15:50 Ascot

Friday 24 November 2017

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

Coutts Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 3m 42.15s

Peter The Mayo Man²¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137| D

9/1

Giant of a horse that improved to win a couple of novice hurdles last year, and far from disgraced in the Grade 2 Dovecote Hurdle at Kempton in February. Needs the ground to keep drying, but interesting for new connections as he can go well fresh.

Form: 111236-

Verdana Blue²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 136| BF| D

3/1

Was a close fourth to Let's Dance in the mares novice hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last season and ran well in a competitive handicap here last time (form very solid). Chance if fitter for that under conditions that suit.

Form: U1143-5

Speredek^p⁹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 129| D

10/3

Continues to progress and turned out again quickly under a penalty after bloodless win at Exeter last week. Some rain would help his cause further but likely to make another bold bid from the front regardless. Improving and not ruled out.

Form: PP111-1

Night Of Sin²⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 130| D

20/1

Looked useful when taking a couple of novice hurdles last year but rather disappointing when well fancied at Newbury on final start. Likely to do better this year but yard's tend to need a run, so best watched unless market says otherwise.

Form: 47117-

Don Bersy²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: J E Moore| T: T Symonds| OR: 130| D

16/1

Proved a revelation last year, wining three and beating some decent sorts along the way. Heavy ground no good to him on reappearance at Ayr and that's best forgotten, will strip fitter here but may need to come down a few more pounds before scoring.

Form: F1113-7

Le Precieux⁴⁸⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 129

66/1

First start for Gary Moore here (formerly trained in France) but not seen out since finishing well beaten at Clairfontaine (chase) in July 2016. Had won previous start easily but a few from that have disappointed since, so may be best watched today.

Form: 52/510-

Midnight Maestro²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: B J Geraghty| T: A King| OR: 126| D

5/2

Generally progressive last year, although disappointing on final start at Haydock, but showed he retained his ability with a decent sixth to stablemate Elgin here last time out and should come on for that. Still looks on a workable mark.

Form: 1921P-6

Attest¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 125| BF| D

20/1

Kept taking steps forward last year over hurdles, and didn't do much wrong when warming up for this with a close second on the Flat at Nottingham. Trip and ground both ideal and hard to say he's finished improving just yet.

Form: 671-112

Molineaux²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 122

10/1

Some promise in novice hurdles but left that behind when only just denied by Brown Bear here three weeks ago. 7lb rise for that less of a concern than the drop back in trip, which may not be ideal. Respected as an improver nevertheless.

Form: 8/23-442

Eddiemaurice¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: T Scudamore| T: J L Flint| OR: 122| CD

25/1

Good little dual-purpose horse that wins his share but judged on last few starts, appears rather in the grip of the handicapper and he's slow to release his grip. Trip and ground fine but meets some unexposed sorts here, so makes only limited appeal

Form: 0593-P4

Little Miss Poet²²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 121| D

16/1

Has some good looking form figures but in truth has been well placed to win a couple of maiden/novice hurdles and hasn't needed to improve to do so. This is much tougher though, so she needs to pull out more.

Form: 6/21221-

Stolberg¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: D L Williams| OR: 117| D

200/1

Well beaten on recent starts and races from well out of the handicap here. No realistic chance of success.

Form: 76280-0

Forecasts

Midnight Maestro (5/2), Verdana Blue (3/1), Speredek (10/3), Peter The Mayo Man (9/1), Molineaux (10/1), Little Miss Poet (16/1), Don Bersy (16/1), Attest (20/1), Night Of Sin (20/1), Eddiemaurice (25/1), Le Precieux (66/1), Stolberg (200/1)

In an open race, MIDNIGHT MAESTRO just edges the vote after a very solid effort here last time out. There's little between him and Verdana Blue on their fifth and sixth to Elgin here last time out and that looks strong form. With that run expected to put him that bit straighter, he can go close under Barry Geraghty. Peter The Mayo Man has plenty of weight to carry but has the physique for it, and if his new yard have him ready first time up, can go close. Speredek just keeps racking up the wins and the others can't allow him too much rope.