Viscount Barfield wins at York
Viscount Barfield wins at York

Viscount Barfield an International star at Ascot on King George day?


Ben Linfoot looks at the horses that are well in or wrong at the weights following Saturday’s action for the International Handicap, Betfred Mile and Stewards’ Cup.

‘Super Saturday’ was many things. We had brilliant racing, we probably had a little 'too much' racing and we had racing that offered clues to upcoming racing. Racing was the winner, but in the future moving the Ascot card from the Saturday to the Sunday, where there are just three summer jumps meetings in the UK, would make a lot of sense.

But the timing of ‘Super Saturday’ is perfect for those trainers wishing to get a run into their horses ahead of King George day, exactly two weeks later, and Glorious Goodwood, which starts just three days after that.

And with three of the biggest early-closing handicaps of the summer taking place in that timeframe, there is the opportunity for a horse to show how well-handicapped they are in relation to the weight they were allotted a few weeks ago. On the other side of the coin, it could be worth treating with caution those that look badly in at the weights as well.

First up is the Gigaset International Stakes at Ascot on King George day, one of those big-field seven-furlong handicap puzzles that can make your month if you land on the right one.

Here are the horses that ran at the weekend just gone, their handicap mark for the upcoming race at Ascot, the difference between that and their new mark, and then their new mark. So Tabarrak went down 1lb following his ninth-place finish in the Bunbury Cup. He’s just 1lb wrong and it deserves a shoulder shrug, but it’s just an example.

Gigaset International Stakes: Ascot, July 29

Tabarrak 111 (-1) 110
Buckstay 107 (-2) 105
Polybius 102 (+4) 106
Squats 102 (-2) 100
Above The Rest 101 (+6) 107 (+3lb penalty, 3lb well in)
Sutter County 108 (-3) 105
Bossy Guest 101 (-1) 100
Big Time 99 (-2) 97
Abe Lincoln 99 (-2) 97
Holiday Magic 94 (-2) 92
Viscount Barfield 94 (+13) 107 (+3lb penalty, 10lb well in)

The big winners here are the two weekend victors, VISCOUNT BARFIELD and ABOVE THE REST. They’ll have to shoulder 3lb penalties in the International but remain well in relative to the marks they were given when the weights come out, significantly so in the former’s case.

Andrew Balding’s Viscount Barfield kicked on from his York handicap win off a mark of 90 on June 17 by landing the Listed SportingBet City Plate Stakes despite being drawn in stall nine.

Held up in customary style, he just held on after taking up the running inside the final furlong. With horses rated 113 and 112 filling the places in behind the son of Raven’s Pass, he was always going to get a significant rise and he has – to the tune of 13lb.

Even with his 3lb penalty at Ascot he’s going to be 10lb well in and history says he should comfortably get in towards the bottom of the weights. He loves a big-field seven furlongs on summer ground and there’s plenty to like about his current odds of 14/1 in several places.

ABOVE THE REST is pretty much the same price although he is available at 16s in a couple of places. He’s not as well in as Viscount Barfield, but he is still 3lb to the good under his penalty and it will be interesting to see if Clifford Lee retains the ride now his claim is reduced to 3lb.

Ascot specialists BUCKSTAY and SQUATS are regulars in this type of handicap but they will both be 2lb wrong if they turn up on King George day.

Click here for Sky Bet's Gigaset International Handicap odds

Betfred Mile: Goodwood, August 4

Master Carpenter 105 (-1) 104
Arcanada 105 (-) 105
Another Touch 104 (-1) 103
Victory Bond 102 (-) 102
Tony Curtis 102 (+1) 103
Dragon Mall 101 (-3) 98
Bossy Guest 101 (-1) 100
Abe Lincoln 99 (-2) 97
Boomshackerlacker 98 (-1) 97
Dark Red 95 (-3) 92
Holiday Magic 94 (-2) 92
Masham Star 97 (+4) 101

On to Glorious Goodwood now and the Betfred Mile, a race where a low draw is most preferable.

There’s nothing much to see here in truth, but if Mark Johnston’s MASHAM STAR did manage to get in the race he would have to be on the radar.

It has to rate as unlikely that he will make the final cut as a three-year-old rated 97. He’s number 55 on the list at the moment and would be much more likely to get in were he running off his new mark of 101. But, if he does, this race could really suit this game frontrunner, especially if he bagged a low draw.

There are a couple of interesting ones that are certain to get in, however.

ARCANADA ran an absolute belter at York on Saturday, going clear between two out and a furlong from home only to be reeled in by Chiefofchiefs very late in the day.

Beaten half a length in second in the end, I was surprised to see his mark of 105 left unchanged, even if he was ridden by 5lb claimer Paddy Pilley. He might not be officially well in, but perhaps he should be, and he’s another prominent racer that could go well around Goodwood granted a low draw.

Another one to make a note of is Richard Hannon’s TONY CURTIS. He is well in, by one solitary pound, but he was one of the few to get into things from off the pace in the Bunbury Cup and a mile could be perfect for him now after an unsuccessful stint over 10 furlongs.

Click here for Sky Bet's Betfred Mile odds

Qatar Stewards’ Cup: Goodwood, August 5

Growl 109 (+2) 111
Buckstay 107 (-2) 105
Sutter County 108 (-3) 105
Danzeno 104 (+5) 109 (+6lb penalty, 1lb wrong)
Orion’s Bow 104 (-1) 103
Polybius 102 (+4) 106
Squats 102 (-2) 100
Harry Hurricane 100 (-1) 99
Naadirr 99 (-1) 98
Gravity Flow 99 (-4) 95
Big Time 99 (-2) 97
Sir Dancealot 101 (+9) 110
Robero 96 (+6) 96 (+ 6lb penalty, levels)

Finally the Qatar Stewards’ Cup and a trio that should be monitored now they’ve been reassessed.

SIR DANCEALOT is the big winner having gone up a massive 9lb to 110 following his second in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket on Saturday. In the Stewards’ Cup off 101, surely connections will aim him at the race and see if he just makes the cut (safe in the knowledge he could go for the consolation race if he just misses out).

If he does make the main event he’s a huge player, as the race could really suit considering he was a bit keen in the early stages over seven on Saturday. It’s no surprise the big prices about him are being hoovered up.

As well as Sir Dancealot, the horses that filled the first two positions in the totescoop6 Heritage Handicap at Ascot on Saturday have gone up in the weights too.

That race was over five furlongs, but both DANZENO and POLYBIUS are proven over six and both look primed for a big run in the Stewards’ Cup.

Danzeno ended a losing run of 10 on Saturday, but the problem for him at Goodwood is the 6lb penalty he’s picked up for that success. With his 5lb rise in the ratings taken into account, he’s going to be 1lb wrong in Sussex.

That shifts things in favour of Polybius who was only beaten three-quarters-of-a-length by Danzeno on Saturday, despite finding trouble in-running. 

He’ll get a 6lb pull at the weights with Mick Appleby’s charge, will be 4lb well in on his new mark and looks the pick of the Ascot pair at prices as big as 16/1.

Click here for Sky Bet's odds on the Qatar Stewards' Cup


Like what you've read?

Next Off

Sporting Life
My Stable
Follow and track your favourite Horses, Jockeys and Trainers. Never miss a race with automated alerts.
Access to exclusive features all for FREE - No monthly subscription fee
Click HERE for more information

Most Followed

MOST READ RACING

We are committed to Safer Gambling and have a number of self-help tools to help you manage your gambling. We also work with a number of independent charitable organisations who can offer help and answers any questions you may have.
Gamble Aware LogoGamble Helpline LogoGamstop LogoGordon Moody LogoSafer Gambling Standard LogoGamban Logo18+ LogoTake Time To Think Logo