First run in 1998, this Heritage Handicap is run over 7F of the straight course at Ascot with its original intent to attract runners from overseas, hence the name. That hasn’t exactly worked out although Crystal Castle did win it for France in 2002.
Four-year-olds have the best record with 13 winners from the 24 runnings. It’s relatively rare nowadays for a three-year-old to even run in the race let alone win it although New Seeker took this race in 2003.
Draw wise ten of the last 12 winners were drawn in stall 11 and upwards suggesting that the stands’ side is usually favoured. Trainers Charlie Johnston (or Mark Johnston) and Richard Fahey have good records in the race winning it three times so their runners need close scrutiny.
Three well-backed favourites in Librisa Breeze (2016 4/1), Blue Mist (2020 9/2) and Danyah (2021 9/2) have scored in the last seven renewals whilst last year’s winner Fresh, who’s back to challenge for the race once more, was well found in the market.
Here’s my horse-by-horse analysis with my free Ascot tips at the bottom of the page for this highly-anticipated race.
Escobar
Trainer: David O’Meara
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Getting on a bit now as a nine-year-old but runs well here and has won two big field handicaps in his career off of 105 and 107. Races off of 107 today (will be dropped 3lb after this race) so is on a winning mark. Handles cut in the ground and if on a going day it wouldn’t be a shock were he to run a big race with conditions to suit.
Tacarib Bay
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Sean Levey
Only won two of his fifteen career starts but is now back on the same handicap mark as when last winning which came at Haydock a year ago on soft ground. Good third in Balmoral Handicap over a mile here on Champions Day last October and hasn’t been seen since April this year. Been gelded since last seen and is weighted to run well with soft conditions in his favour.
Biggles
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Been a well-backed ante-post having won seven of his 16 racecourse runs. The latest came when impressive under today’s jockey Ryan Moore in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket a fortnight ago. Only has to carry a 3lb penalty for that victory and with conditions once more in his favour and the world’s greatest jockey retaining the ride looks sure to be thereabouts though hasn’t fared well with the draw having to exit from stall 6.
Rhythm Master
Trainer: James Horton
Jockey: P J McDonald
Runner up to Mount Athos at Kempton on his re-appearance in March but was soundly beaten down the field finishing plum last of 29 in the Buckingham Palace Handicap won by Witch Hunter when last seen at the Royal Meeting. The fast ground may have been against him that day but it was still a disappointing run and has questions to answer now.
Bless Him
Trainer: David Simcock
Jockey: Jamie Spencer
Always seems to run well in these big field handicaps at Ascot with his track figures reading 97189725. Running credibly this season when 5th in Royal Hunt Cup (beaten 4 1/2L) and 4th in Bunbury Cup (beaten 2 1/2L by Biggles). Capable on his day but would undoubtedly need a career best to take this.
Montassib
Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: William Buick
Ease in the ground appears to suit. Won at Newmarket in May but although well backed has finished 15th (of 29) in Buckingham Palace Handicap at Royal Ascot and 10th (of 15) in Bunbury Cup since. Held by several here and despite a positive jockey booking will need to raise his game to figure here.
Vafortino
Trainer: Kevin Philippart De Foy
Jockey: Kaiya Fraser (5)
Career best when winning Victoria Cup in May 2022. Kept good company this season only finishing out of the money once in five starts. Went down by the shortest of margins in 7F handicap at York last time to Northern Express and can race off of the same handicap mark here whilst his victor last time is penalised 3lb. Won’t mind cut in ground and yet another with each-way claims. A big day for his young jockey.
Northern Express
Trainer: Michael Dods
Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
Consistent five-year-old who is in the form of his life at present. Winner of the Thirsk Hunt Cup on soft ground in May prior to thirds in valuable handicaps at York and Ascot (Buckingham Palace handicap, third to Witch Hunter beaten 1 1/4L and re-opposes on identical terms). Got his head in front again at York last time beating Vafortino by a short head and 3lb worse off now. Acts on any ground and another with each-way claims if on the top of his game.
Fresh
Trainer: James Fanshawe
Jockey: Daniel Tudhope
Another course specialist. Won this very race a year ago from Bless Him, following up over course and distance six weeks later. Not disgraced over 6F in Wokingham Handicap at the Royal Ascot meeting last time when staying on 5th (beaten 2L) to Saint Lawrence and should appreciate stepping up to 7F here. A pound lower than his last win over course and distance and with easy ground in his favour is one for the shortlist. A stall draw of 4 may be a disadvantage.
Bopedro
Trainer: David O’Meara
Jockey: Hollie Doyle
1M winner at Newmarket in April and has run credibly in valuable 7F/1M handicap since without troubling the judge. May just be in the handicapper’s grip currently though did run well on the July course last time when third to Dutch Decoy.
Spirit Of Light
Trainer: Ian Williams
Jockey: Sean D Bowen (7)
Been a while since he won and despite a few reversals this season the handicapper hasn’t relented in dropping him. Has been pulled out in the past when the ground went on the slow side so any cut in ground would be a big negative.
Safe Voyage
Trainer: John Quinn
Jockey: Jason Hart
Softer the better for this ten-year-old. Been a while since he won but has not been disgraced on his last two outings when 3rd in Thirsk Hunt Cup and 5th in Victoria Cup over course and distance. Probably needs the handicapper to relent and drop him a few pounds at his age.
Lir Speciale
Trainer: Roger Varian
Jockey: David Egan
Ran better than the finishing position suggests when 16th of 29 in Buckingham Palace Handicap at Royal Ascot but has been pulled out since on morning of Bunbury Cup at Newmarket’s July meeting due to soft ground so any cut in the ground here will be against him.
Baradar
Trainer: George Boughey
Jockey: Kevin Stott
The subject of strong ante-post support for this race. Soft ground is vital for the five-year-old so his latest run at Royal Ascot in the Buckingham Palace Handicap can easily be forgotten. His for figures in races with soft in the going description read 1130300136 and has the beating of Biggles on his Doncaster victory last November over 7F on heavy ground. One for the shortlist especially if the ground goes testing. First-time cheekpieces on today.
Orbaan
Trainer: David O’Meara
Jockey: Jim Crowley
Dual winner at this time last year at Goodwood (Golden Mile Handicap, good to firm) and in 7 runner race over course and distance (good to firm). Han’s shown much in five starts this season but has dropped in weight by 6 lbs. Has form on softish ground but is probably better on fast ground and is most likely been aimed at the Golden Mile next week which he won last year.
Ropey Guest
Trainer: George Margarson
Jockey: Tom Queally
Capable but rare winner (has won just 3 of his 37 career starts). Seems to like this track and goes on any ground. Ran well in Bunbury Cup last time out when finishing 2L runner-up to Biggles and is set to re-oppose him today on 3lb better terms. Sort to run well without winning.
Star Of Orion
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Has been running well this season, finishing 6th to Biggles in Bunbury Cup (beaten 4 1/4L) prior to winning at the Newmarket July course a week later in a seven-runner 7F handicap. Has to shoulder a 3lb penalty for that victory but has gone up 5lb in future handicaps so is effectively 2lb well in today. Won’t mind a bit of ease in the ground.
Spangled Mac
Trainer: George Boughey
Jockey: Neill Callan
Has run with credit in two big field Ascot handicaps at Royal Ascot in June when 4th in the 7F Buckingham Palace Handicap and 8th in the 6F Wokingham Handicap. Pulled out on the morning of the Bunbury Cup due to the softening ground conditions and looks best on faster ground than he will encounter this afternoon.
Popmaster
Trainer: Ed Walker
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Bounced back to form when winning here at the last meeting over 6F on soft ground by 2 1/4L and was out again the following day when beating just one home in the Bunbury Cup some 7 1/4L behind the winner Biggles. Has to shoulder a 3lb penalty today for his Ascot win but goes up 6lb in future handicaps so is effectively 3lb well in today. His latest run may have come too soon after his course win so not the worst outsider.
Nizaaka
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam
Jockey: Marco Ghiani
Racked up a hat trick of fast ground 7F handicap at Newmarket last Summer but ran a stinker when last of six at Newmarket when last seen in June and has been pulled out at the same track since due to the softening of the ground. Needs the ground to dry out to have any sort of chance.
Fools Rush In
Trainer: Jim Goldie
Jockey: William Pyle (7)
Chester winner on good to soft ground last Summer for Hugo Palmer from a mark 10lb higher than today’s. Joined Jim Goldie before the start of this season showing little in seven starts dropping 11lb. There’s no doubt he’s on a very good mark and a useful apprentice takes off another 7lb. Wouldn’t be a shock were he to outrun his monster odds here.
Ramazan
Trainer: Richard Fahey
Jockey: Richard Kingscote
Back to form when winning at Haydock racecourse (7F, good to firm) earlier this month from Chartwell House and carries a 3lb penalty for that success today (actually goes up 4lb in future handicaps so 1lb well in). A winner on soft ground and trainer has done well in this race previously winning it three times.
Hickory
Trainer: James Fanshawe
Jockey: Saffie Osborne
Lightly raced five-year-old. Runner up at Redcar in June but flopped badly when last of ten (beaten 13L) a month later on much softer ground. Has won on good to soft on his debut at Yarmouth in August 2020 but there have to be questions to answer were the ground to ride softer than that. Visored for the first time today.
Mitrosonfire
Trainer: William Muir & Chris Grassick
Jockey: Greg Cheyne
Back to the same handicap mark that he won off last season at Newmarket’s July course from Star Of Orion. Shown promise in three starts this season at 7F (third to Star Of Orion at Newmarket last time). Will need a career best to trouble the judge here.
Mister Bluebird
Trainer: Heather Main
Jockey: George Rooke
7F Goodwood winner on fast ground in June by a short head. Not disgraced in two handicaps since and is now 3lb higher than that win. Appears to handle all types of ground but this looks like a stiff task for this five-year-old grey gelding trained in Oxon.
Top Secret
Trainer: William Muir & Chris Grassick
Jockey: Georgia Dobie (3)
Dual Kempton all-weather winner last November and has not been disgraced in three runs on turf this year. Has no form on easy ground mind and softish ground may be against this six-year-old.
Zu Run
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Jimmy Quinn
Lightly-raced three-year-old who is 3lb out of the handicap here. Best run of the season last time when 4th of 9 over course and distance (beaten 1 1/2L) by Farasi Lane on good to soft ground. That was the softest ground he has encountered and possibly will be better for even slower conditions.
Moët & Chandon International Stakes (Heritage Handicap) Betting Tips
A wide-open renewal with 27 spread across the 7F straight track. Biggles comes here in fine form, likes soft ground and has to make the shortlist with Ryan Moore on board. Last year’s winner Fresh is another who can be competitive as long as the ground doesn’t get too testing whilst that won’t worry Baradar who can’t have it soft enough.
One of only two three-year-olds in the race, the Richard Fahey-trained Ramazan can also be competitive from what may turn out to be a favourable high draw. At a monster price don’t be surprised if Fools Rush In outruns his odds and could hit the frame at a very big price.
A wide-open race with Biggles the most likely winner with just a 3lb penalty for his cosy Bunbury Cup victory and with Ryan Moore on top. The only negative is his stall 6 which in the past has been a negative so for that reason the vote goes to the mudlark Baradar berthed in stall 24 and the three-year-old Ramazan in stall 21.
BARADAR 1 point e/w @ 7/1 with BetVictor promo code (Paying top 5 places at 1/5 odds)
RAMAZAN 1 point e/w @ 12/1 with Bet365 bonus code (Paying top 6 places at 1/5 odds)
FOOLS RUSH IN 1/2 point e/w @ 50/1 with Bet365 (Paying top 6 places at 1/5 odds)
All odds are accurate at the time of writing.
