'We may be in business' - whose turn is it to land another big Ascot handicap?

Fresh and River Nymph: leading contenders in Saturday's Peroni Nastro Azzurro Challenge Cup

Saturday: 3.36 Ascot
Peroni Nastro Azzurro Challenge Cup (Heritage Handicap) | 7f | 3yo+ | ITV4/Sky

Whose turn is it this time? That’s the question begging to be answered in another big straight-course handicap at Ascot. The same horses turn up race in, race out from the Victoria Cup to the Royal Hunt Cup, the International and the Challenge. I’ve probably missed others too.

Fresh is a regular: fourth in the Victoria Cup, he won the International and followed up over course and distance four weeks ago in a race that was run at a surprisingly slow pace.

The handicapper has put him up just 1lb for winning a race where only a length and a half covered the first seven home, so the assessor thinks the form is questionable. That looks right.

Symbolize was second in this race last year and again in the Balmoral Handicap over a mile on Champions Day. The ground was too quick for him when he was well held in the Royal Hunt Cup on his latest visit to Ascot in June but he should get his conditions here.

Given his liking for ease, it’s not hard to think he might have been trained for a return to this race by Andrew Balding and he ran a good trial in sixth at Doncaster 20 days ago.

Roll up, roll up for another course specialist in River Nymph. He was 13th in this last year, finished third in the Victoria Cup and third again behind Fresh over course and distance last time.

He does have one in the bank as he won the Victoria Cup last year and that was on soft going.

I would wager the winner will come from those three with Symbolize looking the best treated. But don’t rule out Safe Voyage and Blue For You. They might not be regulars in these big-field Ascot handicaps but both are in form and handle plenty of cut in the ground.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

Fresh information

Last year’s third Fresh is favourite to land the spoils this time after back-to-back wins over course and distance at Ascot through the summer.

The James Fanshawe-trained five-year-old landed the International in July and then returned for a similar Class 2 event in early September when he accounted for the reopposing Silent Film.

Fanshawe said: “Fresh has done really well at Ascot this season. He’s gone up in the weights but is a course specialist and it'll be great if we get some rain, which I think is forecast. He’s drawn 16 but it’s only of 18 rather than 28, which is when it can be an issue. He’s in good shape and hopefully can run another good race.”

What they say

David O'Meara, trainer of Escobar, Rhoscolyn, Blue For You, Shelir and Orbaan
Escobar is a Balmoral winner and you can run him over any trip – six furlongs, seven or a mile. He ran well in the Ayr Gold Cup and behind Blue For You at York, so he's in great form. Rhoscolyn has won on slow ground in the past and was third in the Buckingham Palace. Blue For You won nicely at York last time when he got into a bit of trouble and managed to overcome that. I think he'll be fine over the trip but I'm not sure about the ground if it softens. Shelir won nicely at Ripon a couple of runs ago and, although I'm not sure Ascot always brings out the best in him, he's in great form. Orbaan has had a brilliant year and has won at Ascot, as well as on slow ground.

James Horton, trainer of Asjad
We've learned how to ride him to best effect and he won nicely over six and a half furlongs at Doncaster with some ease in the ground. If the forecast is correct, we may be in business again. He seems in good form and there's no reason why he can't run well.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Ever Given
He's had a really good season, winning a Listed race and finishing second in a Group 3 last time. We're claiming a useful 3lb off him and, while I'd have liked a higher draw than stall one, he's in good order.

Clive Cox, trainer of River Nymph
He has very strong form at the track, including when winning the Victoria Cup last year, and has another live chance if he gets some cut in the ground.

Philip Robinson, racing manager to Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum, owner of Symbolize
He's got a lot of things in his favour as he likes Ascot's seven furlongs and prefers some give in the ground, which they may well get. I don't know about the draw as he's on the stands' rail in 18 but we should know more by post time.

John Quinn, trainer of Safe Voyage
He's in good form and ran well at Leopardstown last time. He's run well at Ascot before and we're hoping for another good effort.
Reporting by David Milnes

Saturday previews:

2.42 Newmarket: Chapple-Hyam and Weld on Sun Chariot stars Saffron Beach and Homeless Songs

3.00 Ascot: 'It looks winnable' - David Evans drawn to Group 3 for star sprinter Rohaan

3.21 Redcar: 'If Cold Case runs to the form he showed at Doncaster he's the one to beat'

3.25 Longchamp: Aidan O'Brien: 'Kyprios is a good-moving horse, so hopefully it's not too soft'

Longchamp Saturday: Can Arc absentee Verry Elleegant bounce back from disappointment in Royallieu?

4.02 Gowran Park: Track and trip ideal for Easy Game with stablemate Franco posing biggest threat