Saturday Handicap Focus: 33-1 and 14-1 chances could sparkle

It goes without saying, judging by results from the Royal meeting especially, that a lot will depend on the draw for Saturday’s Moet & Chandon International Handicap at Ascot.

It was the same story in last season’s renewal of this seven-furlong contest, with no horse drawn low ever in contention.

This year, Extremely Zain deservedly heads the market, and could easily make it four from four, but it will not be easy off an 8lb higher mark and he is as short as 5-2 prior before we know the draw/declarations.

A value alternative could be Bunbury Cup winner AALTO at 14-1, who looks well-in under a 3lb penalty, and this track should suit his running style.

One niggle is that he has disappointed in this race for the past two years when being relatively fancied in the market, but he was denied a clear run (yet only beaten two and a quarter lengths) two years ago, and then last season when 5lb well-in, ran too bad to be true when shaping as if something was obviously amiss.

He has been in good nick in four runs so far this term, running a solid race off a 163-day break in the Victoria Cup, before again finding traffic at York, but followed that up with a second and a win on the July Course.

He arrives here in flying form with ground to suit again, plus a likely strong pace, and is still well-treated having shaped well off a mark of 96 in the Clipper Handicap last August. Expect him to come fast and late, and pick up the pieces late on.

Another I can’t resist at a huge price is Richard Hannon’s WITCH HUNTER. The son of Siyouni has four duck eggs next to his name, so looks an odd choice on form terms, but his mark continues to fall, and he has shaped better than the bare results in several contests.

 He had no chance from stall three here in the Royal Hunt Cup last month and was dealt another single-figure draw in the Victoria Cup in May.

The seven-year-old has good back form over the straight course at Ascot to his name, including when third in the Balmoral Handicap on Champions Day and fourth in the Queen Anne Stakes two years ago. He also did well to finish as close as he did off top weight in last year’s course and distance Victoria Cup from stall two.

Another eye-catching effort was his ninth in the All-Weather Championships Mile in April, where he may well have placed, or even better, had his jockey not had to switch several times to get a clear run.

He is now 8lb lower than that and due to drop a further 3lb after a disappointing effort on the all-weather last time, which may have come too soon after the Royal meeting.

If he gets a good draw, I can see him outrunning his odds and he looks the forgotten horse in the market.

Back AALTO at 14-1 with William Hill, Sky Bet, Paddy Power, Betfair.

Back WITCH HUNTER at a general 33-1 each-way.