13:55 Ascot

Friday 22 December 2017

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Kennel Gate) (Grade 2)

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 3m 46.6s

Slate House³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 143| D

4/1

£260,000 purchase in March who has made a striking impression over hurdles for his new connections. Accounted for Summerville Boy by ¾L at Cheltenham last month (2m) despite having the inconvenience of by-passing the last. Lovely long-term prospect.

Form: 5/1-11

Claimantakinforgan⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| D

6/4

Classy bumper performer who finished 2¾L third to the ill-fated Fayonagh in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in March. Made a smooth transition to hurdles when stamping his authority on a Newbury novices event last month (2m). Masses of potential.

Form: 16235-1

Clondaw Castle⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 11-0| J: Unknown| T: T R George| D

Form: F/118-13

Coeur Blimey¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 130| CD

5/1

Fair performer whose only previous visit to this track was a winning one (bumper). Proved stronger for his reappearance at Cheltenham when a ready winner of a Wincanton handicap latest (2m), but this is a far stronger heat.

Form: 8522-51

Destrier³²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: Unknown| T: D Skelton| D

Form: 0-1

Diese Des Bieffes²²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: Unknown| T: N J Henderson| OR: 128| D

Form: 5-11

Dr Des²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 139| D

16/1

Left his point-to-point form light years behind since joining this stable for £11,000 in May. A winner of a Stratford maiden hurdle on his UK bow, he was beaten just a neck by Mr One More over C&D latest.

Form: 33-4212

If The Cap Fits³⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 11-0| J: Unknown| T: H Fry| OR: 139| D

Form: 114-11

Irish Prophecy²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: Unknown| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 131| D

Form: 11-12

Mahari³⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: Unknown| T: Kerry Lee

Form: /-P3

Mr One More²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Geraghty| T: H Fry| OR: 142| CD

5/1

Defends an unblemished record, but he was given an unanticipated scare by Dr Des over C&D latest. His hurdling wasn't the slickest late on that day, so he is probably value for more, and has similar claims to Slate House (through Summerville Boy).

Form: 1-11

Theclockisticking³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 140| D

7/1

From a decent family (dam an unraced sister to Gold Cup winner Synchronised). Unbeaten over hurdles so far, having taken lesser events at Fakenham and Huntingdon (good), and whilst fully respected he faces much stronger opponents here.

Form: 32-211

Tikkanbar³²

Age: 14| Weight: 11-0| J: Unknown| T: N P Mulholland| D

Form: 2110-1

Forecasts

Claimantakinforgan (6/4), Slate House (4/1), Coeur Blimey (5/1), Mr One More (5/1), Theclockisticking (7/1), Dr Des (16/1)

A superb renewal of the Kennel Gate, which will leave many a punter in an absolute dilemma as to where to (hopefully) temporarily deposit their funds. All six of the horses declared are very likeable types in their own right, but a couple of them in particular have realistic Cheltenham aspirations. Slate House is a chaser in the making, so it is to his immense credit that he has so far excelled over hurdles, and despite conceding 5lb to his other rivals will not go down without a fight. Mr One More was probably value for more than the winning margin when accounting for Dr Des over C&D last month, and with some slightly slicker hurdling, he should once more have the measure of that rival. However, it is the rather difficult named CLAIMANTAKINFORGAN that is the selection. He was a useful sort in bumpers, and was mightily impressive in galloping all over Lostintranslation on hurdles debut at Newbury, and he can be another winner for a trainer who has already enjoyed a highly productive week.