15:35 Ascot
Saturday 22 December 2018
All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35
Betfair Exchange Trophy (Handicap Hurdle) (Grade 3)
- 4YO plus | Class 1 | 1m 7f 152y | Soft | 21 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 15:37 | Winning time: 3m 48.22s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Missed last season but made light of a 706-day absence when fairly hacking up here first time out by 6L. Four from six over C&D overall and goes on all ground so very realistic to think he can defy the 9lb rise and is certainly a leading candidate.
Five from nine over hurdles including novice Grade Two in 2015. Travelled well for a long way on return which was his first run after a wind-op before finding relatively little. Expect him to strip fitter now and drop back to 2m/softer ground help.
Two from two since summer break and won by 8L over C&D most recently. Both wins come however on good ground and best form generally come on sound surface so ground here a concern and upped 10lb also.
Not disgraced in Grade One novices at Cheltenham (sixth) and Aintree (fifth) last year and close fifth and third in hot handicaps at Cheltenham this season. Handicapper keeps pressure on but expecting a bold bid.
33/1 winner of last year's County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival ran well on return but could only manage midfield at Cheltenham latest. Likes these contests but handicapper may well have his measure.
Lightly raced second season hurdler was second at Newton Abbot first time out and was only beaten ½L into third at Newbury latest (Lisp second). Handicapper keeps pressure on but improving at a rate sufficient to remain competitive.
Imperial Cup winner last season has run well in all three subsequent starts and was only beaten 3L into second latest ay Haydock. Handicap continues to rise but seems to remain on the up so well capable with ground in his favour here.
Fontwell winner first time out was followed up by excellent ½L second at Newbury (short-head ahead of Mont Des Avaloirs). Clearly on the up and seems to enjoy soft and heavy ground so certainly one for the shortlist once again.
Three wins in four starts this season in novice company. All wins come on good ground but seemed to handle softer conditions last year so may prove as effective here but this is tougher and Harry Cobden prefers Mont Des Avaloirs.
Three-time hurdle winner for Eoin Doyle in Ireland including in most recent start at Tipperary. Joined last year's winning trainer who has an exceptional record with new recruits but 21lb higher than last win so task very tough.
2017 Cheltenham Festival winner didn't take to chasing and was brought down early on return to hurdling here last month. No doubt he is off a dangerous mark at present but best form generally on sounder surfaces.
Ran well enough in two valuable US contests most recently and was a dual winner on soft/heavy late last term. 13lb higher now so no easy task but suspect he can be competitive nonetheless.
Ended a four year drought latest when taking a valuable Sandown handicap pretty impressively on heavy ground. 9lb higher now but conditions likely to prove very similar so can be in the shake-up once again.
Took advantage of being race-fit from the flat when winning the valuable Greatwood at Cheltenham last time out where he had several of these behind. Upped 6lb for that success and will face very different ground here which may not suit.
Three-time winning novice last term ran a respectable race on return when a close fourth at Wincanton off this mark. Likely to remain on the upgrade for now but suspect he may find this step up in class tough today.
Two from three last term with back-to-back wins most recently at Plumpton on good and heavy ground. Won by 16L most recently so handicapper hits him with a 15lb hike which makes life very tough but remains relatively unexposed.
15L winner on heavy ground at Lingfield most recently over 2m3½f but upped 11lb for that success and therefore looks up against it in this considerably stronger contest although ground obviously will suit.
Former Irish trained gelding gained first hurdle win on first start for this yard at Hereford last month. Now pitched into a handicap which looks a huge step up in class so others are preferred.
Made it two wins in last three starts latest when winning at Taunton. Upped 8lb for that success now and never raced on ground softer than good which is the biggest of several doubts.
Winner at Newbury last January but lost his way towards the end of the season. Recent return saw him a 27L fifth to Man Of Plenty at Sandown and remains 11lb higher than last win.
While his 6L second to Jollys Cracked It here last month reads well given he's now 7lb better off he was race-fit which that rival wasn't and heavy ground could find him out stamina wise.
Forecasts
Mont Des Avaloirs (5/1), Lisp (13/2), Western Ryder (7/1), Tornado Watch (8/1), Mr Antolini (12/1), Jolly's Cracked It (12/1), Grand Sancy (14/1), Not Never (14/1), Mohaayed (16/1), Flying Tiger (16/1), Nietzsche (16/1), Cyrus Darius (16/1), Fidux (20/1), Fiesole (20/1), Friday Night Light (20/1), Chatez (20/1), First Figaro (25/1), Lord Napier (28/1), Court Royale (33/1), Man Of Plenty (33/1), Forecast (33/1)
A fiercely competitive contest this but there may just be a Graded class horse in the field in top-weight JOLLY'S CRACKED IT and his class and course form is the most persuasive factor in this wide-open handicap. Others with strong claims include ultra-consistent soft ground lover Mr Antolini who is a proven commodity in such contests having won the Imperial Cup and the closely matched pair of unexposed hurdlers Lisp and Mont Des Avaloirs.
- Jolly's Cracked It
- Mr Antolini
- Lisp
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £85,425.002nd: £32,055.003rd: £16,050.004th: £7,995.005th: £4,020.006th: £2,010.00
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