Ascot Schools Art Competition Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 59.95s

Captain Cattistock^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135

11/4

Improving, winning his last two and showing a good attitude to make all at Wincanton last time out, battling well when challenged. No issues with the ground or trip, and although the penalty makes life harder, no saying how far he can go.

Form: 1-411

Count Meribel³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: M D Grant| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 138| C| D

2/1

Some excellent early season form that stands up very well in this contest, but thrashed out of sight at Warwick latest, fading quickly late on. Yard in better form now, but does need to bounce back and may not be as fresh as a few of these.

Form: 2-11126

Point Of Principle⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 125

12/1

Has come up against some useful opponents to date and has run with credit on more than one occasion, but it falls short of what's required here and he may not want the ground too deep either.

Form: 127-242

Warthog^t⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: D PipeWS

11/1

Three times a beaten favourite already, and although thrown in at the deep end against Mr Whipped at Newbury last time, he didn't show enough to suggest he's up to taking a hand in this. Others readily preferred.

Form: 3126-3P

Dame De Compagnie^h⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| BF

2/1

Winner at Uttoxeter on debut for the yard but found nothing when asked for an effort at Cheltenham in November and was tailed off (at odds-on). Off since then, and hard to know what she's capable of here. May need better ground to show her best.

Form: 322-15

Forecasts

Dame De Compagnie (2/1), Count Meribel (2/1), Captain Cattistock (11/4), Warthog (11/1), Point Of Principle (12/1)

Count Meribel will try and make all here but if his last couple of efforts are to be believed, then he may well have gone off the boil, and will be vulnerable late on. CAPTAIN CATTISTOCK looks the improver and although he has a little to find on form, he loks capable of bridging the gap. Dame De Compagnie is probably capable of better but has a little to prove now, so Point Of Principle is preferred for the bronze medal.