Racecards
16:35 Ascot
D'Arenberg Handicap (Class 3)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £13,000 added
- Winner: £8,419
- 2nd: £2,505
- 3rd: £1,252
- 4th: £625
- Form 97501-2
- Age 9
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 93
in touch on inside, headway over 2f out, chased leaders 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 111116-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer D R Lanigan
- Jockey David Probert
raced wide and always towards rear
- Form 14010-0
- Age 4
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey D Holland
took keen hold early, chased leading pair, pushed along over 3f out, weakened inside final 2f
- Form 4/3171-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey R L Moore
held up towards rear, steady headway on outside over 5f out, chased leaders 2f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, stayed on until headed and not pace of winner towards finish
- Form 317146-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey N Mackay
held up in mid-division, headway over 2f out, staying on when badly hampered over 1f out, stayed on again inside final furlong but not recover
- Form 6311-00
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey Greg Fairley
took keen hold, disputed lead, definite lead over 8f out, ridden and headed well over 1f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 13226-2
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 89
held up in rear, headway over 2f out, squeezed through narrow gap over 1f out, chased leader inside final furlong, stayed on to lead towards finish
Berling (IRE)
260- Form 115490-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer J L Dunlop
- Jockey J Fortune
held up towards rear headway on outside over 1f out, ridden to challenge when veered sharply left to opposite side of course inside final furlong, not recover
- Form 2110-5
- Age 6
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer A Middleton
- Jockey K T O'Neill
keen hold early, disputed lead until over 8f out, chased leader, ridden to take narow lead inside final 2f, headed approaching final furlong, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 358111-
- Age 5
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer J R Fanshawe
- Jockey Hayley Turner
steadied start, held up towards rear, brief effort on inside over 2f out, soon beaten
Udabaa (IRE)
21- Form 3/516-2
- Age 4
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer M P Tregoning
- Jockey R Hills
chased leaders, pushed along over 3f out, ridden when not much room 2f out, outpaced over 1f out, ridden and stayed on again inside final furlong, not pace to threaten leading duo
- Form 3-11211
- Age 5
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer M Madgwick
- Jockey Jim Crowley
always towards rear
Verdict
Sparkling Smile's only defeat last season came when tried in Listed company over this C&D on her final start. She may need this, however, and is giving weight to a potential improver in the shape of BLISSFUL MOMENT. Sir Michael Stoute's gelding has only had five runs but managed to win at Windsor and Beverley last year and it will be disappointing if he can't land a nice prize off this sort of mark this season. Zuider Zee was fourth in the Melrose Stakes at York last August and will probably be seen to better effect in staying races this year but Spensley and Beaubrav both improved markedly on the all-weather over the winter and Udabaa's second at Newbury suggests he should win more races this year.
Formwatch
Dansili Dancer 4-1 (9-0) Held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, hard driven to challenge inside final furlong, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Nideeb (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f Group 3 (1) pol in Mar.
Sparkling Smile (IRE) 8-1 (8-9) In touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened 1f out, 6th of 10, 9l behind Polly's Mark (9-3) at Ascot 1m 4f fll lst stks (1) gd in Sep.
Mister Angry (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Mid-division, pushed along entering straight, weakened over 3f out, tailed off and eased, last of 13, well behind Sunny Game (8-9) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Apr.
Blissful Moment (USA) 9-1 (9-5) In touch, pushed along 6f out, switched left over 2f out, improved over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong to lead near finish, won at Beverley 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Sep beating Allannah Abu (8-9) by hd, 10 ran.
Zuider Zee (GER) 6-1fav (8-6) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, bridden over 1f out, one pace, 6th of 16, 4l behind Precision Break (9-7) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-110 (2) gd in Sep.
Licence To Till (USA) 25-1 (9-7) Chased leader, led entering final 3f, headed over 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 13, 27l behind Sunny Game (8-9) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Apr.
Rock A Doodle Doo (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) Held up in rear, not clear run on outside from 3f out, staying on when hampered and switched right over 1f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, closed on 2nd close home, no impression on winner (finished 3rd, awarded 2nd), 2nd of 13, 2 1/4l behind Sunny Game (8-9) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Apr.
Berling (IRE) 17-2 (8-7) Held up, lost place 5f out, 12th of 16, well behind Mount Athos (8-1) at York 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Aug.
Cashpoint 50-1 (9-5) Raced wide of pack early, soon led, headed over 4f out, soon hard driven, weakened final furlong, 5th of 15, 7l behind Modun (9-6) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Apr.
Spensley (IRE) 11-8fav (8-12) Mid-division, headway entering final 2f, led 1f out, soon in command, eased near finish, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Nov beating Iron Condor (8-2) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Udabaa (IRE) 9-1 (9-2) Led early, remained prominent, led again over 4f out, hard ridden when headed over 1f out, no exta closing stages, 2nd of 15, 4l behind Modun (9-6) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Apr.
Beaubrav 4-5fav (9-7) In touch in rear, headway to track leader over 2f out, shaken up to lead inside final furlong, readily, won at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Apr beating King Olav (9-7) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.