13:50 Ascot

Saturday 22 December 2018

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

My Pension Expert Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 4m 43.4s

Janika²⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145| D

3/1

Ex-French trained gelding won his last three (of four) chases last season from 2m2½f to 2m6f. Very interesting recruit to top yard who excelled with fellow ex-French five-year-old Terrefort last season for these owners. Leading candidate here.

Form: 182111-

Royal Regatta^b,t²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 145| BF| C

16/1

Dual course winner including 2016 Grade Two. Pulled up in final start of 2016/17 campaign and both starts last Autumn. Made favourite here on return but tailed off eighth of 10. Very risky proposition for all he's well handicapped at best.

Form: P3P/PP-8

Overtown Express²⁵⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 145| D

14/1

Impressive Newbury winner first time out last season failed to add to that although he was largely competitive off higher marks than this. Slightly more needed but perhaps first time out is the time to catch him.

Form: F34259-

Valdez²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 143

25/1

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. Pulled-up here on return and plenty to prove now.

Form: 52F/3U-P

Hell's Kitchen^h,t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: H Fry| OR: 143

5/1

Kempton winner last December was returning from quite a lengthy absence when seventh of 11 over 2m4f at Aintree on return. Still quite lightly raced and unexposed but will need to improve quite markedly on latest start.

Form: 3/2U1P-7

Gardefort²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 140

14/1

Three wins for this yard all over 2m although won over 2m5f in France in his younger days. Second in 2017 Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival but only run twice since and tailed off here on return. Probably best watched at present.

Form: 2412/4-0

Magic Saint²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143

7/2

Dual hurdle and chase winner in France for Guillaume Macaire last season could only finish a remote second on stable bow behind the smart Activial (runs in 1:15 today). No doubt there's more to come and trainer excels with ex-French four-year-olds.

Form: 11135-2

De Dollar Man⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 137| D

4/1

Exeter winner last December was only beaten 2½L into fourth on reappearance at Newbury last month. Raised 2lb for that but is still quite lightly raced over fences and has often hinted that he has a bit more up his sleeve. Respected here.

Form: 9/4124-4

Movie Legend^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: J M Quinlan| T: L Wadham| OR: 126| BF

14/1

Winner over hurdles at Fakenham first time out has since finished second twice over fences at Cheltenham and Wetherby. Never won beyond 2m1f so must prove stamina here but sound each-way claims overall.

Form: 2PP-122

Rock On Rocky^p,t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 126

22/1

4lb lower now than second of two wins last term but that a result of four below-par efforts this season. Tailed off at Newbury latest so despite his falling mark others are preferred.

Form: 1P-8346

Forecasts

Janika (3/1), Magic Saint (7/2), De Dollar Man (4/1), Hell's Kitchen (5/1), Movie Legend (14/1), Overtown Express (14/1), Gardefort (14/1), Royal Regatta (16/1), Rock On Rocky (22/1), Valdez (25/1)

JANIKA looks an exciting recruit for the champion trainer and he gets the vote under Daryl Jacob who has an exceptional book of rides this afternoon. Second on his chase debut this son of Saddler Maker then won all of his three subsequent starts over fences and could very easily be a cut above handicaps. Fellow smart ex-French recruit Magic Saint is also respected and he will likely come on plenty for his recent return. De Dollar Man is best of the rest but vulnerable to this unexposed pair.