August 16 / 17.50 Ffos Las

17.50

Heavy

Ascona Winning Handicap

  • Prize money: £5234
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 6
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Ascona Winning Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.30

Form: 823314

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Ended a long losing run when scoring off a reduced mark at Nottingham (8.3f, soft) last month; couldn't make an impact in his follow-up bid at Newmarket (1m2f, good to soft) but that was against a pace bias and he now drops back in trip/grade; dangerous if this sets up for his closing style.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

(7)

5th Dec 2023

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 6

12:00 Lingfield (AW)

Eton College

9st 10lb

J: Ethan Jones

T: Lee Carter

Two 1m turf wins for previous trainer in the summer but no strong signs since, for that yard or current one, that he was about to break his AW duck; ran respectably in blinkers in 2021, first-time cheekpieces today.

25/1

5th

5

(4)

21st Nov 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

20:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Eton College

9st 12lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Lee Carter

midfield

10/1

3rd

1

(5)

1st Nov 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 1y

Class 6

12:30 Lingfield (AW)

Eton College

9st 12lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Lee Carter

Two 1m wins on soft this summer; not discredited in midfield at Chelmsford (didn't get a clear run) this month and contested a voided race 13 days ago; changed hands for 6,000gns at the sales last week; considered but he's made far less of an impact on AW than turf.

13/2

OUR TIP

9/4

  • Place: £2.90

Form: 225221 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Has form figures 42212225221 in handicaps and he finished well when justifying favouritism at Chepstow (1m, good to soft; acts on soft) last month; that was a narrow success but he's only 2lb higher on this drop back in grade and is a key player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(14)

15th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 0f 0y

16:40 Dundalk (AW)

Obama Army

9st 12lb

J: Shane Foley

T: Adrian McGuinness

Best form was in Britain in 2023; steadily working his way into form of late, although slow starts haven't helped his cause the last twice; wide draw a negative.

13/2

3

(9)

26th Jul 2025

Good To Yielding

1m 1f 110y

17:07 Gowran Park

Obama Army

9st 12lb

J: Julian Pietropaolo

T: Adrian McGuinness

Best form was in Britain in 2023; steadily working his way into form of late, although slow start didn't help at Naas on Tuesday when 4.25l off Roderick; this trip his limit.

8/1

5th

7

(4)

23rd Jul 2025

Yielding To Soft

1m 0f 0y

19:10 Naas

Obama Army

9st 11lb

J: Sam Coen

T: Adrian McGuinness

Best form was in Britain in 2023; recent fourth placings at Tipperary and Dundalk provide grounds for optimism.

7/1

13/2

Form: 476

Last run: 65 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Well-bred 3yo who has shown some promise in his three runs in France (9.5f/10f) this summer; with Archie Watson now and he needs a close look on his British/handicap debut; gelded since his last run in June.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

(2)

27th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 0f 75y

Class 6

15:45 Nottingham

Lunanera

9st 4lb

J: Laura Coughlan

T: Archie Watson

Now 5lb lower than his Chepstow win (1m, good to firm) last summer but things haven't been straightforward since and he wasn't at his best under conditions that should have suited in April; others preferred.

7/1

6th

5

(4)

10th Jun 2024

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 6

15:05 Lingfield (AW)

Lunanera

9st 7lb

J: Laura Coughlan

T: Archie Watson

Winning miler on turf and was only 2l away in a 1m2f handicap here in March; however, he pulled up last month's hurdling debut and then finished tailed off at Yarmouth when good to soft was no excuse.

14/1

10th

7

(2)

22nd May 2024

Good

1m 2f 23y

Class 5

15:00 Yarmouth

Lunanera

9st 8lb

J: Joshua Bryan

T: Archie Watson

Flat win last August came over 1m (off 1lb lower) and he has seemed stretched by 1m2f; hurdling debut on latest outing did not work out; cheekpieces (worn on penultimate start) return.

10/1

Form: 4-54V5

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 12lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Close fourth on handicap debut at Wolverhampton (8.6f, AW) last month and he took a strong hold and couldn't sustain his effort when upped to 1m2f at Newbury (soft) last time; still has potential after only five starts and he's not ruled out back in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

18:10 Cartmel

Im Too Tired

11st 13lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Won small-field Sedgefield chase (2m, good to soft) on Boxing Day and reverts to hurdling on a good mark but looked badly out of sorts when tried in a visor in March and has become very unreliable; usual cheekpieces refitted here; not an easy one to predict.

12/1

4

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

18:10 Cartmel

Im Too Tired

11st 13lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Won small-field Sedgefield chase (2m, good to soft) on Boxing Day and reverts to hurdling on a good mark but looked badly out of sorts when tried in a visor in March and has become very unreliable; usual cheekpieces refitted here; not an easy one to predict.

12/1

Form: 995311 C

Last run: 2 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 52

Form & Verdict
Off the mark (15th attempt) when scoring at this track (7.3f, heavy) eight days ago and she followed up with a comfortable win at Windsor (1m, good) on Monday; has a double penalty but she's on a roll and is respected in her hat-trick bid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(4)

23rd Jun 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

16:10 Ffos Las

Thewaytothestars

9st 10lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Grace Harris

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, headway over 3f out, outpaced 2f out, soon weakened

7/1

9th

5

(9)

17th Jun 2024

Good

1m 0f 14y

Class 6

16:55 Chepstow

Thewaytothestars

9st 7lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Grace Harris

held up in rear, brief headway 3f out, outpaced 2f out, soon weakened

4/1

4th

1

(3)

8th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 0f 14y

Class 6

20:30 Chepstow

Thewaytothestars

9st 9lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Grace Harris

Won on heavy and good ground last August and fairly handicapped if returning to that level, which is a big if after her recent struggles.

14/1

Form: 8-399

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced filly but she's not progressed and was out the back on her handicap debut at Leicester (1m2f, good) last month; took a strong hold in that race but she needs to do much better on this drop back in trip; tongue-tie added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(4)

16th Aug 2023

Heavy

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

17:50 Ffos Las

Hill Filly

9st 4lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Hughie Morrison

Lightly raced filly but she's not progressed and was out the back on her handicap debut at Leicester (1m2f, good) last month; took a strong hold in that race but she needs to do much better on this drop back in trip; tongue-tie added.

12/1

9th

10

(4)

20th Jul 2023

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

16:15 Leicester

Hill Filly

8st 13lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Hughie Morrison

Hooded all three starts; well behind the reopposing Paradise Row at Chelmsford on latest but she does appeal as one who could go on to better things in handicaps.

10/1

Form: 64759

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Finished down the field in her four runs in France and was last of nine in a Lingfield handicap (7f, soft; 125-1) on her stable debut last month; dropped 5lb but she needs a transformation back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

12

(7)

26th Oct 2024

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

17:25 Chelmsford (AW)

Grand Style

8st 10lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Michael Wigham

Unplaced in all 17 starts for former stables; current wellbeing a query and not sure new yard have had her long enough to turn things around.

33/1

8th

8

(6)

4th Oct 2024

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Grand Style

8st 7lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Philip Kirby

prominent

25/1

8th

9

(6)

10th Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 6y

Class 6

17:30 Catterick

Grand Style

8st 11lb

J: Andrew Breslin

T: Philip Kirby

took keen hold, held up in rear, rapid headway and prominent behind clear leader after 2f

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £27.70
Straight Forecast £41.06
Trifecta £117.00

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Thewaytothestars

SPOTLIGHT:

Obama Army

POSTDATA:

Eton College

The Guardian:

I'm Too Tired

Telegraph:

Obama Army

Daily Mail:

Obama Army

The Star:

Obama Army

The Times:

Thewaytothestars

D Express:

Thewaytothestars

The Sun:

Thewaytothestars

Daily Record:

Thewaytothestars

Daily Mirror:

Eton College