Colloquial can leave bookies speechless
Top of the bill on Ascots Friday card is the Brown Jack Handicap at 3.55pm. Named after the legendary stayer, it is unlikely that there is anything quite as good as he was in the line up. Having won the Champion Hurdle in 1928, he switched codes to the flat where he proceeded to win all of the top staying races including the Ebor, Goodwood Cup, Doncaster Cup and most amazingly of all, the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot six years in a row.
Although the runners here are someway off that standard, the race is nevertheless a competitive one. The probable favourite is the Henry Candy-trained Colloquial, who comes here on the back of a resounding success in a Sandown handicap. He took up the running two furlongs from home and stayed on well to beat Outrageous Request by just under two lengths.
That was a huge improvement on his two previous runs this season and he should be able to build on that confidence boosting victory. The stable are in good form too having notched four winners in the past ten days. However, winning this is unlikely to be easy as there are several dangers to him.
Desert Recluse
Pat Eddery rode plenty of winners at this track as a jockey, including this race and he will be hopeful of capturing the prize as a trainer. The least exposed member of the field in Desert Recluse represents him. This three-year-old has been in outstanding form this term, winning on five occasions, the last of which came in a valuable handicap at York back in June.
It was a stunning performance too, thrashing Alcalde by six lengths. His last effort, July 9 at Ascot, when when sixth to Martyr over this course and distance is excusable, having been badly hampered at a vital stage and could never regain his momentum. He receives quite a bit of weight from his rivals here and he looks certain to be in the shake up.
Satwa Gold
Finishing just in front of Desert Recluse last time was the Stef Higgins runner Satwa Gold. He has been ultra consistent this year and has not finished out of the first four in ten starts. However, he did have the run of the race at Ascot, and he is far from certain to confirm the placings with Desert Recluse.
His best performance came at Newbury back in April where he kept on well to beat Devil To Pay by just over a length. That win came on easier ground than he is likely to face here and that could be his undoing.
Hevelius
Another one to have contested the July 9 Ascot Race is Hevelius, who is strangely enough, trained by another former top jockey in Walter Swinburn. As was the case with Desert Recluse, he suffered major interference in that contest and in the circumstances did well to finish fifth. The form of his previous run, when runner-up to Woolfall Treasure at Goodwood, is good enough to make him a major player here though there are also some negatives to consider.
Firstly, his stable is badly out of form at present, having had 25 runners in the past fortnight, all of which failed to make any impression. His jockey Adam Kirby also looks to be lacking in confidence and he has been blasted in the press recently concerning several poor riding performances. This trip of two miles also has to be a concern. Bred for much shorter distances than this, a look through his complete pedigree shows a lack of stamina on both the stallion and dam sides. Overall, he would appear to have a lot on his plate and is therefore one for the layers.
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