17:35 Ascot
Good To FirmGolden Gates Stakes (Handicap)
- First Prize: £61848
- 1m 1f 212y
- Class 2
- 19 runners
ITV
Runners: 19 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
Form: 322-30
OR: 103
W: 9st 9lb
Age: 3 yo Gelding
Reappeared with creditable third of seven in 1m1f Listed race at Newmarket; short of room at a crucial stage in the London Gold Cup at Newbury (1m2f, good; 16-1) and basically given an easy time from over 1f out, so he's a good deal better than last of ten in that hot contest suggests; however, after 11 races, he is more exposed than most of today's rivals.
Form: 1-522
OR: 101
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
AW winner in November on debut and, coming from the back, good form in defeat this season; no real threat to Evanesco in five-runner handicap at Newmarket (1m2f, good to firm) on penultimate start but better when launching a strong challenge for the London Gold Cup at Newbury (1m2f, good) last time, losing out narrowly in a duel with Lost Boys; both Newbury principals have since been snapped up by Wathnan Racing; up 6lb but cheekpieces go on (perhaps some hesitation in front last time) and he's one to take seriously.
Form: 617-41 D
OR: 100
W: 9st 6lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Mixed bag as 2yo but improved form in two 1m2f Newmarket handicaps this term; had it all his own way up front in five-runner race last time (good to firm) but stretched clear impressively from over 1f out; 8lb higher in a much more competitive affair today but runner-up Sahara King went close in the always-strong London Gold Cup next time; considered.
Form: 214-54
OR: 100
W: 9st 6lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Stays 1m2f and acts on good to firm; put firmly in his place when 20-1 for Group 3 Classic Trial at Sandown on reappearance but, despite racing freely in rear early on, he made late headway into fourth of ten off this mark to Lost Boys in the London Gold Cup at Newbury (1m2f, good) on handicap debut; could have more to give and a stronger pace today may suit.
Form: 311-
OR: 99
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Bred to stay 1m2f; all three 2yo starts were on softer than good, with a promising debut before he easily justified long odds-on favouritism over 1m in a maiden at Sandown and novice at Haydock; scampered 11l clear last time, admittedly against greatly inferior opposition and this opening mark for reappearance is a stiff one on the face of it, but it's hard to say just how good he is.
Form: 1-21
OR: 98
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
He made a smooth start with 7f AW win in November and built substantially on that when second in a novice at Newmarket (1m, good) last month; didn't reproduce that form when having to work hard for his win at 1-4 in a novice at Windsor (1m, good to soft) 12 days ago but the major plus point for this handicap debut is that his performance and pedigree both shout that 1m2f will suit him much better.
Form: 435-31 D
OR: 97
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Pitched into Group 2 and Group 3 events for minor roles on the last two of his three outings as 2yo; it wasn't until second start this term that he got off the mark (made all) and he had to knuckle down seriously, but that even-money success from a stablemate at Roscommon (10.4f, good; unraced on firmer) brings improved form into this much harder task for handicap debut.
Form: 511 D
OR: 97
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Made low-key start in April but a totally different proposition in his two races since, emerging best in bunched finish for maiden at Southwell (1m, AW) and pulverising the opposition in a novice at Doncaster (1m2f, good to firm); changed hands since; very useful prospect going into this handicap debut.
Form: 143-83
OR: 97
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
His win was in a 7f novice at Doncaster (good) last July; subsequent efforts include minor honours in a Listed race and two Italian Group 3s, latterly emerging in third of 14 with first-time cheekpieces in their version of the 2,000 Guineas (1m, good); that does not make him well handicapped today but his sire gives plenty of hope for 1m2f.
Form: 3-1330
OR: 97
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
AW novice winner who was third in 1m2f Listed race at Epsom and 11.6f Derby Trial at Lingfield (good to firm); same fate as many when tailed off in the Derby (1m4f, soft; 66-1) two weeks ago and improvement is also needed if he's to make a splash on this handicap debut, but return to 1m2f can help.
Form: 1-272
OR: 96
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Won a 7f Curragh maiden last June in his only race as a 2yo; never dangerous in 1m2f Group 3 this May but useful form when second in small-field events over 1m2f/1m4f on starts either side (last time 7l behind Thursday's Listed second Endorsement); lightly raced but needs to show something new for a prominent finish on this handicap debut.
OUR TIP
Form: 331-11 D
OR: 96
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Won the last three of his five starts; this season they were 1m2f handicaps (good; unraced on firmer) at Sandown and Newbury, latterly in the London Gold Cup in which he travelled very strongly before squeezing through over 1f out and prevailing virtually on the nod against Sahara King, as the pair drew about 2l clear; these powerful owners have acquired both horses since; up 7lb but improving and capable of better.
Form: 117-49
OR: 93
W: 8st 13lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Won from the front in two Kempton novices (1m, AW) as 2yo; beat just one rival in the course of three starts since, still showing useful form on reappearance (last four four in a 1m conditions stakes) but eased right down once pursuit was in vain at Epsom (1m2f, soft) two weeks ago on handicap debut; plenty to prove but at least stamina in family suggests he should stay.
Form: 53-311 D
OR: 91
W: 8st 11lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
11-8 favourite in cheekpieces when he won a maiden at Gowran Park (1m, soft) and conditions event at Naas (10.4f, good; unraced on firmer) on his last two starts; made all and put 4.5l between himself and his rivals over the last 2f on the latest outing; revised mark could still be favourable, including as he's not fully exposed at this trip.
Form: 22-14 BF
OR: 91
W: 8st 11lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Reappeared at 1-4 with a ready novice win; 2-1 favourite when good fourth of 14 for the rearranged Silver Bowl at Carlisle (also 1m on good to firm) three weeks ago on handicap debut, making inroads too late but that experience of a hot handicap at right-handed track could stand him in good stead and, in accordance with the dam's side, 1m2f now looks well worth exploring.
Form: -19111 D
OR: 90
W: 8st 10lb
Age: 3 yo Filly
Last of nine on handicap debut (1m, AW) in April but won her other four starts this season; they were 1m2f handicaps at Newmarket, Chester (good) and Epsom (soft) on last three occasions and she's seen those races out strongly; raised another 10lb since that attritional contest two weeks ago, and she's never raced on firmer than good, but it's hard to knock one who's been finding such improvement.
Form: 42-41 D
OR: 90
W: 8st 10lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Reserve; tongue tied first time and improved when off the mark in eight-runner novice at Chepstow (1m2f, good to firm) three weeks ago, leading over 2f out and comfortably seeing off Thursday's King George V runner Blue Hercules; more to offer, which is needed on this handicap debut; also declared (very stiff task) for Friday's 1m4f Group 2 here.
Form: 5-12
OR: 89
W: 8st 9lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Reserve; won Kempton maiden (1m, AW) on reappearance and came from off the pace again when second of 11 in novice at Windsor (1m, good to firm); has had just three races and had to bide his time before getting in the clear last time, so he's surely capable of better; dam was a Lingfield Oaks Trial winner, so moving up from 1m should suit; one to note on handicap debut.
Form: -11112
OR: 89
W: 8st 9lb
Age: 3 yo Gelding
Reserve; won this spring in his first four handicaps and beaten a head at Carlisle on latest; makes a big step up in class but his stable has continued in great form and, although he's unraced beyond 1m and the third of those wins was over 7f, there's enough in his family to give hope for 1m2f.
Terms and conditions
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Betting Forecast
28/1 Bourbon Blues, 5/1 Sahara King, 10/1 Evanesco, 14/1 Spyce, 8/1 Accredit, 14/1 Bayaann, 20/1 Nil Bua Gan Dua, 7/1 Harmonics, 40/1 Sunset On Leros, 25/1 Balzac, 16/1 Amadeus Mozart, 100/30 Lost Boys, 40/1 Allegresse, 11/1 Perisher, 12/1 Princling, 16/1 Folk Pageant, 20/1 Echo Of Stars, 20/1 Heraldry, 28/1 Wild Thoughts
Verdict
Wathnan Racing have stepped in to buy LOST BOYS and Sahara King since they moved clear to be separated by a head in first and second for the London Gold Cup at Newbury five weeks ago and it’s easy to see why. Lost Boys may well be more straightforward and gets the vote to complete his four-timer, although Sahara King’s finishing effort could be helped by the first-time headgear. Harmonics is far less exposed and was so impressive in a novice event last time, so he is feared most among the rest, ahead of Evanesco and the Haggas pair Princling and Bayaann.[Richard Austen]