15:50 Ascot

Friday 24 November 2017

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

Coutts Handicap Hurdle

  • 4YO plus  |   Class 2  |   1m 7f 152y  |   Good to Soft  |   12 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 15:50  |   Winning time: 3m 42.15s
The word Sky in blue and Bet in white with a red background.
The word Betfair in black.
The words Paddy Power in green.
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
1
Horse silk
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.
2
Horse silk
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.
3
Horse silk
Speredekp9(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.
4
Horse silk
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.
5
Horse silk
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.
6
Horse silk
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.
7
Horse silk
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.
8
Horse silk
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.
9
Horse silk
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.
10
Horse silk
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
11
Horse silk
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.
12
Horse silk
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.

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)

Verdict

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.
  1. Midnight Maestro
  2. Peter The Mayo Man
  3. Verdana Blue

Previous Winners

2016
Eddiemaurice
Weight: 10-3  |Age: 5
9/2

Prize Money

1st: £18,768.002nd: £5,544.003rd: £2,772.004th: £1,386.005th: £693.006th: £348.00

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