12:55 Ascot

Saturday 25 November 2017

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

BAM Construct UK Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 12:55 | Winning time: 6m 5.95s

Lough Derg Farmer²²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132| D

5/2

Former pointer who has been lightly raced over hurdles on decent ground (two time winner). Every inch a future chaser, so a fascinating rules fencing newcomer for a top notch trainer. Conditions massively in his favour (trip/ground).

Form: 515121-

Clondaw Cian^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 130| D

17/2

Stayed on after being left labouring mid race to finish 30L third of four to Captain Chaos on his rules fencing debut at Aintree earlier this month (3m soft). Stronger fitness wise now, but will the ground be soft enough?

Form: 2/1850-3

Abbreviate^p³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 129

8/1

Fenced better in the main until a mistake at the second last (which cost him his winning chance) at Huntingdon last month (2m7f+ good). Likely to adopt those similar front running tactics once more rather than being held up.

Form: 2200-43

Soupy Soups³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 129| D

25/1

Fairly solid (three time winner) over hurdles when encountering quick ground anywhere between 2m4f-3m. However, looked ill at ease over fences on chasing debut at Huntingdon last month and well held by Abbreviate if fencing in a similar manner.

Form: 11201-6

Creep Desbois²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: B Pauling| OR: 127| BF

8/1

A 2L winner of a Doncaster novices hurdle in February (2m5f good to soft) who has found life tougher in handicap hurdles since. However, lightly raced overall, and should have more to offer now switched to fences.

Form: 35413-0

Will O'The West³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly| OR: 124

6/1

Didn't manage to win beyond 2m3f over hurdles, but a Cheltenham effort in October 2016 (third) suggests he stays this trip. Beaten almost 8L when fourth to Sir Ivan on chasing debut at Uttoxeter in mid October.

Form: 390F-44

Toviere²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 124

12/1

Made all and was driven out when scoring on his final hurdles start at Kempton in May (2m5f good), and has faced stiff tasks against Adrien Du Pont and Willoughby Court in his two fences starts so far. Handicaps more realistic.

Form: 343-144

Round Tower^t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Burke| T: K Thornton| OR: 123

50/1

Irish raider who doesn't manage to get his head in front all that often, and is an eight race maiden over fences. Difficult to imagine that he's capable of exploiting a falling mark.

Form: 4P0605

Remind Me Later³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 123| D

4/1

Lightly raced for his age and has presumably had problems since winning over hurdles in early 2015. However, back now with plenty of chasing experience over the summer, and a 2½L winner at Worcester latest (2m7f good). Up 6lb but respected.

Form: 33-2251

Deauville Crystal^t¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: S Bowen| T: N J Hawke| OR: 125

20/1

Hasn't won beyond 2m3f over hurdles, and tries this trip for the very first time after three respectable (but not startling) efforts over fences since early October. She'll find a lesser race over fences somewhere with time (most likely over 2m4f).

Form: 115-633

Forecasts

Lough Derg Farmer (5/2), Remind Me Later (4/1), Will O'The West (6/1), Creep Desbois (8/1), Abbreviate (8/1), Clondaw Cian (17/2), Toviere (12/1), Deauville Crystal (20/1), Soupy Soups (25/1), Round Tower (50/1)

Chasing newcomer LOUGH DERG FARMER is the horse who makes by far the most appeal with conditions firmly in his favour. He has always appeared as a likely future chaser during a rather tender hurdles campaign. Despite being raced sparingly over timber, he managed to notch a couple of successes on quick 'ish' ground, including over 2m6f at Ffos Las in April. Assuming his fencing is proficient, he should prove to be a useful handicap chaser for Nicky Henderson with an extended spring campaign most likely. Remind Me Later has winning chasing form in the book, and like all of his trainers runners at Ascot, he's very much respected despite a 6lb rise in the weights and rates as a potential danger off just 10st 13lbs.