Racecards
15:25 Ascot
totesport Victoria Cup (Handicap) (Class 2)
- 28 Runners
- Distance: 7f
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £85,000 added
- Winner: £52,964
- 2nd: £15,861
- 3rd: £7,930
- 4th: £3,970
- Form 43349-0
- Age 5
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 110
started very slowly, held up well in rear, some headway over 2f out, never a factor
- Form 211733
- Age 6
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer A Bailey
- Jockey Graham Gibbons
in touch, ridden 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 0006-04
- Age 6
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 101
prominent, ridden 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
- Form 107-777
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer R M Beckett
- Jockey Jim Crowley
chased leaders 5f
- Form 16/265-9
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer J A Osborne
- Jockey R Hills
started slowly, always behind
- Form 122115/
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer W J Haggas
- Jockey Michael Hills
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not pace to reach leaders
- Form 11371-1
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer M L W Bell
- Jockey Hayley Turner
slowly into stride, soon in touch, ridden well over 1f out, chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
- Form 2221-71
- Age 6
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer D M Simcock
- Jockey S Sanders
held up, headway 3f out, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to get competitive
- Form 435-000
- Age 7
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 99
started slowly, always in rear
- Form 0037-26
- Age 5
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer R A Fahey
- Jockey Lee Topliss
in touch, ridden 3f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, finished well to take 4th close home
- Form 5003-71
- Age 5
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey M O'connell
slight lead, strongly pressed from 2f out, kept on well, ridden and headed 1f out, lost 2nd soon after, but stayed on
- Form 21009-7
- Age 5
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer Mat Salaman
- Jockey Adam Beschizza
in touch ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out
- Form 30100-4
- Age 5
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer J S Goldie
- Jockey G Bartley
held up, smooth headway over 2f out, led going well 1f out, ran on well
- Form 42591-5
- Age 4
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer W R Swinburn
- Jockey D Holland
held up in rear, headway over 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out
Mon Cadeaux
232- Form 303070-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey David Probert
chased leaders over 5f
- Form 20406-0
- Age 5
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer K A Ryan
- Jockey Catherine Gannon
chased leaders, every chance 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 3869-38
- Age 6
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer B J Meehan
- Jockey M Dwyer
chased leaders, challenged and every chance 2f out, chased winner just inside final furlong, ran on but no impression on winner
- Form 02079-6
- Age 6
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer D M Simcock
- Jockey Martin Lane
held up towards rear, headway on near side over 2f out, edged right over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not pace to threaten
- Form 72103-4
- Age 4
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer M Murphy
- Jockey Greg Fairley
slowly into stride, always behind
Sunraider (IRE)
224- Form 190480-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer B W Hills
- Jockey Matthew Lawson
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
- Form 00841-1
- Age 4
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer G G Margarson
- Jockey Simon Pearce
chased leaders, going well and every chance 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 011520-
- Age 5
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer H & R Charlton
- Jockey K T O'Neill
close up, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 74265-0
- Age 4
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey J F McDonald
chased leaders, ridden along over 3f out, not much room and weakened over 2f out
- Form 064-110
- Age 5
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer M J Attwater
- Jockey Kieren Fox
held up, ridden and some headway over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
- Form 0860-00
- Age 6
- Weight 8-3
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey Neil Farley
always towards rear
- Form 5186-44
- Age 9
- Weight 8-3
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer J S Goldie
- Jockey A Mullen
always rear division
- Form 93034-4
- Age 5
- Weight 8-3
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer Ed De Giles
- Jockey Harry Bentley
always towards rear
Verdict
A typically competitive renewal of this valuable handicap and any number of these would go close if recapturing their best form. Musselburgh winner Nasri is probably the pick of Dandy Nicholls' trio but, along with Lutine Bell, Advanced, Layla's Hero and Parisian Pyramid, was behind HORSERADISH over 6f at Doncaster last month. Michael Bell's gelding has started this season as he finished the last and it would be no surprise if he landed his biggest win to date from a stands' side draw. Brae Hill could go well dropped in trip after a couple of solid runs over 1m this year and stablemate Castles In The Air also has claims, but Himalya is still fighting a losing battle with the handicapper and Warwick winner Fathsta is better on a turning track. Hawkeyethenoo tries a new trip but should stay and is preferred to Yarmouth winner Excellent Guest and last year's fourth Noble Citizen of the remainder.
Formwatch
Himalya (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Slowly away, always in rear, 12th of 13, 7l behind Genki (9-5) at Newmarket 6f Listed stks 3yo (1) gf in Apr.
Lowther 16-1 (9-10) Always prominent, driven to challenge over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on well under pressure, 3rd of 25, 3/4l behind Light From Mars (9-7) at Newbury 1m hcp (2) gf in Apr.
Castles In The Air 10-3fav (9-0) Tracked leaders, hard driven to challenge over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Evens And Odds (9-0) at Thirsk 6f stks (2) gd in Apr.
Oasis Dancer 14-1 (8-12) Always mid-division, 7th of 12, 7l behind Charlie's Moment (8-12) at Meydan(UAE) 6f hcp in Feb.
Corporal Maddox 12-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, in rear, ridden over 2f out, well held over 1f out, last of 9, 12l behind Iver Bridge Lad (9-7) at Nottingham 5f cond Stakes (3) fm in Apr.
Shamandar (FR) 12-1 (8-12) Towards rear, headway 3f out, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 7l behind Special Duty (8-12) at Newmarket 6f 2yo fll Grp 1 (1) gf in Oct '09.
Horseradish 5-1fav (9-3) Held up mid-division, headway over 2f out to track leaders, led over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Apr beating Waffle (9-6) by 3/4l, 20 ran.
Fathsta (IRE) 7-4fav (8-8) Held up in rear, closer order on inside 3f out, switched right to outside 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, led towards finish, won at Warwick 7f stks (3) gf in Apr beating No Hubris (9-4) by nk, 6 ran.
Golden Desert (IRE) 28-1 (8-5) Slowly away, raced rear, never dangerous, 10th of 14, 8l behind Across The Rhine (8-11) at Meydan(UAE) 7f hcap gd in Feb.
Brae Hill (IRE) 12-1 (9-8) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 25, 2l behind Light From Mars (9-7) at Newbury 1m hcp (2) gf in Apr.
Nasri 4-1fav (9-5) Made all, ridden and strongly challenged from over 2f out, held on gamely close home, won at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Apr beating Sioux Rising (8-12) by hd, 11 ran.
Rulesn'regulations 16-1 (9-4) Led, headed over 4f out, chased leader until ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 11, 5l behind Flipando (8-11) at Wolverhampton 6f hcap (2) pol in Mar.
Hawkeyethenoo (IRE) 8-1fav (9-1) Raced center in rear, headway and not clear run over 1f out, ran on not reached leaders, 4th of 24, 2 1/2l behind Pastoral Player (9-1) at Newmarket 6f hcp (2) gf.
Gouray Girl (IRE) 9-1 (9-7) Steadied start, held up in touch, hung left from over 2f out, soon one pace, 5th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Excellent Guest (8-13) at Yarmouth 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Apr.
Mon Cadeaux 66-1 (8-13) Dwelt, soon racing keenly in touch, lost place well over 1f out, soon beaten, 10th of 14, 9l behind Delegator (9-2) at Newbury 7f Listed stks (1) gd in Sep.
Parisian Pyramid (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear and keen, ridden 2f out, never dangerous, 14th of 20, 6l behind Horseradish (9-3) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Apr.
Manassas (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, effort over 2f out, soon one pace, 8th of 25, 4l behind Light From Mars (9-7) at Newbury 1m hcp (2) gf in Apr.
Noble Citizen (USA) 16-1 (8-13) Soon outpaced in rear, headway over 1f out, never nearer, 6th of 8, 6l behind Excellent Guest (8-13) at Yarmouth 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Apr.
Lutine Bell 18-1 (8-13) Dwelt, held up mid-division and keen, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 4th of 20, 1 3/4l behind Horseradish (9-3) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Apr.
Sunraider (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Chased leaders on stands' side rail, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 13th of 16, 11l behind Summerinthecity (8-8) at Haydock 6f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Sep.
Excellent Guest 20-1 (8-13) Always prominent, led over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Yarmouth 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Apr beating Bawaardi (8-9) by nk, 8 ran.
Zero Money (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Raced stands side tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on final furlong, 10th of 30, 3 1/2l behind Docofthebay (8-12) at Newmarket 7f hcp 105 (2) gd in Oct.
Layla's Hero (IRE) 16-1 (8-13) Fly jumped start, held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, no impression, 13th of 20, 6l behind Horseradish (9-3) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Apr.
Bravo Echo 14-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, effort over 2f out, soon weakened, 15th of 25, 13l behind Light From Mars (9-7) at Newbury 1m hcp (2) gf in Apr.
Al Muheer (IRE) 33-1 (9-2) Behind, headway over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 25, 8l behind Light From Mars (9-7) at Newbury 1m hcp (2) gf in Apr.
Dhaular Dhar (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, effort when hung left over 1f out, soon one pace, 4th of 15, 2 1/4l behind Justonefortheroad (8-8) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Apr.
Douze Points (IRE) 20-1 (9-6) In touch, effort 2f out, ridden over 1f out, went 3rd inside final furlong until last strides, 4th of 20, 2 1/2l behind Snow Bay (9-4) at Ripon 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Apr.
Advanced 20-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, every chance over 2f out, pushed along and looking one pace when squeezed for room over 1f out, kept on last 100 yards, 5th of 20, 2 1/2l behind Horseradish (9-3) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Apr.
Bay Knight (IRE) 25-1 (9-9) Towards rear, ridden into 9th 1f out, kept on final furlong, 5th of 11, 8l behind Inxile (9-9) at Naas 5f Listed stks (1) in Apr.