15:15 Ascot

Saturday 24 November 2018

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

Gerard Bertrand Hurst Park Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:18 | Winning time: 4m 3.30s

Ozzie The Oscar¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Matt Griffiths| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 154| BF

15/2

Won three of his six chase starts to date and returned to fences last time out with another sound effort as he finished a close second in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter over 2m1½f. Bare 2m ideal here and has very strong claims despite top weight.

Form: 321-132

San Benedeto^p,t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 152| CD

9/1

Prolific nine-time winner including a Grade One novice chase in 2017. Failed to win last term although ran several good races in defeat. Third in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter latest where Ozzie The Oscar was second. Each-way contender.

Form: 542-363

Speredek^p,t²¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Tom Cannon| T: N J Hawke| OR: 151| DWS

12/1

Second in the Grade One Clarence House here (2m1f) last season a career best albeit he was well beaten. Pulled-up next before finishing the season with a midfield handicap effort at Punchestown. Ground is the biggest question mark here.

Form: 1212P8-

Modus²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: B J Geraghty| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150

6/1

Grade Two winning novice last year came up short subsequently at the top level at Cheltenham and Aintree. Winning return last month in a competitive handicap at Cheltenham and 4lb rise looks lenient so has realistic claims here.

Form: 1F185-1

Cyrname^h,t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150| BF| D

11/4

Dual Grade Two winner and Grade One placed as a novice last term. Shade disappointing on return when third to smart Mister Whitaker but left first run behind last season so possibilities here with progress expected.

Form: 21214-3

Theinval^p²¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 150| D

16/1

Built on good efforts at Cheltenham and Aintree festivals to end last season on a winning note at Ayr in a 2m½f handicap. 6lb higher on return here so will have to be absolutely spot on first time to get involved.

Form: 364241-

Duke Of Navan²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: N G Richards| OR: 147| D

12/1

Strong travelling sort finished last term with a third to Theinval at Ayr and started this season well when narrowly denied by Modus at Cheltenham having looked the winner half way up the run in. Shorter run in here will suit so has decent claims.

Form: 3F213-2

Valdez²⁵³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 147| D

16/1

Useful in 2014 but only ran twice last term after a 1204 day absence, finishing last of three behind the exceptional Altoir before unseating at Cheltenham. Hard to know how much ability now remains.

Form: 152F/3U-

One For Billy^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: N D Fehily| T: D Skelton| OR: 145| D

14/1

Won twice in the summer followed by two seconds before running out through the tapes at Cheltenham latest when likely to be second again (1L behind). This a much tougher contest so probably has more to do now.

Form: 21122R

Champagne At Tara²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: James Bowen| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 145| D

25/1

Wins at Aintree and Uttoxeter in the summer followed by second here after a break latest in a race where the odds-on favourite didn't complete. Handicapper may now have his measure and Geraghty prefers Modus.

Form: F2-3112

Gardefort³⁷⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 143| D

11/1

Five-time winner finished last season with an excellent second in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham. Respectable effort on return when fourth at Aintree but must bring his A game here.

Form: U2412/4-

Caid Du Lin^p,t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 139| D

16/1

One win and two seconds in four chase starts to date but was pulled up in a race One For Billy looked likely to go close in until running out in between. This a good bit tougher and must improve jumping.

Form: P2-12P2

Marracudja^t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 135

14/1

Attractively handicapped now on best form for Paul Nicholls. Three runs this term all seen him set stiff tasks but more realistic possibilities now and 5lb below last winning mark.

Form: 1U-4676

Forecasts

Cyrname (11/4), Modus (6/1), Ozzie The Oscar (15/2), San Benedeto (9/1), Gardefort (11/1), Speredek (12/1), Duke Of Navan (12/1), Marracudja (14/1), One For Billy (14/1), Caid Du Lin (16/1), Theinval (16/1), Valdez (16/1), Champagne At Tara (25/1)

A wide open contest this and Paul Nicholls has three genuine contenders. It may pay to chance CYRNAME who is better over this sort of trip than the 2m4f he has tackled the last twice and he should strip fitter for his recent return so can land this valuable contest. Top-weight Ozzie The Oscar is the most feared rival, Philip Hobbs' charge is yet to finish out of the frame over fences and can continue the run here. Stablemate of the selection Modus is another likely to be popular having won first time out at Cheltenham.