15:35
Betmgm Challenge Cup (Class 2 Heritage Handicap)
Class 2, 7f, Flat, 3yo+, £92,772, 18 runners
Winning time 1m 26.26s
- Going
- Good To Firm
- Surface
- Turf
Tip for this race
All today's tips ›Pellitory is our selection for this 18-runner seven-furlong contest at Ascot, and he looks the one to side with on a progressive profile and a fitness edge over the top-rated runner. He sits on 107 in our figures, only five pounds behind Poet Master on 112, a gap that the sharper condition and upward trajectory should be able to bridge on good to firm ground. Poet Master is the chief danger on raw ability, while Two Tribes (106) and Golden Mind (105) sit just behind our pick and could make this tighter still. In a big field, though, Pellitory's improvement makes him the most appealing option, and he is the selection.
Result
George Bass
Jack Channon
mid-pack early - angled right over 2f out and made ground - in touch with the front runner entering final furlong - stayed on strongly to hit front near the line and won
Billy Loughnane
George Boughey
Raced freely early - handy just off the pace - shaken up 2f out then hit the front - drifted left over 1f out - battled on but collared near the line - second beaten a head
Pat Dobbs
William Haggas
Settled at back of the field - short of room approaching final furlong - stayed on strongly to snatch third late
Daniel Tudhope
David O'Meara
Pulled hard early and settled mid-pack - bumped over 2f out when niggled along - stayed on well final furlong but denied third late on to finish 4th
Callum Shepherd
Daniel & Claire Kubler
Prominent early - pushed along over 2f out - stayed on the heels of the front pair inside final furlong - weakened near finish to take 5th
George Wood
Richard Spencer
pulled hard early - restrained in the pack's centre - moved left and pushed along 2f out - short of room over 1f out - plugged on final 110yds - finished 6th without threatening
Kieran Shoemark
Saeed bin Suroor
Mid-pack early - moved right and pushed along 2f out then gained ground into final furlong - weakened inside last 110yds to finish 7th
Callum Hutchinson
Andrew Balding
raced freely early - up with the front group - shaken up 2f out then gained ground over 1f out - faded final 110yds - finished 8th
Harry Davies
William Haggas
Pulled hard early - settled at back of field - under pressure over 2f out - plugged on final furlong - finished 9th and never a threat
P. J. McDonald
Jamie Osborne
Settled at the back early - short of room over 1f out - pushed along and kept on late - never threatened leaders - finished 10th
Clifford Lee
K. R. Burke
Pulled hard early and made the running - collared 2f out under pressure - faded final furlong to finish 11th
Sean Levey
Richard Hannon
up with the pace early - edged in front 2f out for a spell - folded when bumped over 1f out - finished 12th
No. 7, stall 14
5yo, 8-13, OR 99
J: Oliver Carmichael (7) · T: Eve Johnson Houghton
Oliver Carmichael (7)
Eve Johnson Houghton
mid-pack early - under pressure over 1f out - soon faded out of it - finished 13th
No. 12, stall 4
5yo, 8-13, OR 95
J: Warren Fentiman (3) · T: Richard & Peter Fahey
Warren Fentiman (3)
Richard & Peter Fahey
Alone towards far rail throughout - pushed along over 2f out - faded over 1f out to finish 14th
William Carver
Jamie Osborne
In the pack through the middle stages - pushed along 2f out - faded inside the final furlong to finish 15th
Toby Moore (7)
Richard Spencer
Prominent early - pushed along over 2f out - faded over 1f out to finish 16th
Jason Watson
Andrew Balding
pulled hard early - prominent in the pack's centre - pushed along 2f out - faded over 1f out - finished 17th
Lewis Edmunds
Ian Williams
Missed the break and lost ground - rear throughout - never a factor and finished 18th
Racecard
Clifford Lee
K. R. Burke 10/50
Poet Master has run over today's trip and going before, and a second and a third in his last five starts show he's capable of this level. Our rating has him top of the 18, but two sevenths last twice and a 67-day layoff are the worry.
- Sire
- Lope De Vega (IRE)
- Dam
- Madeline (IRE) by Kodiac
- Owner
- Exors Of The Late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid
- Foaled
- 23 Apr 2020
- Stable
- Coverham, North Yorkshire
- Trainer last 14 days
- 10 wins from 50 runs (20%)
- Trainer running to form
- 44%
- Ratings
- Perf 112, Speed 105
Daniel Tudhope
David O'Meara 5/48
Pellitory heads our shortlist on profile: he won last time out, 14 days ago, and also scored three starts back, with a third two starts back in between. He has run over today's trip and going before, and carries 137 lb from stall 17.
- Sire
- Sergei Prokofiev (CAN)
- Dam
- Daphinia (GB) by Kuroshio
- Owner
- Evan M Sutherland
- Foaled
- 4 Mar 2022
- Stable
- Upper Helmsley, N Yorks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 48 runs (10%)
- Trainer running to form
- 42%
- Ratings
- Perf 107, Speed 93
Toby Moore (7)
Richard Spencer 0/10
Two Tribes returns just 14 days after his last run and has a third two starts back and a second five starts back, while he has run over today's trip and going before. Our rating of 106 ranks him third of 18, though the main risk is that he is yet to win in his last six and was unplaced last time out.
- Sire
- Rajasinghe (IRE)
- Dam
- Warsash (IRE) by War Command
- Owner
- Phil Cunningham
- Foaled
- 5 Feb 2021
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 10 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 50%
- Ratings
- Perf 106, Speed 91
Callum Shepherd
Daniel & Claire Kubler 0/7
Fourth last time out and only eighth two starts back, so Arctic Dawn is hard to fancy at 136 lb from stall 18, with our rating of 99 ranking him 14th of 18. Back in just seven days, he has run over this trip and going, and won three and six starts back.
- Sire
- Blue Point (IRE)
- Dam
- Rose Diamond (IRE) by Daylami
- Owner
- Mr Mrs G Middlebrook
- Foaled
- 9 Mar 2021
- Stable
- Lambourn, Berks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 7 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 57%
- Ratings
- Perf 99, Speed 87
Jason Watson
Andrew Balding 8/68
Winless in his last six, Five Ways was beaten into ninth last time out just seven days ago, though he has run over today's trip and going before. Carrying 135 lb from stall 10 off an official 104, he looks a mid-pack type, and our rating of 103 backs that up.
- Sire
- Kameko (USA)
- Dam
- Rosie Briar (GB) by Mayson
- Owner
- Dr J A E Hobby
- Foaled
- 13 Apr 2023
- Stable
- Kingsclere, Hants
- Trainer last 14 days
- 8 wins from 68 runs (12%)
- Trainer running to form
- 58%
- Ratings
- Perf 103, Speed 99
Harry Davies
William Haggas 8/44
Thunder Call arrives in cracking form, a winner last time out, a second two starts back and three wins in his last five, and he has run over today's trip and going. Even so, 133 lb off an official 102 is a big ask, and our figures rank him only 15th of 18.
- Sire
- Pinatubo (IRE)
- Dam
- Diala (IRE) by Iffraaj
- Owner
- Abdulla Al Khalifa
- Foaled
- 15 Mar 2023
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 8 wins from 44 runs (18%)
- Trainer running to form
- 51%
- Ratings
- Perf 98, Speed 89
Oliver Carmichael (7)
Eve Johnson Houghton 3/32
Great Acclaim is yet to win in his last six, with a seventh last time out and a ninth and eighth before that, though he was third four starts back and second five back. He has run over today's trip and going, but 49 days off and 132 lb from draw 14 temper the appeal.
- Sire
- Aclaim (IRE)
- Dam
- Freedom Spirit (GB) by Muhaarar
- Owner
- G Owen
- Foaled
- 26 Feb 2021
- Stable
- Blewbury, Oxfordshire
- Trainer last 14 days
- 3 wins from 32 runs (9%)
- Trainer running to form
- 34%
- Ratings
- Perf 104, Speed 93
P. J. McDonald
Jamie Osborne 0/14
Hickory arrives a winner last time out, and also won three starts back, though a fifth two starts back shows his form can wobble. He has run over today's trip and going, but 132 lb from draw 9 and a 12th-ranked rating of 100 leave him midfield.
- Sire
- Free Eagle (IRE)
- Dam
- Badr Al Badoor (IRE) by Acclamation
- Owner
- Martyn And Elaine Booth
- Foaled
- 15 May 2018
- Stable
- Upper Lambourn, Berks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 14 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 41%
- Ratings
- Perf 100, Speed 87
Billy Loughnane
George Boughey 3/26
Moonfall arrives in solid nick, runner-up last time out and again two starts back, and he has run over today's trip and going before. A winless spell since his success four starts back and a hefty 132 lb from stall 11 keep him in the midfield picture.
- Sire
- Starman (GB)
- Dam
- Lealas Daughter (IRE) by Excelebration
- Owner
- Exors Of The Late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid
- Foaled
- 22 Mar 2023
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 3 wins from 26 runs (12%)
- Trainer running to form
- 54%
- Ratings
- Perf 104, Speed 93
George Bass
Jack Channon 0/22
Mezcala won twice in his last five starts, including three starts back, but he has since slipped to an unplaced run and a sixth last time out, and he has run over today's trip and going. A cold-running yard (0/21) and 130 lb from stall 16 temper things, while our rating of 102 only ranks him ninth of 18.
- Sire
- Expert Eye (GB)
- Dam
- Why We Dream (IRE) by Al Kazeem
- Owner
- Jon And Julia Aisbitt
- Foaled
- 17 Feb 2022
- Stable
- West Ilsley, Berks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 22 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 41%
- Ratings
- Perf 102, Speed 91
Kieran Shoemark
Saeed bin Suroor 0/3
Desert Shadow arrives in cracking form, second last time out and a winner two starts back, with experience over today's trip and going, but our figures rank him last of 18. Carrying 129 lb off a mark of 96 after 35 days off, he looks a tough ask.
- Sire
- Siyouni (FR)
- Dam
- Soliloquy (GB) by Dubawi
- Owner
- Godolphin
- Foaled
- 26 Feb 2022
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 3 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 49%
- Ratings
- Perf 92, Speed 80
Warren Fentiman (3)
Richard & Peter Fahey 4/48
Golden Mind has run over today's trip and going, and our rating of 105 ranks him fourth of 18, well clear of his official 95 off 128 lb from stall four. The risk is a run of four unplaced efforts, leaving him winless in his last six.
- Sire
- Galileo Gold (GB)
- Dam
- Sagely (IRE) by Frozen Power
- Owner
- Aidan J Ryan Partner
- Foaled
- 29 Jan 2021
- Stable
- Musley Bank, N Yorks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 4 wins from 48 runs (8%)
- Trainer running to form
- 43%
- Ratings
- Perf 105, Speed 95
Sean Levey
Richard Hannon 5/49
River King has tailed off lately, a fifth two starts back and a fourth last time out after winning three starts back, and he sits 13th of 18 on our ratings. In his favour, he has run over today's trip and going, and returns after 21 days.
- Sire
- King Of Change (GB)
- Dam
- Precipitous (IRE) by Indian Ridge
- Owner
- Grande Motte
- Foaled
- 14 Apr 2022
- Stable
- Herridge, Wilts
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 49 runs (10%)
- Trainer running to form
- 37%
- Ratings
- Perf 100, Speed 89
Callum Hutchinson
Andrew Balding 8/68
Winner last time out and three times a victor in her last six starts, Machadadorp has run over today's trip and on this going, though a sixth two starts back shows her form can wobble. A 44-day break and 127 lb from draw 13 add to the questions, and our rating of 102 ranks her tenth of 18.
- Sire
- Mehmas (IRE)
- Dam
- Maid To Remember (GB) by Redoute's Choice
- Owner
- Cayton Park Stud Limited
- Foaled
- 27 Apr 2023
- Stable
- Kingsclere, Hants
- Trainer last 14 days
- 8 wins from 68 runs (12%)
- Trainer running to form
- 58%
- Ratings
- Perf 102, Speed 87
Pat Dobbs
William Haggas 8/44
Realign won four starts back but has been unplaced in his last two, and he returns after 42 days off; he has run over today's trip and going, and our rating of 104 ranks him fifth of 18. Carrying 127 lb from draw 7, he's capable of better but must prove he's rediscovered that winning form.
- Sire
- Blue Point (IRE)
- Dam
- Maggies Angel (IRE) by Dark Angel
- Owner
- Wathnan Racing
- Foaled
- 4 Mar 2022
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 8 wins from 44 runs (18%)
- Trainer running to form
- 51%
- Ratings
- Perf 105, Speed 90
William Carver
Jamie Osborne 0/14
The Fingal Raven was third last time out and is only seven days fresh, but he is winless in his last six and has finished ninth twice in that spell, which makes him hard to fancy. He has run over today's trip and going, and carries 126 lb from draw 12, though our figures rank him 16th of 18.
- Sire
- Mehmas (IRE)
- Dam
- Chupalla (GB) by Helmet
- Owner
- Dominic Griffiths And David Kavanagh
- Foaled
- 5 Feb 2022
- Stable
- Upper Lambourn, Berks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 14 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 41%
- Ratings
- Perf 97, Speed 86
George Wood
Richard Spencer 0/10
Hawksbill bounced back with a second last time out, a fourth two starts back before that, and has run over today's trip and going, but he is winless in his last six and was beaten in the three runs before those. Our rating of 101 sits above his official 92, though he carries 125 lb from stall 15.
- Sire
- Kameko (USA)
- Dam
- Like (IRE) by Frankel
- Owner
- Phil Cunningham
- Foaled
- 19 Jan 2022
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 10 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 50%
- Ratings
- Perf 101, Speed 92
Lewis Edmunds
Ian Williams 3/31
Aalto's recent form reads well, with a second last time out, two thirds before that and a win four starts back, and he is fresh enough after 14 days, having run over this trip and on this going. Even so, our figures rank him 17th of 18, and 123 lb off an official mark of 90 makes it hard to fancy him.
- Sire
- Zelzal (FR)
- Dam
- Au Dessus (GB) by Siyouni
- Owner
- Bell Lyons James
- Foaled
- 20 Mar 2020
- Stable
- Portway, Worcs
- Trainer last 14 days
- 3 wins from 31 runs (10%)
- Trainer running to form
- 36%
- Ratings
- Perf 93, Speed 89
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.