13:30 Ascot

Friday 24 November 2017

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

Prince's Countryside Fund 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 4m 39.95s

Choix Des Armes^h1³⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

33/1

Bred to have some speed about him, so although he didn't show much on debut here last November he should do better given time. In good hands, gets a hood today, and no surprise if he put up a better showing.

Form: 7-

Kildisart¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| BF

11/4

Runner up all three starts (including a point-to-point), bred to want a trip so this test should suit, and did little wrong when second to a useful yardstick at Carlisle last time. This track may suit better and he should be on the premises.

Form: 2/2-2

King Of Realms²³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| C

10/1

Sprang a 20-1 surprise when a winner on debut here last November but couldn't reproduce that effort in two subsequent starts, although was highly tried on latest start. Trip shouldn't pose an issue and can clearly go well fresh, so not ruled out.

Form: 130-

Mellow Ben¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon

100/1

Bred to want more of a trip than he gets today and given that, and the fact he was well beaten on only start to date, he makes little appeal against some potentially smart sorts here.

Form: 25

Minella Style¹⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: D L Williams| OR: 110

100/1

First start for new yard (formerly with Neil King) and showed definite promise when second to Spiritofthegames at Taunton in March (needed the run too). Hasn't progressed since though, and likely to need this after a break.

Form: 1323-56

Notre Ami²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Aspell| T: N J Gifford

12/1

A tale of steady progression over his last four runs, and nothing wrong with his close second here earlier in the month. Worth a try at this trip and if taking another step forward, holds each-way claims again.

Form: 5/12-44

Oakley Hall²⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill

22/1

First run for new yard, looked a horse with some potential on his three bumper runs in Ireland and was a winner on final start (although didn't need to improve). Trip should be fine, but yard can't buy a winner at present, and may be best watched.

Form: 221-

Rockpoint²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard

9/1

Some promise in his Newton Abbot run in October but took a good step forward on that when a close third here last time out, sticking to the task well and may have won but for a dreadful mistake two out. Every chance of going one better here.

Form: 5-43

Roll Of The Dice¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore

100/1

Did win a small point-to-point, and yard have a good record here are the plus points, but the form shown so far suggests he needs improve quickly to take a hand here. May be one for handicaps later down the line.

Form: 4UF1-45

Settie Hill²¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D J Mullins| T: N J Henderson

15/2

Won quite a competitive little bumper at Market Rasen (for Neville Bycroft) and current connections went to £110,000 to buy him at the Doncaster Sales this summer. Very interesting recruit and market will be the best guide as to what's expected.

Form: 1-

Storm Control²⁰⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee

10/1

Won an Irish point-to-point in April and bought for £130,000 at the sales not long after. Related to useful sorts in Tagrita and Atlantic Storm, so should do well over hurdles, and market likely to provide the best guide to chances today.

Form: 1-

Storm Of Intrigue¹⁹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

9/2

Won with any amount in hand when taking a Ffos Las bumper at the first time of asking in May (second a winner since) and should do even better upped in trip today. Every chance if fit to go after a break.

Form: 1

The Venerable Bede⁶¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: P R Webber

125/1

Not seen out since finishing well down the field at Bangor some 20 months ago, and only limited promise shown then, so hard to make a case for today.

Form: 68/

Turangi

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White

33/1

Debut today for a yard with a 21%strike rate in hurdles here over the past five seasons, so deserves respect on that statistic alone. Bred to want this trip and possibly further, so worth a look in the market at the very least.

Form:

Turtle Wars²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson

6/1

Has shown some promise in two starts to date (including a third to recent novice hurdle winner Chooseyourweapon in a point-to-point in Ireland) and this step up in trip certain to suit based on his staying-on third over shorter last time. Respected.

Form: 3-3

Forecasts

Kildisart (11/4), Storm Of Intrigue (9/2), Turtle Wars (6/1), Settie Hill (15/2), Rockpoint (9/1), King Of Realms (10/1), Storm Control (10/1), Notre Ami (12/1), Oakley Hall (22/1), Turangi (33/1), Choix Des Armes (33/1), Mellow Ben (100/1), Roll Of The Dice (100/1), Minella Style (100/1), The Venerable Bede (125/1)

Any number of these are open to plenty of improvement and the market should prove a useful tool in sorting them into some sort of order, particularly with Nicky Henderson running three. Jockey bookings suggest Turtle Wars imay be the number one hope but his trio all hold strong claims, and it could be that SETTIE HILL , quietly impressive when landing an above-average bumper for the track at Market Rasen last year, comes out on top. Rockpoint is heading the right way too and may well have gone close here last time out but for a late-race blunder. He can get in the frame, with Storm Of Intrigue, Kildisart and Notre Ami all respected in a race that should prove informative going forward.