12:20 Ascot

Saturday 25 November 2017

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

Mitie Events & Leisure Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:21 | Winning time: 5m 16.0s

Count Meribel²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: M D Grant| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132

7/2

Unbeaten in two starts this season, and plenty to like about his attitude in those pair of Carlisle successes (2m4f soft). Life gets much tougher now under the penalties, but he's earned a crack at a stronger race.

Form: 3222-11

Take To Heart¹⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132

5/1

Has moved forward a notch or two since switched to hurdles, and has adopted prominent tactics to score at Worcester and Ffos Las (2m4f) during the summer months. Ground conditions fine, but faces a stiffer task under a double penalty off a break.

Form: 328-211

Palmers Hill⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: B J Geraghty| T: J & A O'Neill

10/3

Talking horse having cost £310,000 after taking an Irish point-to-point by 20L in March. Started life under rules with a success over hurdles at Uttoxeter in early October (2m maiden soft), but the runner up hasn't exactly boosted that form since.

Form: 31-1

Polydora²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Aidan Coleman| T: T Lacey

8/1

Made a winning hurdles debut at Chepstow in October (2m3f+ maiden good to soft), and whilst the market suggested that was unexpected, there appeared to be no fluke about it. Tackles a stronger contest now, but won't be found wanting for stamina.

Form: U/57-1

Bob Mahler¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 122

11/1

A six race hurdles maiden who has a few slight question marks against his name temperament wise. Discarded a winning opportunity at Ffos Las in March, and in truth doesn't look the obvious solution in this contest.

Form: 333UF-5

Coeur Pensif³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: B Pauling

50/1

Cost £25,000 after finishing runner up on his debut in an Irish point-to-point (April 2017). Made a fairly low-key hurdles debut when fourth of six at Southwell last month (3m), and needs to build upon that effort quickly in order to be involved.

Form: 2-4

Darius Des Bois²⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: N J Henderson

33/1

Unraced under rules having joined the yard out of Irish point-to-points. Hasn't set the world alight in that sphere, but would've finished runner up on his debut but for falling at the last (winner a subsequent Irish bumper and hurdles runner up).

Form: F5-

Johnny Ocean²⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

33/1

Kept on strongly to take a 3m Ballyragget maiden (soft) by 8L in March, and has left Ireland since for pastures new. His unraced dam has hurdles/chase winners in her family, so probably a fair prospect for new connections.

Form: 1-

Perfect Harmony²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Ian Popham| T: A King

10/3

Hit all of the right notes when making a winning stable/rules debut in a Newbury bumper in January (soft) before a midfield finish at the Festival in March. Not competitive with On The Blind Side (Aintree) on hurdles debut; but beaten less than 10L.

Form: F10-4

Forecasts

Perfect Harmony (10/3), Palmers Hill (10/3), Count Meribel (7/2), Take To Heart (5/1), Polydora (8/1), Bob Mahler (11/1), Darius Des Bois (33/1), Johnny Ocean (33/1), Coeur Pensif (50/1)

A tricky opener to the Ascot card, and a race where a number of the runners are stepping up in grade after making a reasonable early impression over hurdles. Count Meribel arrives seeking the hat-trick on the back of a couple of Carlisle successes, and he is tough, hardy and clearly goes well right-handed, so is much respected despite giving weight away to the majority of his rivals. Palmers Hill is unexposed, and very much the talking horse based upon his eye-watering £310,000 price tag. He will almost certainly have more to offer going forward, but his Uttoxeter maiden success isn't necessarily the strongest form on offer. Therefore, a token selection is the Alan King trained PERFECT HARMONY. He was beaten less than 10L by On The Blind Side on hurdles debut at Aintree last month, and we all know what that rather exciting winner has achieved at Cheltenham since.