12:45 Ascot

Friday 21 December 2018

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

eventmasters.co.uk Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:48 | Winning time: 5m 37.80s

Alkopop

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: D W P Arbuthnot

50/1

Jukebox Jury gelding who cost £90,000 last year and is a half-brother to three winners over hurdles and on the Flat in France. Best watched on debut unless the market speaks in his favour.

Form:

Ask Dillon³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

12/1

Point-to-point winner who has shown ability in bumpers and now tries his hand over hurdles. One to note in the betting.

Form: 7/1-225

Darksideoftarnside¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams

50/1

Winner on the Flat at Ayr in September, but fluffed the first hurdle and fell at the second on jumping debut at Haydock. Needs to show much more aptitude for the game this time.

Form: F

Drama King^b1³¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe

100/1

Nothing to shout about in a bumper and two novice hurdles. First-time blinkers need to have a dramatic effect if he is to figure.

Form: 7/6P-

El Hageb Rose²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: G & J Moore

200/1

Some promise on debut in a bumper, but was tailed off on hurdling debut at this venue. Needs to show considerably more.

Form: 67

Gallahers Cross³⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

1/1

Irish bumper winner who was an expensive purchase for his leading yard and showed a lot of promise on his only start last season. Highly regarded and will have been well prepared for this jumping debut.

Form: 1/14-

High Up In The Air¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: M Goldstein| T: G & J Moore

150/1

Point-to-point runner-up who was well held on his hurdling debut at Plumpton. Should do better in time but looks up against it on this occasion.

Form: 26

Igor²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson

4/1

Promising debut when runner-up at this track last month. Looks a chaser in the making and may have to play second fiddle to stable companion Gallahers Cross.

Form: 2

Larkbarrow Lad^t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

10/1

Promise in bumpers and ran well on hurdling debut when just touched off at Huntingdon. More needed, but should be wiser for the experience and top stable remains in fine form.

Form: 332-42

Manofthemoment²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: T R George

33/1

Winner of his only point-to-point, but was well held in a bumper on stable debut at this track. Will be happier tackling hurdles and should fare better.

Form: 17

Reve¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: M Keighley| OR: 123

33/1

Leading and looking set to win when falling two out at Leicester earlier this month. Going the right way over hurdles and should be on the premises.

Form: 72F

Southern Sam³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Sherwood

4/1

Point-to-point runner-up who shaped well to be second on his hurdling/stable debut at Uttoxeter. Should improve and can make his presence felt.

Form: 2-2

Forecasts

Gallahers Cross (1/1), Southern Sam (4/1), Igor (4/1), Larkbarrow Lad (10/1), Ask Dillon (12/1), Reve (33/1), Manofthemoment (33/1), Darksideoftarnside (50/1), Alkopop (50/1), Drama King (100/1), High Up In The Air (150/1), El Hageb Rose (200/1)

Reve looked unlucky last time and should get involved, while Southern Sam and Larkbarrow Lad shaped well on their hurdling debuts and ought to improve. However, recent course runne-up Igor and GALLAHERS CROSS give Nicky Henderson a strong hand and the latter is readily preferred on his hurdling debut. Ask Dillon is worth a market check on his jumping bow.