Daisy Mason Selling Hurdle

Off time: 12:47 | Winning time: 5m 26.40s

Ascendant¹²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁷⁾| T: J Farrelly| OR: 120| D

15/8

Veteran who has been doing well in sellers and claimers since joining this stable in 2016. Goes well on soft ground and at these weights he looks to have a decent chance of celebrating his birthday with further success.

Form: 5F-1113

Changing The Guard^p,t²⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-6| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁷⁾| T: F Brennan| OR: 80| C

50/1

It is positive that his last win came in a race just like this here in March 2016. However, he has plummeted 38lb on official ratings since then after a losing run amounting to 18 over hurdles/fences and he is impossible to recommend on recent form.

Form: 828545

Roman Numeral⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Tony Kelly| T: D Thompson| OR: 82

16/1

Won a minor handicap chase at Southwell (1m7½f, good) in July and is proven over this far. Ran really well back over hurdles in a selling handicap at Catterick last week when just collared by one from a red hot stable. Has more on his plate here.

Form: 263FF2

Vive Le Roi⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: C Poste| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 117

11/8

Won both his debut bumper and on his hurdling debut at Bangor (2m½f, soft) last year. Began well enough in handicap company, though two runs this autumn not as good, but form is strong enough to have a big say now dropped in grade. Stays 2m5f.

Form: 81/33-45

Geni Johnson^p⁹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: T E Whelan| T: Alexandra Dunn

50/1

Moderate form so far in both bumpers and over hurdles when trained in Ireland. Has run mostly on good ground, was taken out on heavy on intended stable debut and well beaten on sole run on soft, so apart from his form, conditions are also a concern.

Form: 869870

Ulysses^p1¹¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: S Edmunds

7/2

Began well for Ralph Beckett with two second-placed runs in 1m4f maidens (AW), but unable to break his duck in that sphere. Showed promise on Fontwell hurdle debut and now makes debut for this trainer. Could go well if headgear positive.

Form: 4

Forecasts

Vive Le Roi (11/8), Ascendant (15/8), Ulysses (7/2), Roman Numeral (16/1), Changing The Guard (50/1), Geni Johnson (50/1)

A modest start to the racing year at the track and ASCENDANT, who has been running well in sellers and claimers, can add further success to his CV. Ulysses is at the other end of the age spectrum and showed enough on his hurdles debut in September to suggest that he can have a say at this level, especially in receipt of well over a stone from the selection. Vive Le Roi is another likely to get involved now dropping to this level for the first time.