August 10 / 15.20 Ascot

15.20

Good

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint (Handicap)

  • Prize money: £39344
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 10 runners
ITV4
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Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint (Handicap)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

13/8 (Won)

  • Win: £1.84
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1-341 CD

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 1lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Won a useful 6f AW event on sole 2yo start; good efforts in defeat over 7f on first two starts this year but this stiff 6f suited when he looked better the further he went over C&D (good) in July; has earned this 8lb higher mark after that win and remains one to follow.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

(7)

5th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Jarraaf

9st 3lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Owen Burrows

Unbeaten winner of three 6f races, the last two in C&D handicaps (good and good to firm) when his strength in the closing stages was clear to see; lacks big-race entries but he looked ready for a step up in class here in August and promises to do better yet; probably acts on good to soft but the more the ground dries out the less guesswork will be involved.

11/4

1st

2

(6)

10th Aug 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:20 Ascot

Jarraaf

10st 1lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Owen Burrows

Won a useful 6f AW event on sole 2yo start; good efforts in defeat over 7f on first two starts this year but this stiff 6f suited when he looked better the further he went over C&D (good) in July; has earned this 8lb higher mark after that win and remains one to follow.

13/8

1st

9

(5)

12th Jul 2024

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

17:10 Ascot

Jarraaf

9st 2lb

J: David Probert

T: Owen Burrows

in touch with leaders, ridden and headway over 1f out, led 1f out, went clear inside final furlong, impressive

7/1

12/1

  • Place: £3.60

Form: 1-6681 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Two 7f wins on AW as 2yo; failed to make a serious mark in handicaps at 1m and 7f this year but he never really looked like giving up his lead when dropped to 6f at Ayr (good to firm) in July; back up 5lb but this stiff 6f shouldn't be a problem and nor should the ground; open to improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(9)

5th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

16:45 Ascot

Venture Capital

9st 6lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Kevin Ryan

The drop to sprint trips has put his career firmly back on track, making all at Ayr (6f, good to firm) before bumping into a Group horse in waiting in the Shergar Cup here in August; returning to 5f proved no hindrance at Doncaster three weeks ago, always prominent and finding plenty for pressure; the ground was officially good but changed to soft afterwards and these conditions shouldn't hold any terrors; up another 6lb but it's unlikely he's reached his ceiling.

11/2

18

20th Sep 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

16:15 Ayr

Venture Capital

10st 0lb

T: Kevin Ryan

1st

5

(1)

15th Sep 2024

Good

0m 5f 3y

Class 3

14:05 Doncaster

Venture Capital

9st 2lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Kevin Ryan

His two novice wins were over 7f; initial handicap runs over further were modest but the drop to 6f has worked a treat, making all at Ayr in July and then second to a rapid improver in the Shergar Cup Spring; looks quick enough for 5f but he'll do well to lead in this field.

5/1

10/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: -74991 D

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
In the frame in Group company as 2yo; promising start for new yard when not beaten far over 5f at the Royal meeting and although he never mustered the pace to get involved at Newmarket since he found plenty for an AW win at Wolverhampton last week; back up 3lb and in class.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(11)

15th Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 6y

Class 2

14:40 Doncaster

Thunder Blue

8st 13lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

Won at Wolverhampton (6f, AW) last month on third yard run before good third at Ascot (6f, good to firm) and close second at Newcastle (6f, AW); has been finishing his races well and is worth another crack at 7f; chance.

12/1

2nd

6

(2)

22nd Aug 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

20:15 Newcastle (AW)

Thunder Blue

9st 7lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

Took advantage of a drop in class when winning a Racing League handicap at Wolverhampton three weeks ago; solid effort behind a sprinter going places in the Shergar Cup 12 days ago; not discounted.

10/1

Form: 8-154 D

Last run: 54 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Easy winner from the front at Nottingham (6f, good) on return from wind surgery; the extra furlong was no help next time but he found disappointingly little when fourth of six on handicap debut (6f) at Windsor in June and now has plenty to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

(6)

5th Oct 2024

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 3

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Aramram

9st 8lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Richard Hannon

Getting it all together in handicaps now, following his Doncaster win with an excellent second to a flourishing filly in the Ayr Silver Cup two weeks ago; 3lb higher today but he's on the way up.

3/1

2nd

15

(16)

21st Sep 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Ayr

Aramram

9st 3lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Made all in 6f novice in May; took time to get to grips with handicaps but his Doncaster win (6f, soft) last week was his best form yet; goes unpenalised and although soft ground might have played a part last week he now looks open to improvement.

10/1

29

20th Sep 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

16:15 Ayr

Aramram

9st 7lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Richard Hannon

Form: 146347 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Two 6f AW wins in midwinter (in tongue-tie/blinkers) but he hasn't reproduced a promising yard debut in June in two runs since; hasn't worn aids for this trainer so far but blinkers return today; rather risky.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

(9)

21st Sep 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:20 Newmarket

Bulldog Drummond

9st 13lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Patrick Owens

Had fallen in weights before scoring on the July course (6f, soft) four weeks ago, but he ran poorly off his revised mark at Kempton next time; quick ground would be fine but he'll need a career best to go in again.

16/1

12th

7

(8)

7th Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

16:20 Kempton (AW)

Bulldog Drummond

9st 2lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Patrick Owens

C&D winner when trained by George Boughey; he had edged down the weights for his new yard before bouncing back to form with a cosy win at Newmarket two weeks ago (6f, soft); that was a visually impressive success but the pace was collapsing and a 6lb rise could leave him vulnerable.

16/1

1st

10

(1)

24th Aug 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

14:10 Newmarket (July)

Bulldog Drummond

9st 4lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Patrick Owens

Two 6f AW wins last winter but below par on his last three outings, including in the Shergar Cup on latest; mark is slipping but reflects a general decline in his form.

16/1

Form: -13353 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Won 6f AW novice in March; useful effort over 6f at Newmarket (good to soft) in July, when despite racing freely and not having much company in the closing stages he kept on well in third of 13; has more to come as a sprinter; possibilities if handling this different ground (unraced on quicker than good).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

(11)

21st Sep 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:20 Newmarket

Imperial Guard

9st 9lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Andrew Balding

Yet to win a handicap but he has run some good races in defeat, notably when third at the July meeting (6f, good to soft) here; bit disappointing in the Shergar Cup next time but he's back in a lower grade here and could bounce back.

6/1

6th

10

(12)

10th Aug 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:20 Ascot

Imperial Guard

9st 3lb

J: Nanako Fujita

T: Andrew Balding

Won 6f AW novice in March; useful effort over 6f at Newmarket (good to soft) in July, when despite racing freely and not having much company in the closing stages he kept on well in third of 13; has more to come as a sprinter; possibilities if handling this different ground (unraced on quicker than good).

6/1

Form: -14243 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Yet to add to 6f maiden win but may not have seen the best of him in sprint handicaps as yet, not getting the best of runs in latest 6f attempt at Naas before coming from off the pace to take third behind a progressive one at Cork (5f, good) in July; likely to need more, even so.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(4)

5th Oct 2024

Good

0m 5f 0y

16:00 Curragh

Grand City Hall

9st 10lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: Jarlath P Fahey

midfield, headway inside final furlong, soon switched left, ran on and went third inside final 110yds, no match for first two

5/1

Form: -28053 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Has run with credit in Group and Listed company since winning at the latter level as 2yo (good) and he gave it a very good shot on handicap debut at Chester (6f, good) recently when pressing hard throughout; shade more to prove up 1lb with this stiffer test.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

(1)

10th Aug 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:20 Ascot

Action Point

10st 2lb

J: Alberto Sanna

T: Archie Watson

Has run with credit in Group and Listed company since winning at the latter level as 2yo (good) and he gave it a very good shot on handicap debut at Chester (6f, good) recently when pressing hard throughout; shade more to prove up 1lb with this stiffer test.

12/1

3rd

1

(6)

27th Jul 2024

Good

0m 6f 17y

Class 2

16:05 Chester

Action Point

9st 9lb

J: Joshua Bryan

T: Archie Watson

Listed winner at two and twice placed at that level subsequently; latest fifth in Germany was a good effort on RPRs and he's been gelded since; on a tough mark for belated handicap debut but he's earned it.

15/2

13th

1

(12)

18th May 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:25 Newbury

Action Point

9st 2lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Archie Watson

Useful colt who won a Listed event over this C&D (good) as a 2yo and was just denied at Chantilly (6.5f, AW) on his reappearance in March; however, he was disappointing on soft turf back at Chantilly five weeks ago and others have stronger claims on form.

25/1

Form: 306113 D BF

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Three handicap wins for this yard, over 6f on AW and twice over 7f on turf (good to firm and good); he lost nothing in defeat when a close third back over 6f at Doncaster 16 days ago but he was unpenalised and now runs off 6lb higher; looks to have work to do.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

(7)

10th Aug 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:20 Ascot

Daring Legend

9st 4lb

J: Tadhg O’Shea

T: Michael Appleby

Three handicap wins for this yard, over 6f on AW and twice over 7f on turf (good to firm and good); he lost nothing in defeat when a close third back over 6f at Doncaster 16 days ago but he was unpenalised and now runs off 6lb higher; looks to have work to do.

6/1

3rd

2

(2)

25th Jul 2024

Good

0m 6f 2y

Class 4

15:05 Doncaster

Daring Legend

9st 8lb

J: James Doyle

T: Michael Appleby

Won at Newcastle (6f, AW) in March on second yard start and has returned to form for further wins the last twice (7f, good to firm/good); goes unpenalised for recent apprentice handicap win at Yarmouth; leading claims.

11/8

1st

4

(2)

17th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 3y

Class 4

17:07 Yarmouth

Daring Legend

9st 9lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Michael Appleby

prominent

5/1

Form: 3-3760

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Comes into it on his third of 17 in a warm 6f Newmarket handicap (good) in April but he hasn't been the same horse since, including on return from being gelded, at York 14 days ago; on the back burner for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

(7)

28th Sep 2024

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

14:40 Haydock

Dapper Valley

9st 9lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Ex-Richard Hannon; won his maiden on soft but he doesn't seem ground-dependent and showed what could be done when a front-running third of 17 at Newmarket (6f, good) in April; hasn't lived up to that since but on a good mark for this yard; had wind surgery; new aids fitted.

14/1

10th

5

(2)

10th Aug 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:20 Ascot

Dapper Valley

9st 8lb

J: Rachel King

T: Richard Hannon

Comes into it on his third of 17 in a warm 6f Newmarket handicap (good) in April but he hasn't been the same horse since, including on return from being gelded, at York 14 days ago; on the back burner for now.

20/1

11th

10

(8)

27th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:40 York

Dapper Valley

8st 9lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: Richard Hannon

dwelt start, in rear

14/1

Non-runners

Beyond Borders, General Assembly

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £22.80
Straight Forecast £25.78
Tricast £112.82
Trifecta £130.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Jarraaf

TOPSPEED:

Dapper Valley

RP RATINGS:

Jarraaf

POSTDATA:

Jarraaf

The Times:

Jarraaf

Telegraph:

Jarraaf

The Guardian:

Jarraaf

Daily Mail:

Jarraaf

D Express:

Jarraaf

Daily Mirror:

Jarraaf

The Sun:

Jarraaf

The Star:

Jarraaf

Daily Record:

Jarraaf