A Group horse in a handicap: Why this horse can win the 5.05 at Ascot on Friday 🐎

The jump up to Group level from handicaps is often a difficult obstacle to overcome. Therefore, when a Group 1 performer drops down into a handicap, it needs to be investigated. One horse that has gone off at 5-1 and 4-1 in the last two runnings of the Group 1 Champions Sprint at Ascot is running in a handicap off 102 on Friday. This surely means there are no excuses for the horse in question and a big run has to be on the cards. You can check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.

5.05 Ascot

Rohaan is understandably well fancied for this race and has the best form on offer. He won a Group 3 here in October last year and there were some useful performers in behind him that day. David Evans’ charge followed that up with a fine fourth in the Champions Sprint a fortnight later, when popular in the betting at 4-1. The fact that he hasn’t been in the best of form so far this season is a concern but he ran much better than his finishing position suggests at Ayr last time.

He’s a four-time course winner and tends to save his best for Ascot. It’s also significant that he won the Wokingham at Royal Ascot in 2021 and 2022. This rather unique horse is campaigned differently to most but barring this season, it has worked for him.

If connections are to consider running him in the Champions Sprint once again, he needs to win here. It appears to be a cracking opportunity as he has plenty in his favour. A dominant performance is required and he’ll have to prove that he retains every ounce of class.

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