Can five-strong Godolphin battalion lay siege to competitive Ascot handicap?

Lavazza Stakes (Heritage Handicap) | 1m4f | 3yo | ITV/Sky

The story of the Lavazza Handicap is not just the dominance of the Godolphin runners, which make up five of the 11 declarations. It is how just about the entire field falls into the category of horse that has historically made this a handicap to watch.

Late-bloomers who are not necessarily bred to stay far enough to win the Town Plate are the order of the day here. Candleford finished second (subsequently disqualified) last year, 2020 winner Shandoz won the Listed Floodlit Stakes the following year and 2019 winner Apparate won the next season's Mallard.

Aside from the Godolphin quintet, the runners include two Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum horses out of middle-distance dams, a brother to Cracksman in Frantastic, and Chairman who is from the family of Beat Hollow.

In terms of the large Godolphin representation – four of which are trained by Charlie Appleby, one by Saeed bin Suroor – the market is siding with the jockeys over the purported merit of the caps. First Ruler has the red cap, but he also has Ryan Moore on his back which is probably a fair trade. He won a fairly strong 0-95 at Ascot last time and ought to keep improving for a while yet, with him being out of Zhukova who peaked at four and five.

Melrose fifth Al Nafir has Harry Davies aboard and the traditional blue cap, and he is a brother to Ghaiyyath so clearly also has it in the family to improve in 2023 and beyond. It is worth giving a mention to the rarely sighted blue cap with white star, Wild Crusade. He fits the same profile as many of his rivals – exceptional slow-burner's pedigree, unexposed, largely progressive – but is a big price seemingly because he blew a gasket in the Melrose.

He actually went off shorter than Al Nafir that day and whatever ailed him presumably has not hung around or he would not be running again two weeks later. That he is available at odds well into double figures says plenty about the depth of this race.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

What they say

William Haggas, trainer of Mandobi and La Yakel
A bit of rain would suit them both. La Yakel is the potential improver in the race and is very well as is Mandobi, although the latter is pretty exposed and gets no respite from the handicapper.

John Gosden, joint-trainer of Frantastic
He won nicely at Newbury last time and this is a step up in grade but he's a progressive horse.

Tom Ward, trainer of Double Cherry
He won well at Goodwood two starts ago and was a bit out of his ground at Haydock. When he won at Goodwood he hit the line strong, so I think 1m4f will be his minimum trip and he will go further. It's a good race but he appreciates a bit of cut and he's in great form, so hopefully he runs a nice race.

Freddie Meade, joint-trainer of Chairman
Stepping up to the mile and a half at a nice galloping track like Ascot should be right up his street. He's pretty ground versatile, he's won well on soft ground and won at Salisbury on good to firm. We like to think he's a horse who, as a two-year-old, needed to strength up and he's been doing that all through the year. He's had a break since his last run, which will have done him some good, and hopefully he's going the right way.

Alice Haynes, trainer of Sandstorm
He surprised me at Chelmsford by winning what looked a competitive three-year-old handicap with a bit in hand. He gets in off a low weight, and we were very happy to get Saffie Osborne booked to ride.
Race reporting by Owen Goulding

Saturday's race previews:

1.45 Haydock: 'John's really happy with him' – will Reach For The Moon make it as a miler?

2.05 Kempton: can Dubai Honour continue his upward curve and cash in on a huge class-drop?

2.20 Haydock: William Haggas eyeing another valuable prize with progressive filly Tamilla

2.55 Haydock: 'He was unlucky last time' – Old Borough Cup trainer quotes and analysis

3.30 Haydock: 'He has a big chance' – top trainers on their Sprint Cup runners

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