DONN McCLEAN: There are well-handicapped horses in the Gigaset International Handicap at Ascot on Saturday, that’s for sure. There’s Suzi’s Connoisseur for starters, raised from a mark of 98 for his (he’s a he all right) run to finish second to Swift Approval in the Silver Bunbury Cup to a mark of 100. But he was 1lb poorly-in in the Silver Bunbury Cup, so he actually gets to race off his pre-Newmarket rating of 97, so he is 3lb well-in today.
As well as that, he goes well in these big-field handicaps, seven furlongs is a good trip for him, and he likes Ascot. He was fifth in this race last year off today’s mark of 97, and he was only beaten a half a length by Majestic Moon in a handicap over this course and distance in September off a mark of 96.
Heaven’s Guest was raised 2lb for his run to finish second to Golden Steps in the Bunbury Cup itself at Newmarket, but he gets to race off his old mark of 104. He is another horse who goes well at Ascot, and he won this race last year off a mark of 103, just 1lb lower than today’s mark.
On the negative side, Richard Fahey’s horse is probably at his best when he can get his toe in at least a little, and the ground was decidedly fast at Ascot on Friday.
Mutawathea is 1lb well-in after finishing third in the Bunbury Cup since the weights were framed, while Scottish Glen is 1lb well-in, presumably upgraded while standing in his box, because the race in which he finished third behind Namhroodah and Dutch Law – with Ifwecan and Highland Colori and Brazos behind him – at Newmarket last month is working out so well. Brazos is also 1lb well-in, raised 4lb for his win at Doncaster last Thursday, but racing today under just a 3lb penalty.
All the well-in horses are obviously interesting, all have chances in a wide open race. However, the value of the race may be Jack Dexter, not just because he is a big price, and not just because he is 1lb well-in, but because he has plenty in his favour besides.
Jim Goldie’s horse is seven years old now, and seven-year-olds do not tend to win big competitive handicaps like this one. Indeed, seven of the last 10 winners of this race were four, and the other three were five. No three-year-old winners, no six-year-old winners, no seven-year-old winners.
However, Jack Dexter is an unusual seven-year-old, in that he appears to be in the form of his life these days. It has taken him a little while to find his rhythm this season, but his last two runs – both at Ascot – have been very good.
He ran a cracker in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, he ran better than his finishing position in ninth place suggests. He travelled well towards the far side, in a race in which the near-side horses probably had an advantage, but he had to check twice at the two-furlong pole just when his rider Fran Berry wanted to make his move. He did well to get as close as he did.
Dropped down from six furlongs to five for his next run two weeks ago, he again finished off his race well, once again on the far side, which was not an advantaged in that race, to finish fourth behind Royal Birth and Robot Boy, both of whom ran well in a good race back at Ascot on Friday.
Jack Dexter did best of those horses who raced on the far side that day. He raced from stall two, while the other four horses who, with him, filled the first five places raced from stalls 14, 13, 11 and 17 respectively.
Of course, that was over five furlongs, and most of his recent running has been over six, but he raced over six in the Wokingham as if he was well worth another try at seven. Also, he was second over seven on his racecourse debut at Musselburgh as a three-year-old, and the only other occasion on which he raced over seven furlongs, over this course and distance actually, he won the big apprentices’ handicap on Champions’ Day at Ascot in October 2012.
He gets to race off a handicap rating of 101 today, which is 1lb lower than his actual mark, and which is 13lb lower than his peak rating. That gives him some leeway.
Of course, it is only relevant because he is in such fine form these days. He could be a well-handicapped horse now on a mark of 101.
He is drawn very low in stall one, but there is plenty of pace drawn low, so that should not be a significant disadvantage. Also, Heaven’s Guest won this race from stall two last year, and Suzi’s Connoisseur was fifth from stall one. Jack Dexter goes well at Ascot, he handles fast ground well these days, and Dougie Costello is a good booking. He could out-run big odds by a fair way.
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