16:05 Ascot

Saturday 19 January 2019

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:05

Matchbook British EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 16:06 | Winning time: 5m 36.30s

Admiral Barratry²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: L P Aspell| T: L Wadham| OR: 131

11/2

Promise a couple of times for past trainers and made a winning start for this yard at Huntingdon beating a previous winner who has since finished second despite giving weight away all round. Penalised for that but not ruled out.

Form: U/52-261

Moonlighter³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 137| C

4/1

Dual winner including here over 2m3½f penultimately and travelling as well as any next when falling heavily two out at Newbury in the race where Downtown Getaway was second. Penalty again to shoulder but obvious chance if no ill effects from fall.

Form: 16-31F

Russian Hawk⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| D

8/1

Stayed on for third on racecourse debut in a bumper at Wincanton and proved stamina is his forte when winning first hurdle race at Exeter in November over this trip. Second, third and fourth all placed since so form fair but much tougher here.

Form: 3-1

Champagne Well²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

6/1

Point-to-point winner (3rd start) bought for €40,000 had just two runs in bumpers putting his experience to good use when winning second of them. Always held but stayed on well for third on hurdles debut at Taunton over 2m3f, tougher ask here.

Form: 371-513

Downtown Getaway³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| BF

11/8

Bought for a whopping £350,000 after bolting up in a Fairyhouse bumper in 2017. Odds-on for stable/hurdles debut at Newbury but had to settle for second. That first run in over 12 months so fitter now and expected to win here.

Form: 1-2

Fifth Symphony⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling

16/1

Similar level and race style so far in one bumper and one hurdle, racing handily in each before weakening into midfield. Time on his side but more likely one for handicaps or weaker maiden contests.

Form: 85

Nearly Perfect³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: N B King

25/1

Fair second on hurdles bow at Southwell but nowhere near that level next when tailed off at Exeter. In fairness ground latest was bottomless so that forgiven but even so he looks up against it.

Form: 29-027

Scorpion Haze⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: A Stronge

20/1

Placed in last three bumpers and also hurdle debut when an 8L third here in a maiden hurdle over 2m3½f in November. Can improve for that effort but this represents a much stronger contest.

Form: 4232-3

Rosy World⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: M G Nolan| T: Miss S Smith

66/1

Uttoxeter bumper winner finished sixth of 12 on hurdles debut at Plumpton on December which was an under performance according to betting expectations. Better to come but unlikely to be heavily involved here.

Form: 231-6

Forecasts

Downtown Getaway (11/8), Moonlighter (4/1), Admiral Barratry (11/2), Champagne Well (6/1), Russian Hawk (8/1), Fifth Symphony (16/1), Scorpion Haze (20/1), Nearly Perfect (25/1), Rosy World (66/1)

DOWNTOWN GETAWAY can go some way to repaying the huge price connections paid for him after winning an Irish bumper for Mags Mullins by landing the spoils here with his recent second a sound enough effort given the lengthy absence. Moonlighter was still travelling well in the race the selection was second in when falling two out so should go well again especially as the only dual winner in the field. Admiral Barratry beat a fair yard stick latest and could have more to come so is another on the shortlist.