18:10 Ascot
Good To FirmCopper Horse Stakes (Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)
- First Prize: £61848
- 1m 6f 34y
- Class 2
- 19 runners
ITV
Runners: 19 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
Form: 1126-7 C
OR: 100
W: 9st 12lb
Age: 7 yo Gelding
Won the Cork Derby over 1m4f before following up in the 2m4f handicap on this card 12 months ago (good to firm) and that golden spell continued when second in the Ebor at York (1m6f); only 2lb higher than at York so he's not handicapped out of this, and last month's run in a Group 3 after 215 days away should have brought him on fitness-wise; respected.
Form: 355-27
OR: 100
W: 9st 12lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
Not a prolific winner, with his waiting tactics, and never involved when 7-1 for last year's 1m4f Duke of Edinburgh at this meeting; however, it would be unwise not to recall his fourth in the Ebor at York last August (1m6f, good to firm) off a 1lb higher mark and he was unsuited by the steady pace last time out (1m4f); could get competitive should this pan out favourably; stable won this in 2022.
Form: 2115-6
OR: 100
W: 9st 12lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
Had a ball last year after being gelded, winning three of his six starts and as good as ever when a close fifth stepped up to 1m6f at Haydock in September; however, he is a 6yo and perhaps high in the weights now, a suspicion seemingly confirmed by his York run a month ago; there's no obvious significance in the return of cheekpieces.
Form: 4353-1
OR: 100
W: 9st 12lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
After just the solitary run at two he made steady progress last season and delivered a clear personal best when reeling in the front-running Gamrai in a 1m4f Newmarket handicap at the Guineas meeting (good to firm; first run since gelded) on reappearance; up just 4lb and this return to a longer trip won't bother him; hard to knock.
Form: 41637-
OR: 100
W: 9st 12lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Ran surprisingly well to finish so close in last year's Queen's Vase over C&D but perhaps flattered by that given subsequent defeats (Group 3 and strong handicap); gelded prior to tailing off on his hurdling debut at Cheltenham in November and absent since; the return of cheekpieces is no bad thing.
Form: -64077 CD
OR: 99
W: 9st 11lb
Age: 7 yo Colt
Close up in a Saudi Arabian 1m7f handicap in February (last run in a tongue-tie that now returns) but that form is none too persuasive in a race of this nature and he's hardly hit the ground running back in Britain; only eighth in this last year off 2lb higher; one for the optimists.
Form: 7606-0 CD
OR: 99
W: 9st 11lb
Age: 7 yo Gelding
Ex-Irish 7yo; won a slowly run, four-runner Group 3 over 2m here in April 2025 on his stable debut but failed to kick on and he needed to run a lot better than he did at Newmarket in early May (1m6f) to be seriously considered here; the hood and blinkers are new additions.
Form: 124-12 BF
OR: 99
W: 9st 11lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Late developer who ran once as a 2yo; the waves made last season have gathered scale in handicaps this year, as he backed up his comfortable AW win (1m3f) with a length defeat by Daiquiri Bay at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm; led for the most part); he clearly needs to find more again (off 2lb higher) to gain his revenge on the winner but these Gosden runners have a tendency to get better and better; the stable has won this twice since 2021.
Form: -13109 CD
OR: 98
W: 9st 10lb
Age: 9 yo Gelding
Won 1m4f/2m handicaps on the AW (3-36 on turf) earlier this year but this is a different ball game altogether and his run at Carlisle 17 days ago was no more than average; plenty of others appeal more.
Form: 1321-1 D
OR: 98
W: 9st 10lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Made his debut only just over a year ago; firmly on the upgrade when signing off last season with a handicap win at Haydock (1m6f, good; first-time cheekpieces) and following up on his reappearance at Hamilton (1m5f, good; no headgear) where the narrow margin of victory masked his superiority (he overcame trouble); he's up a further 8lb but the improvement could keep coming; James Doyle prefers him over Wathnan's other pair; big player.
Form: 514-94
OR: 98
W: 9st 10lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Only 1-10 for Andre Fabre, the win gained over 1m3f on good to soft last summer; has had only the two races for current stable and ran fairly well in the face of a stiff task in an Abu Dhabi Listed assignment in February latest (1m4f, good; wore tongue-tie; admittedly perhaps flattered from the front); it wouldn't be a bolt from the blue should he feature in the finish.
OUR TIP
Form: 337-36
OR: 97
W: 9st 9lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Still looked a bit wet behind the ears when beaten under 4l into fifth in this 12 months ago (7-1) and has raised his game subsequently, notably when only just missing out in a 1m6f handicap at Glorious Goodwood and posting another placed effort at Meydan during the winter (1m4f, good); absent since below par in a Group 3 there in February; should have freshened up since with this presumably the plan; interesting.
Form: 940-63
OR: 97
W: 9st 9lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
Only 1-10 for Dermot Weld but was highly tried on occasions; made his debut for Richard Hughes in the Chester Cup (2m2f, good) and, having broke well from his wide draw, he put up a bold show from the front only to be reeled in late in the day; a 2lb nudge is easy to stomach and dropping back to 1m6f could work given the cruising speed he showed at Chester.
Form: 971-32 D
OR: 97
W: 9st 9lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Record of 3-9 overall and going the right way in handicaps, finishing a clear second (from the front) over 1m4f at York (good) last time behind a sharp Haggas improver whom he'd beaten over 1m6f on final run last season (good to soft; first run after gelding operation); this return to 1m6f has to be a good thing; respected.
Form: 400-41
OR: 96
W: 9st 8lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
His form eventually ran cold for the Gosdens last season but he's back on the up for his new yard, following his pleasing comeback at Newmarket with a decisive win at Kempton where he swept by late on (1m4f, AW); has low enough mileage to believe he'll cope fine with a 7lb rise and, despite not being Wathnan's first string on jockey arrangements, he's one to consider.
Form: 429-23
OR: 94
W: 9st 6lb
Age: 5 yo Filly
It wasn't a strong Listed race in which she finished third at Goodwood (1m4f, good) and the steady pace casts further doubts about that form; the handicapper saw fit to raise her 5lb and that spells danger in this competitive race back up in trip.
Form: 8-0451
OR: 94
W: 9st 6lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
First reserve; has never won away from Epsom, where he excelled on a mud-splattered Derby day ten days ago (1m4f, soft; first-time cheekpieces); it's unwise to take that form at face value and a 6lb rise can find him out, especially on this forecast faster surface.
Form: 39513-
OR: 93
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Second reserve; after a stint over hurdles (1-5) he's back with his former trainer for whom he finished fourth in the 1m4f 3yo handicap here two years ago (off 3lb lower); seems to retain all his ability and would have each-way prospects if getting a run; well beaten on the Flat in sole attempt in cheekpieces.
Form: 8240-9 CD
OR: 92
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
Third reserve; soft ground wouldn't have helped when well behind Too Soon at Epsom ten days ago on seasonal debut; had some solid form in strong 1m6f/2m handicaps last season but current mark is a tough one.
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Betting Forecast
10/1 Ascending, 16/1 Stressfree, 22/1 Paddy The Squire, 13/2 Daiquiri Bay, 33/1 Hallelujah U, 25/1 Real Dream, 50/1 Yashin, 6/1 Gamrai, 40/1 Enemy, 9/4 Valiancy, 25/1 Green Cape, 9/1 Aeronautic, 16/1 Duraji, 8/1 Sing Us A Song, 10/1 Ernst Blofeld, 25/1 Incensed, 20/1 Too Soon, 25/1 Fouroneohfever, 33/1 Dancing In Paris
Verdict
Ante-post punters have been all over Valiancy, the chosen one for James Doyle from three entries for owners Wathnan Racing and he could easily be the best handicapped of these. However, there’s no shortage of alternatives and AERONAUTIC might be closer to the finished article now than he was when fifth in this 12 months ago, and he returns a fresh horse having been rested since contesting a Group race at Meydan in February. Gamrai could find the improvement that he’ll need, though Daiquiri Bay was so strong late on when beating him fair and square at Newmarket that this return to 1m6f should benefit Alan King’s gelding enormously.[Alistair Jones]