 1lb lower now; shortlisted.
7 Robot Boy – Has slipped down the weights since last summer and ran a big race from the front when close second to Royal Birth over C&D two weeks ago; subsequent 2lb rise looks manageable and he needs to be taken very seriously.
8 Shamshon – Lightly raced for his age, having missed 2015, and bounced back to form with eased-down success from off the pace at Chelmsford (5f, AW) recently; faces a different test here but should be fine back on turf and enters calculations under 6lb penalty.
9 Royal Birth – Has made excellent progress this year and gained the latest of four wins when coming from off the pace to deny Robot Boy in the last strides of a valuable C&D contest a fortnight ago; subsequent 3lb rise doesn’t look excessive and he might still be improving.
10 Foxy Forever – Produced an excellent performance to land a valuable prize at the Curragh (5f, good) last summer but was hit hard by the handicapper for that and has found things tough since; last of 18 after fluffing the start here a fortnight ago; has much more to prove than some of these.
11 Musical Comedy – Won a 6f Listed contest for Richard Hannon in 2014 but hasn’t tasted victory since then and has finished down the field on both starts for new stable this season (albeit not beaten far on the more recent occasion); difficult to enthuse over at present.
12 Final Venture – Front-runner who has won four of his last five starts, the latest by 6l at Pontefract (5f, good) a week ago; 6lb ahead of the handicapper under a 6lb penalty here and evidently in rude health, but dominating this field from the front is no easy task.
13 Primrose Valley – Well handicapped on some of last summer’s form and posted a sound effort when runner-up at Newmarket (5f, good to firm) after a break this month, but is up in class today and has a modest 1-12 strike-rate on turf; others look stronger.
14 Rio Ronaldo – Squeezed through a gap to score at Windsor (6f, good to firm) in May and has been denied a clear path when running well on both subsequent outings; could be suited by a strongly run 5f and current mark probably not beyond him, but this is a lot more competitive than his recent engagements.
15 Alpha Delta – Quite lightly raced 5yo with three wins from his nine starts, the latest from off the pace in big-field event at York (5f, good) a fortnight ago; 5lb higher in a stronger race here but could easily have more to offer if first-time cheekpieces have positive effect.
16 Exceed The Limit – Ran about as well as could have been expected when fifth of eight in Newmarket conditions race (5f, good) a week ago, his second British start, and runs here before a 5lb rise in the weights takes effect; this will be the quickest ground he has encountered, though.
17 Taajub – Won this race in 2012 and has also run well over C&D on several other occasions; made satisfactory return from break at Salisbury last month and ought to be fully primed now but is not getting any younger and faces a tough assignment from 3lb out of the handicap.
myracing Forecast Prices: 6/1 Robot Boy, Royal Birth, Final Venture, 8/1 Shamshon, 10/1 Medicean Man, Alpha Delta, 12/1 Desert Law, Stepper Point, Rio Ronaldo, 14/1 Exceed The Limit, 16/1 Caspian Prince, Primrose Valley, 20/1 Dutch Masterpiece, Red Baron, Musical Comedy, 25/1 Taajub, 33/1 Foxy Forever