Is Britannia hero Perotto a handicap blot? Graeme Rodway gives his verdict

3.50 Newmarket
bet365 Bunbury Cup | 7f | 3yo+ | ITV/RTV

Royal Ascot handicaps can often be a rich source of future winners and this year’s Britannia has already worked out remarkably well after a handful of subsequent runners.

Four winners have emerged from the race, which is a big pointer to the winner Perotto's chance of following up one big handicap with another under a penalty.

Perotto races off just 2lb higher than for his Ascot win and is 5lb well in given his future mark of 106. He is an improving three-year-old taking on some exposed older rivals, so looks a handicap blot.

However, runners from the Classic generation have struggled to make an impact in this historic handicap in recent years.

All seven three-year-olds who have run in this race since the start of 2010 were beaten, and they beat an average of just 44 per cent of their rivals home. Even four-time subsequent Group 2 winner Sir Dancealot could only finish second in 2017, so it’s a big ask for a young horse.

Ametist also runs under a 6lb penalty but that puts him wrong at the weights. He races off a mark of 96, but would only be competing off 93 if he were able to run off his revised mark.

That’s obviously no concern for trainer William Haggas as the four-year-old was entered in the Group 2 Celebration Mile this week and must be considered better than handicap level.

The market seems to know how good he is, too. Ametist has won his last four races at odds of 4-7, 4-9, evens and 15-8. Will the money come for him again?

Last year’s winner Motakhayyel is back for another crack off a mark 4lb higher than when successful 12 months ago – this has been a specialist race in the past. Mine was the last back-to-back winner in 2005 and 2006, and he completed a hat-trick after his win in 2002.

Shadwell’s retained jockey Jim Crowley was on board Motakhayyel last year but, after riding at Newmarket on Friday, he prefers to travel north to York on Saturday. That suggests there might not be quite as much confidence behind Motakhayyel this time around and it may not pay to read too much into the booking of Frankie Dettori. He doesn’t ride many for Shadwell.

Dettori would probably rather be on the John and Thady Gosden-trained Fundamental, but a light weight of 8st 7lb rules him out of that ride. Martin Harley takes over and that’s no negative. He has ridden four winners and seven seconds from just 25 rides for the training team.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

Ropey anniversary

Twenty years on from his first triumph in the annual July course cavalry charge with Atavus, George Margarson bids to mark the anniversary in style with Ropey Guest, who has had this contest on his radar all year.

The four-year-old is sporting John Guest's blue and white colours, which Excellent Guest carried to finish second in the race in 2011 when he chased home Brae Hill.

George Margarson: represented by Ropey Guest in this year's Bunbury CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

Made famous for picking up place money in Group races as a two-year-old, Ropey Guest has found things harder in handicap company this year but has not had much luck with the draw, including when he finished 12th in the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot last time.

Margarson said: "Ropey Guest finished third in his group on the stands' side in the Wokingham. Just two days before that he was on the wrong side in the Buckingham Palace.

"He's drawn high, which looks as if it might be the place to be, and it may sound funny but this is the smallest field he's run in for a while as all those handicaps at Ascot have 29 runners and this is only 20. He has good form at the track and we've had this race in mind for him all year."

What they say

Jamie Osborne, trainer of Raising Sand and Cliffs Of Capri
We've left Raising Sand in but he would need rain to run. Cliffs Of Capri ran better than his finishing position would suggest at Royal Ascot and could go well as he likes it quick.

Philip Robinson, racing manager to Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum, owner of Symbolize
If he runs up to the form he showed at Royal Ascot when he was seventh in the Buckingham Palace then he would have a chance. David Probert had to commit earlier than he wanted to that day as the group on the far side had an advantage. He's drawn high, which looks like it may be a help.

William Haggas, trainer of Ametist
He really needs a mile but he likes fast ground, so we are sticking to seven furlongs. He's a progressive type but is drawn in stall one, which may not be the best as the high numbers were on top there on Thursday.

Ametist (left): strong at the finish when last seenCredit: Edward Whitaker

Richard Spencer, trainer of Revich
He’s been a bit unlucky on two of his three starts this year – you can put a line through his Royal Ascot run as it didn't pan out for him. If they get a drop of rain, it would enhance his chance.

Roger Varian, trainer of Jumaira Bay
It's a tough race but he goes there full of confidence after his win at Chelmsford last time. We expect the track and the prospect of fast ground to be in his favour.

Stuart Williams, trainer of Lord Rapscallion
He's usually thereabouts in these big races and a drop of rain, which may appear, would help.

Marcus Tregoning, trainer of Perotto
He handles quick ground but is just as effective with some give. This looks the right race for him as he's back in trip but they'll go a good clip, which will suit him. He won well at Royal Ascot and is now taking on older horses, which is never easy. He's in good shape.

Kimifive (right): second in the Stewards' Cup last yearCredit: Edward Whitaker

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Fundamental
He likes seven furlongs and fast ground, so if the rain stays away then he could be in business. It's a tough race but he's pleased us since Royal Ascot and should be in the shake-up.

Joe Tuite, trainer of Kimifive
Cieren Fallon is back on him and he knows him well from last year. Hopefully the rain stays away as he likes it quick. We just need a bit of luck in running.
Reporting by David Milnes

Read more Saturday previews:

3.15 Newmarket: History suggests you should favour unexposed juveniles over Ascot also-rans

3.35 Ascot: Hurricane Ivor out to gain first British win after Sandown farce

4.05 York: What could go wrong for Astro King? Graeme Rodway reckons he has found something

4.25 Newmarket: Cieren Fallon bids to follow in legendary July Cup footsteps with Oxted

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