15:15 Ascot

Friday 24 November 2017

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

Davidstow Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 6m 4.05s

Bally Longford^t²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 135

13/2

Has put paid to the theory he's not a stayer with some decent efforts over this trip (and further), not beaten far when fourth to the improving Mr MIx at Wincanton on seasonal reappearance and likely to come on for that. Drying ground ideal.

Form: 46336-4

Marcilhac¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: D A Jacob| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 135| D

7/2

Seems happiest on right-handed tracks, so this test should suit, has taken a couple of runs to get fit this year but latest close second suggests his turn isn't far away. Yard among the winners this week and he looks to hold a solid chance here.

Form: 6451-P2

Kaki De La Pree²⁸⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: T Symonds| OR: 135| D

8/1

Lightly raced for one his age, and this will only be his ninth chase start. Stays well and ground should be fine, and given he's gone well fresh in the past, absence not of any concern. Champion jockey booked and interesting at a price.

Form: 22/12F4-

Brandon Hill²⁸⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 133| D

4/1

First run for new yard (formerly with Tom Lacey) and a winner of two of his four starts last year, making all to win at Newbury in January. Still looks on a fair mark but may want slower ground than he gets today, and may need the run.

Form: 11/6114-

Walk In The Mill³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 131

8/1

Recorded back-to-back handicap wins last winter but a tale of woe since then, well beaten in three starts and weakened out of it too quickly for comfort at Stratford last time. Yard struggling for form and looks an unlikely winner.

Form: 2/1197-5

Antony^p1²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 130| BF| CD

3/1

Looks very well treated on the best of his form, including a win in the Grade 3 Sodexho Gold Cup here last October. Could be spot-on fitness wise after a close fifth to Go Conquer here last time and if cheekpieces help today, must go close.

Form: 118P-35

Beggars Cross^p¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 126| D

25/1

Form is a little in-and-out but he's good on his day, with wins over this trip at Doncaster and Warwick last year. However, this ground slow enough for him and yard continue to find winners hard to come by, so others preferred today.

Form: 41F3-10

Definitly Grey^t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 122| D

14/1

Popped up at Chepstow in October (and second there a winner since) but that was in lower grade and on slower ground. Yard form not so good now either, so plenty to prove today, with handicap mark high enough too.

Form: 7-PP21P

Forecasts

Antony (3/1), Marcilhac (7/2), Brandon Hill (4/1), Bally Longford (13/2), Walk In The Mill (8/1), Kaki De La Pree (8/1), Definitly Grey (14/1), Beggars Cross (25/1)

ANTONY likes it at Ascot, having won a valuable handicap here in the past, and looks about ready to come back to something like that form based on his two starts this season. The handicapper is giving him a real chance too, and this does look a lot easier than taking on the improving Go Conquer, something he's done twice this year already. He can score at the expense of Bally Longford, who has firmly put to bed any notions that shorter suits him best, and Marcilhac, another that looks like he's well on the way back to form.