13:50 Ascot

Saturday 4 November 2017

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:05

Ascot Underwriting Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 13:52 | Winning time: 4m 43.3s

Bagad Bihoue¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Bryony Frost⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142| D

12/1

Made the switch to chasing in May, and has performed respectably in almost every one of his seven starts (four time winner). Stamina still to be tested (3m) when unseating this rider at Fakenham latest, but no concerns with today's trip.

Form: 11162U

Benatar²¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 142| D

9/2

Fairly useful novice hurdler who was beaten in excess of 8L when fourth to Finian's Oscar in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices Hurdle at Aintree in April (2m4f good). Makes his rules chasing debut a winner of his sole point-to-point in November 2016.

Form: 11424-

Space Oddity^h²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 136| D

9/2

Made a winning chasing debut at Uttoxeter in May when beating Hargam by 9L (2m good), but brought back down to earth when only 15L fourth to Shantou Rock on his seasonal return at Newton Abbot last month (2m good). Stayed this trip over hurdles.

Form: 11P2-14

Cobra De Mai^p,t⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Ian Popham| T: D Skelton| OR: 134

8/1

Has been a flag-bearer for his trainer over the spring/summer, winning three chases and a Worcester handicap hurdle. Not disgraced when fifth to Foxtail Hill at Cheltenham last week, and should appreciate this longer trip based upon that showing.

Form: 111P15

Duke Street^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 132| D

5/1

Beaten 1½L on his chasing debut by Wait For Me at Worcester in September (2m4f good), but has tackled the Cesarewitch on the Flat since then, finishing a staying on eighth to Withhold.

Form: 24030-3

Copain De Classe²²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132

3/1

Enjoys racing prominently and was successful over hurdles on a couple of occasions last term (Chepstow and Wincanton). Difficult to assess ahead of his chasing debut, but should stay this trip and no surprise if improvement is forthcoming.

Form: 1F/31P1-

Ballinure⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 128

8/1

Back over hurdles (showed little) following a couple of chasing successes during the summer months. Goes forward early, and beat the promising subsequent Ludlow winner Braqueur D'Or at Stratford in August (2m6f+ good).

Form: 02-1P19

I See You Well²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: T J O'Brien| T: J W Mullins| OR: 126

12/1

Notched a second career success over hurdles when scoring at Plumpton in May (2m4f good to firm), but was never involved on his chasing debut at Newton Abbot last month (behind Space Oddity) and needs rapid improvement for the longer trip.

Form: 2024-15

Forecasts

Copain De Classe (3/1), Benatar (9/2), Space Oddity (9/2), Duke Street (5/1), Cobra De Mai (8/1), Ballinure (8/1), I See You Well (12/1), Bagad Bihoue (12/1)

In a race which doesn't feature a real standout form horse, a chance is taken on the Dan Skelton trained COBRA DE MAI. A three time winner over fences since early May (all over 2m on decent ground), he was pitched into a much stronger contest at Cheltenham last Saturday when finishing a never nearer 19+L fifth to Foxtail Hill. He is well worth a try over this longer trip based upon that evidence. Of the remainder, Benatar is an interesting chasing newcomer for Gary Moore, and it would be no surprise to see this useful novice hurdler go close in a race where a few of his other rivals have slight question marks against their names.