14:25 Ascot

Saturday 20 January 2018

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:05

Ascot Spring Garden Show Holloway's Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:27 | Winning time: 5m 0.50s

Air Horse One²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 147| CD

14/1

Won three times in a row at the start of 2017, but the handicapper took a dim view and he has been held off higher marks since then. Latest effort at this track was disappointing, but there was nothing wrong with his two previous runs.

Form: 140-430

Jenkins^b⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 143

5/1

Put some ordinary efforts behind him when making all in first-time blinkers in a Kempton handicap hurdle a week ago, Has gone up 11lb, but top claimer takes off 5lb and he has to go on the short list with confidence restored.

Form: 141-771

Burbank^p1³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 142| BF

16/1

Stable companion of Jenkins, he was a very useful novice hurdler who finished an excellent fourth at last year's Cheltenham Festival. Has not looked the same horse in a hurdle and novice chase this season and connections reach for cheekpieces.

Form: 1242-06

Caid Du Lin^p,t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁷⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 135| D

20/1

Well held in a valuable handicap hurdle at this track last time, but had previously finished a good second off 5lb lower at Sandown. Back down 2lb and is not without hope.

Form: 317220

Night Of Sin³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 132

7/1

Won a couple of juvenile hurdles last season and has run with credit on both starts this term, latterly when second of 10 at Exeter last month. Stable in good form, so one for the short list despite a 5lb weight rise since his last run.

Form: 7117-72

Whatmore^h1¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly| OR: 132

25/1

Decent form in novice company, but struggled in a Listed race at Cheltenham last time. Fair mark for his handicap debut and wears a hood for the first time. Stable going well, too.

Form: 2R-1146

Jabulani⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Tom Humphries⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 127| D

14/1

Won one of his three starts in novice/maiden company and was not disgraced in his first handicap at Newbury last time. Runs off the same mark, but useful claimer takes off 7lb.

Form: 16-2318

Crossed My Mind⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁷⁾| T: A L T Moore| OR: 124| BF

3/1

Irish raider who was behind Caid Du Lin when third at Sandown on his latest outing. He is 2lb better off at the weights and is one to consider with promising claimer on board.

Form: U416-33

Thorpe^p,t¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 124| D

50/1

Progressive sort who has won three of his last five starts. Handicap mark has shot up accordingly, but warrants considerable respect given his current vein of form.

Form: 411271

Oxwich Bay³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 124

10/3

Knocked on the door a few times before getting off the mark over timber at Ffos Las last month. Has been raised 3lb for that success in maiden company, but is progressive and has a good claimer on board.

Form: 132-221

Man Of Plenty^t,v²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 123

16/1

Good runs at Sandown and at this track on last two starts, but handicapper has not been sympathetic to his cause. Likely to run with credit again, but is vulnerable to less-exposed types.

Form: 223255

Vivas^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 121| D

25/1

Won off 5lb lower on his seasonal reappearance at Uttoxeter, but has been finding his higher mark a burden and the handicapper is not relenting. Others make more appeal.

Form: 68-1293

Monty's Award^h¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 114

33/1

Lightly raced in novice/handicap hurdles and has been beaten a long way on last two starts. Runs from 7lb out of the handicap and stable looks to have a stronger candidate in Vivas.

Form: 14-3305

Non-Runners

Le Breuil⁴²

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: B Pauling J: D A Jacob

Forecasts

Crossed My Mind (3/1), Oxwich Bay (10/3), Jenkins (5/1), Le Breuil (6/1), Night Of Sin (7/1), Air Horse One (14/1), Jabulani (14/1), Burbank (16/1), Man Of Plenty (16/1), Caid Du Lin (20/1), Vivas (25/1), Whatmore (25/1), Monty's Award (33/1), Thorpe (50/1)

It was only a maiden hurdle that Oxwich Bay won last time, but he looks progressive and has each-way prospects off his low weight. Crossed My Mind may be able to turn round Sandown form with Caid du Lin and Night Of Sin hails from a yard in cracking form, but this looks all about JENKINS, who finally went some way to justifying his tall reputation at Kempton last time. The blinkers he wore for the first time are retained and, although up 11llb, he has the services of his top 5lb claimer who has played a starring role for this stable in recent weeks. Of the outsiders, Whatmore may be worth a second glance.