September 09 / 15.10 Ascot

15.10

Good

Lavazza Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

  • Prize money: £51540
  • 1m 3f 211y
  • Class 2
  • 9 runners
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Lavazza Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.30
  • Place: £2.30

Form: 2113

Last run: 37 days

W: 8st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Novice wins came over 7.5f/1m but he looks a middle-distance colt judged on his staying-on third in 1m2f handicap at Glorious Goodwood; raced only four times and likely to do better still; interesting off unaltered mark upped further in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

18th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

13:17 Bangor-on-Dee

Alsakib

11st 10lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Very smart Flat horse for Andrew Balding; had wind surgery after his one blip over hurdles and then won at Musselburgh despite a slipping saddle (2m1f, good to soft); carries a penalty but looks a major player.

5/2

1st

1

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 4

14:20 Musselburgh

Alsakib

11st 6lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

1m6f Group 3 winner on the Flat in 2024; promising second on hurdle/stable debut at Wetherby (2m, soft) in December; took backwards step at Catterick (2m3f, good to soft) in January but has had wind surgery since and he's a key player if back on song; versatile ground-wise.

2/1

4th

4

21st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 4

13:17 Catterick

Alsakib

11st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

1m6f Group 3 winner on the Flat for Andrew Balding in July 2024; promising second on last month's hurdle/stable debut at Wetherby (2m, soft) and this step up in trip may well be a positive; he's one to consider.

5/2

10/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 165128 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 6lb

3 yo

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Seemed a non-stayer over 1m6f in the Melrose two weeks ago; largely progressive at about 1m3f/1m4f, winning three times prior to a luckless second at Glorious Goodwood; possibilities back down in distance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

10/1

  • Place: £3.60

Form: 192232

Last run: 7 days

W: 8st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
One of three runners for this yard; scored over 1m2f at Chester in May and largely consistent otherwise this term, most recently second at Beverley (upped to 1m4f; good) last Saturday; appears likely to go well again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

(7)

9th Sep 2023

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:10 Ascot

Perfect Play

8st 8lb

J: Hayley Turner

T: Charlie Johnston

One of three runners for this yard; scored over 1m2f at Chester in May and largely consistent otherwise this term, most recently second at Beverley (upped to 1m4f; good) last Saturday; appears likely to go well again.

10/1

2nd

7

(5)

2nd Sep 2023

Good

1m 4f 23y

Class 2

14:05 Beverley

Perfect Play

8st 7lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Charlie Johnston

pressed leader, led over 2f out, clear over 1f out, reduced lead final furlong, headed and no extra inside final 110yds

5/1

3rd

5

(3)

25th Aug 2023

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

16:25 Newmarket (July)

Perfect Play

9st 4lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Charlie Johnston

Can make the running; won on good to firm as 2yo; also scored at Chester in May and best form when runner-up at Redcar and Ripon on his last two starts, all over 1m2f on good; has a competitive mark but some of his rivals are less exposed.

5/1

Form: 033620 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Won at Chester in May and has shown useful form on occasions since, including twice over C&D (went very close in Shergar Cup Classic two starts ago); never figured at Hamilton latest but the return to this venue looks a plus.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

15th Aug 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:50 Perth

Struth

10st 7lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Dual Flat winner for Charlie Johnston (8.5f-12.5f); yet to score over hurdles (0-7) but doesn't have a massive amount to find with Lets Mingle and Summergrounds based on their recent C&D clash; the task isn't an impossible one.

13/2

6th

9

12th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:16 Perth

Struth

10st 2lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Former smart Flat horse who is 0-6 over hurdles and was beaten a little under 10l on handicap debut here a month ago; he was boxing on over 2m and this longer trip could bring him on (stayed well on the Flat).

8/1

6th

1

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

14:42 Perth

Struth

11st 12lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Useful on the Flat in his prime but well held when fifth on handicap hurdle debut at Kelso (2m2f, good; first-time tongue-tie) in April and showed no significant improvement in a subsequent C&D maiden; needs to up his game.

20/1

Form: -01111

Last run: 23 days

W: 8st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Improving; continued his productive summer with a neck success under Saffie Osborne at Windsor (11.5f, good to firm) last month, completing a four-timer (now 4-5 in handicaps); previous wins came over 1m2f; has major claims upped further in trip/class.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

(2)

16th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 4

13:30 Southwell (AW)

Gallant Lion

9st 5lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Ian Williams

Back to some form over 1m4f on turf on last two starts; 0-11 on AW, however, with two places but they were on Polytrack.

11/1

4th

7

(5)

19th Jun 2026

Good

1m 3f 218y

Class 4

18:55 Goodwood

Gallant Lion

8st 12lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Ian Williams

Struggled over 1m at Southwell last month but relished the step back up in trip when winning at Brighton (1m4f, good to firm) three weeks ago; still fairly treated on his old form off this 3lb higher mark and has claims.

100/30

1st

7

(8)

29th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 198y

Class 5

15:20 Brighton

Gallant Lion

9st 0lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Ian Williams

1m2f win here (good to firm) kicked off a four-timer in 2023 for Tony Carroll but he took a while to rediscover his level before scoring at Chepstow (1m4f, good; first-time blinkers) for this yard one year ago; raced mainly over further without success since and latest start over 1m can be written off; handy mark and he's not discounted on just his second visit to Brighton.

9/1

Form: 255232 BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 8st 2lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
1m win in the spring; placed over 1m2f-1m3f in last three races, including efforts that tie him in with Gallant Lion and True Legend; however, others are more progressive and/or stronger candidates at this trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

24

(18)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Soft

1m 5f 188y

Class 2

15:35 York

Dancing In Paris

8st 11lb

T: Ian Williams

Reserve; acts on good to soft, much more to prove on soft; came back to the boil to win a Shergar Cup race at Ascot (2m) two weeks ago and peak efforts last term, including a 2m fourth at this meeting, were a bit better; with 4lb penalty, though, a career best may nevertheless be required.

40/1

1st

4

(3)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 7f 209y

Class 2

14:10 Ascot

Dancing In Paris

9st 6lb

J: L J Ferraris

T: Ian Williams

Third in a 1m4f handicap at this meeting two years ago and his run over the same trip here 15 days ago was a step back in the right direction; has some appealing form to his name at 2m, so very much in the mix.

12/1

5th

5

(3)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

16:05 Ascot

Dancing In Paris

9st 7lb

J: David Egan

T: Ian Williams

Course winner over 1m6f (also has two wins at 1m4f) but he hasn't scored since August 2024; posted a couple of mighty seconds in big handicaps on AW and turf last term but he's yet to get going in two starts this year; dangerous mark if he can stage a revival and the market might be revealing.

16/1

Form: 374211 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 8st 6lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Progressive in handicaps, all on good to firm ground; recorded comfortable wins at Lingfield (11.5f) and Leicester (1m4f) the last twice; may not have reached his ceiling yet and commands respect upped further in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

11

(6)

18th Oct 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 4

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Overactive

9st 8lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Ralph Beckett

raced wide, midfield, headway over 3f out, weakened over 2f out

7/1

7th

6

(5)

9th Sep 2023

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:10 Ascot

Overactive

8st 6lb

J: Laura Pearson

T: Ralph Beckett

Progressive in handicaps, all on good to firm ground; recorded comfortable wins at Lingfield (11.5f) and Leicester (1m4f) the last twice; may not have reached his ceiling yet and commands respect upped further in grade.

6/1

1st

5

(5)

13th Aug 2023

Good

1m 3f 179y

Class 4

16:28 Leicester

Overactive

9st 4lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

prominent, shaken up over 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on well, comfortably

13/8

OUR TIP

Form: 213-34

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Has earned top weight, being a useful colt who was a Listed scorer (7f, good to firm) last term; two creditable efforts over 1m2f in same grade this season; possibilities on handicap debut, provided he takes well to first-time headgear and stays the new trip (no guarantee on breeding).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(7)

28th Sep 2023

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:45 Newmarket

Victory Dance

10st 0lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

in touch with leaders, outpaced over 2f out, soon no impression, weakened inside final furlong

6/1

8th

1

(8)

9th Sep 2023

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:10 Ascot

Victory Dance

9st 9lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Has earned top weight, being a useful colt who was a Listed scorer (7f, good to firm) last term; two creditable efforts over 1m2f in same grade this season; possibilities on handicap debut, provided he takes well to first-time headgear and stays the new trip (no guarantee on breeding).

7/2

Form: 424043 BF

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Became a touch exposed over 7f-1m but is unexposed over middle distances and ran well upped to 1m2f on AW two outings ago; soft ground possibly contributed to his subsequent defeat over 1m4f; could go well if aided by first-time headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(3)

20th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:00 Ayr

Benacre

9st 6lb

J: Oliver Stammers

T: Charlie Johnston

No turf win since 2022 but he has won three AW handicaps in the last 14 months; should be well treated but recent efforts haven't been his best; this is a drop in class so not dismissed, even though the return of cheekpieces wouldn't be an obvious plus based on previous usage.

9/1

4th

5

(4)

4th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 173y

Class 4

19:09 Carlisle

Benacre

9st 5lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Charlie Johnston

Not won on turf since his 2yo days but it was a fairly close third at Musselburgh (7f, good) in April; now 4lb lower after four lesser runs; handicapping case can be made but percentage call is to oppose.

9/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £37.70
Straight Forecast £37.24
Tricast £425.95
Trifecta £484.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Gallant Lion

Telegraph:

Victory Dance

RP RATINGS:

True Legend

Daily Record:

Overactive

TOPSPEED:

Dancing In Paris

POSTDATA:

Struth

The Times:

Benacre

The Guardian:

Gallant Lion

Daily Mail:

Gallant Lion

Daily Mirror:

Gallant Lion

The Sun:

Gallant Lion

The Star:

Gallant Lion

D Express:

Victory Dance

NEWMARKET:

True Legend