July 28 / 15.35 Ascot

15.35

Good

John Guest Racing Handicap

  • Prize money: £23193
  • 1m 3f 211y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
John Guest Racing Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

11/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.00
  • Place: £2.50

Form: 2-3125

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
The ground was soft when he won narrowly at Chester and good to firm when he was a tad unlucky not to have gone close at Redcar later in May; both were over about 1m2f, at which he has registered much his best results and form; well beaten behind Youthful King over 11.4f on latest start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(1)

12th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 2f 56y

Class 2

14:05 York

City Streak

8st 13lb

J: William Carver

T: Andrew Balding

Landed another Chester win in May but behind Stressfree, Have Secret and Paddy The Squire there last month, albeit perhaps just needing the outing after 11 weeks off; acts on heavy.

18/1

7th

1

(8)

14th Sep 2024

Heavy

1m 2f 70y

Class 3

16:05 Chester

City Streak

9st 11lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Andrew Balding

C&D winner on soft and good to firm at the last two May meetings; below par at Epsom and Newcastle this summer but returns from an 11-week break only 1lb above the mark he defied in May.

11/2

7th

2

(8)

29th Jun 2024

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 3

16:50 Newcastle (AW)

City Streak

9st 8lb

J: David Probert

T: Andrew Balding

Enhanced his good Chester record there in May (1m2f, good to firm); comfortably held off this mark at Epsom since but good chance he'll bounce back and Wolverhampton exploits bode well for his first visit here.

8/1

7/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 73-186

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
With Joseph O'Brien before this season; won useful handicap at Kempton (1m3f, AW) when reappearing in April and, having been tailed off at Epsom, good sixth of 18 over C&D at the Royal meeting (good to firm; acts on yielding to soft); thereabouts judged on those two good efforts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(12)

27th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 3

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Max Mayhem

9st 9lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: George Baker

Three times down the field in Bahrain for this yard and can't support with confidence, for all moving back up in trip should help.

25/1

14/1

Form: 216036 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Four-time Tapeta winner who transferred AW form to turf when close third at Ayr (1m5f, good) in June; ran creditably just behind Gaassee at Haydock two weeks later, always mid-division; not proven on softer than good.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

(4)

17th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

16:45 Hamilton

Nolton Cross

9st 8lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Hugo Palmer

Six wins (latest in February) from 24 AW starts but 0-10 on turf; Newmarket 15 days ago saw first turf race since 2023 and he came last of eight.

25/1

8th

8

(1)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:45 Newmarket

Nolton Cross

8st 11lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Hugo Palmer

Six wins from his 24 AW starts, the latest in February, but 0-9 on turf and he was last seen in this sphere in 2023; fit from AW action (well beaten in hot race last time) but other options seem more likely.

25/1

13th

10

(2)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 2

16:10 Newcastle (AW)

Nolton Cross

8st 11lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Hugo Palmer

Six wins from his 23 AW starts, the latest at Wolverhampton (1m4f, Tapeta) in February; has continued in good form when fourth at Lingfield and Kempton on last two starts, but he may again be vulnerable today.

25/1

2/1

Form: 30-704 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Back to form when fourth of 13 in useful 1m4f handicap at Haydock on latest outing, never nearer in a slowly run race; no ground worries and he should again be on the premises.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(4)

1st Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 4

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Gaassee

10st 2lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Jack Morland

Has proved consistent since reappearing for Jack Morland in January (4243514) with the win coming at Haydock (10.5f, good to firm) in August; record around here (1m3f/1m4f) reads 123 and another big run would be no surprise.

5/1

4th

6

(12)

13th Sep 2025

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 3

16:00 Chester

Gaassee

9st 6lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Jack Morland

Mostly competitive off reduced marks for new yard this season and Haydock (1m2f, good to firm) five weeks ago saw him lead final 1f to break a long losing run, doing it in good style too; back up 5lb but he used to be effective on a range of ground and has returned to serious calculations.

7/1

10/1

Form: 78-016

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Completed a four-timer last May-June before runner-up in this race; second run after wind surgery when going in again at Windsor this June but he was 15l behind Youthful King there on latest outing, both 11.4f; acts on good to firm and good to soft; well treated judged on peak efforts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(6)

21st Oct 2024

Heavy

1m 2f 37y

Class 4

16:40 Bath

The Whipmaster

9st 7lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Returned after wind surgery with close thirds at Lingfield (1m4f, AW) and Windsor (11.4f, good) but he didn't find much when disappointing at Kempton last time; bit to prove again after that and he's had only one win in his last 17 starts.

6/1

11th

10

(3)

25th Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 4

19:00 Kempton (AW)

The Whipmaster

9st 4lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Only recently returned from wind surgery and under positive rides has finished close up at Lingfield (1m4f AW) and Windsor (1m3.5f); had no excuses either time but he's unlikely to be far away.

7/1

3rd

5

(8)

16th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 3f 99y

Class 4

15:12 Windsor

The Whipmaster

9st 11lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

First run after wind surgery when unable to exploit a soft lead on the AW recently (1m4f); however, six of his seven wins have been on turf and he likes it around here; dangerously handicapped.

5/1

Form: 40-881 CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Well down the weights when he raised his head again to win seven-runner race over C&D (good to soft; acts on good to firm) 13 days ago by a neck from the hot favourite, registering his first success since debut; back up 4lb and has headgear first time but he's back in serious calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(2)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:45 Newmarket

Oneforthegutter

8st 12lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Ian Williams

Scored at the Newmarket July meeting (1m6f) last year but didn't do a lot afterwards; he's back 1lb below that last winning mark, so will pop up in front again at some stage, but he was well held on last year's reappearance at this fixture.

20/1

4

(12)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 5f 61y

Class 2

14:05 Newbury

Oneforthegutter

9st 6lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Ian Williams

Won a good pot at the Newmarket July meeting (1m6f, good to firm) but has struggled in the Ebor and Old Borough Cup since.

25/1

Form: 330282 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
No win since April 2022 and there have been a few blips (penultimate start was put down to losing a shoe) but he's often on the premises and some of his best form has been at this track; sometimes slowly away, including when second to impressive Saratoga Gold on AW last time; more to prove if the ground is softer than good.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

26th Oct 2023

Standard

1m 5f 0y

Class 5

17:20 Lingfield (AW)

Protected Guest

10st 3lb

J: Tom Queally

T: George Margarson

7th

1

(5)

9th Oct 2023

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 4

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Protected Guest

10st 1lb

J: Tom Queally

T: George Margarson

slowly away, in rear

10/1

8th

12

(9)

13th Sep 2023

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 2

20:45 Southwell (AW)

Protected Guest

8st 3lb

J: Luke Morris

T: George Margarson

Performed respectably at Kempton on most recent AW attempt but was no match for Saratoga Gold and this is a higher grade; well exposed 8yo who is on a 16-race losing sequence; opposed.

25/1

Non-runners

Saratoga Gold, Youthful King

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £38.60
Straight Forecast £40.36
Tricast £415.92
Trifecta £239.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Gaassee

The Guardian:

Oneforthegutter

TOPSPEED:

Max Mayhem

POSTDATA:

The Whipmaster

LAMBOURN:

Saratoga Gold

RP RATINGS:

Gaassee

NEWMARKET:

Gaassee

Telegraph:

Gaassee

Daily Mail:

Gaassee

D Express:

Gaassee

Daily Mirror:

Gaassee

The Sun:

Gaassee

The Star:

Gaassee

Daily Record:

Oneforthegutter

The Times:

Max Mayhem