14:05 Ascot

Saturday 25 November 2017

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

Christy 1965 Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 14:06 | Winning time: 5m 14.00s

Josses Hill^p²¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N J Henderson| OR: 153| C| D

10/1

Off since late April when finishing 20+L third to Menorah in a Sandown Grade 2 (2m6f+ good), but no denying his ability when on song as he best demonstrated when making all in the Peterborough Chase (2m4f) at Huntingdon in December 2016.

Form: 115573-

Royal Regatta^b,t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 153| CD

20/1

Made all, but was clinging on grimly at the finish when a head winner of this contest in 2016, but in the main it all went wrong thereafter, pulled up in three of his next four starts. Best at Ascot, but had no prep run this season.

Form: 51P3P-P

Smad Place²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 164| C| D

5/2

A tremendously popular grey chaser who returned from his summer break with a stellar performance in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree last month (2m4f good to soft). That form has a solid feel and he's enjoyed good days here over hurdles in the past.

Form: 47383-1

Frodon^t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 152| D

8/1

Has a 50% strike rate over fences (6 from 12), but has been found wanting so far this season. Well beaten by stablemate Black Corton at Newton Abbot in mid October, he was also no match for Might Bite at Sandown latest.

Form: F115-32

Sizing Granite^p,t⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: R T Dunne| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 155

33/1

Has history with Top Gamble (Fairyhouse, March 2016), but came good at Punchestown in April (2m4f) when demolishing a field of useful handicappers by 5L. However, inconsistency is a major concern with his Chepstow reappearance not overly appealing.

Form: P5P51-P

Flying Angel⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 156

7/1

Showed a useful level of form as a novice over fences, winning the Kingmaker (2m) at Warwick, and the Grade 1 Manifesto (2m4f) at Aintree in April. Ended the season below par, and didn't show any obvious signs he was back at Newton Abbot last month.

Form: P161P-5

Top Notch¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 157| CD

5/2

Campaigned successfully over fences last season (Scilly Isles Novices Chase winner), but arguably strongest over hurdles. Finished fifth to Annie Power in the 2016 Champion Hurdle, and should be sharper for a hurdles spin at Aintree a fortnight ago.

Form: 11123-3

Double Shuffle^h⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 151

12/1

Dual winner over fences and ran well when runner-up on seasonal debut over an extended 2m3f at Chepstow (good) last month (beaten 7L by Romain De Senam).

Form: P512P-2

Top Gamble^t²³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 159| D

10/1

Didn't taste success in the 2016/17 campaign, but is a useful horse on his day. He's strongest forcing the pace over 2m on testing ground, but is a Grade 2 winner, including in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury (Feb 2016).

Form: 1/53346-

Forecasts

Top Notch (5/2), Smad Place (5/2), Flying Angel (7/1), Frodon (8/1), Josses Hill (10/1), Top Gamble (10/1), Double Shuffle (12/1), Royal Regatta (20/1), Sizing Granite (33/1)

A race in which a few of the runners have some slight questions to answer, and a one where any potential weaknesses will be exposed with no shortage of pace in the field. Royal Regatta is a likely pace angle alongside Top Gamble. The former was a narrow winner of this contest last year, but arrives this around without the benefit of a prep race, and was largely disappointing in the main for the remainder of last season. Top Notch was a classy hurdler who has developed into a fair chaser, and he should be in tip-top condition after a recent spin over hurdles, but it's tough to ignore the adorable SMAD PLACE. He was back with a bang in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree last month when out-battling Cloudy Dream (ran well at Cheltenham on Sunday), and with plenty of proven hurdles form at this track, he'll give you a very solid run for your money.