The International Handicap is a heritage contest, bringing numerous handicappers together across 7f at Ascot on King Geroge day. 22 runners will assemble for this season’s renewal, as GG tipster Joe Napier attempts to unveil the winner in a hugely testing betting heat.
Favourites
Despite arriving in distinctly indifferent form, Aalto nearly caused a huge upset at Newmarket’s July meeting at 40/1, going down only on the line to strong Bunbury Cup favourite More Thunder in a defence of that title. He gets to race off 1lb lower here too, but it may just be that he is a July Course specialist, whereas Akkadian Thunder was disappointing that day.
Despite being 4lb higher here, and therefore 5lb worse off with Aalto for an eight-length deficit, David O’Meara’s charge looks to appeal more. His hold-up style would not have been ideal for that track anyway, while he also challenged on the far side, which evidently proved the wrong part of the track to race on. Back at Ascot, where he was second only to the hugely impressive Never So Brave in the Buckingham Palace Stakes over course and distance, he retains potential.
One to have found belated winning form of late is Classic. He had gone two years without a win until an impressive front-running performance at Sandown and he is only 3lb higher here. If Sean Levey can get him in a similar rhythm, his mark of 90 remains one he can win off given his profile.
Contenders
Last year’s winner Northern Express is a standing order in these 7f heritage handicaps. He wo this 12 months ago off 2lb higher too and ran a game race in defeat in the Buckingham Palace Stakes when seventh of 27. There is no doubt he has slipped to a winnable mark if still capable of his best form at the age of seven.
Billyjoh’s losing run now stands at 18 races, but he has regularly gone close in big races. He is likely to be on the premises again, while the winner three years ago, Fresh, may now be an eight-year-old, but is broadly consistent, having been third 12 months ago too. He is possibly weighted slightly too high nowadays though.
Towards the top of the weights, Zoum Zoum should not be ruled out on account of his effort in the Wokingham, as he was drawn badly and prefers this 7f trip. Conversely, both City House and Array, just below Zoum Zoum in the handicap, look weighted to the hilt as things stand.
Outsiders
Now a significant price, Two Tribes’ early season form would give him a distinct chance here and his previous form at Ascot can be easily discounted, as it was over 5f and 6f. This trip should now prove his optimum and his racing style gives him a chance of ending his long losing run.
Another of interest at a price is Lord Bertie, who had hood trouble at Doncaster last time out, but shaped promisingly behind stablemate Akkadian Thunder the time before that and could easily be involved back at the last course and distance he won over.
Verdict
Plenty are in with chances as ever in this big-field Ascot handicap. Although down the field in the Bunbury Cup, AKKADIAN THUNDER was not suited by how that race panned out under conditions and could easily step up from his second in the Buckingham Palace Stakes in the absence of an obvious handicap blot. Last year’s winner Northern Express could easily be involved again and is next best ahead of Two Tribes, whose early season form remains in the memory.
- Akkadian Thunder
- Northern Express
- Two Tribes
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