16:30 Ascot

Saturday 16 February 2019

All12:3013:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:00

Best Racing On Racing TV Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 5m 55.62s

Trixster³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Price⁽⁷⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 125| D

15/2

Clearly a much improved hurdler this season winning three out of four in novice company and won on good and heavy ground. Stiff test for first handicap off top-weight but clearly on the up and highly respected.

Form: F5-1211

Lygon Rock^p1⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly| OR: 124

10/1

Still quite lightly raced overall but ran a quite respectable race first time over 3m at Cheltenham latest when fifth. Cheekpieces now tried to find slight improvement probably required overall.

Form: 33-1285

Landin⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: J McGrath| T: J W Mullins| OR: 124

33/1

Won three times last season but things went badly wrong afterwards. Step back in the right direction latest but still quite soundly beaten so remains of limited appeal.

Form: 1PP-B06

Jeannot De Nonant^p³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: J E Moore| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 124| BF| D

25/1

Well beaten three times after a summer break and although latest effort an improvement it came in selling company as favourite. Recent handicap efforts suggest safer options elsewhere.

Form: 135883

Daydream Aulmes²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 123

13/2

Completed his hat-trick latest at Huntingdon over 2m4½f. Upped 7lb for that and goes over 3m for first time but looks like he can stay providing he settles so rates a leading contender once more.

Form: 406111

Potters Hedger^p²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: L Wadham| OR: 123

12/1

Looked a stayer of potential when winning over 3m1f at Plumpton but very disappointing thereafter at Huntingdon where he stopped rapidly after an error two out. Bounce back possible now but others safer options.

Form: 72-1517

Worthy Farm⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 123| BF| D

8/1

Taunton novice winner made favourite next time out at Cheltenham in handicap company but disappointed back in 10th of 12. Can surely do better than that but plenty to prove now handicap wise.

Form: 13-310

Another Emotion^p1⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 122

10/1

Lightly raced Ffos Las novice winner last season ran very encouragingly over 2m7½f first time out at Sandown but weakened next at Chepstow when fourth. Cheekpieces tried here and too soon to write him off.

Form: U2/21-24

Billingsley⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Lee Edwards| T: A Ralph| OR: 122| BF

12/1

Dual Chepstow 2m heavy ground winner finished fifth latest at Haydock over 2m3f. Far from convincing evidence there for a stiff 3m so stamina concerns quite real.

Form: 34/011-5

Looks Like Power^h,t⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 122| D

12/1

Better record over fences but fair third back over hurdles last time out at Chepstow over 2m7½f. Not won over timber since 2016 but no reason he can't run a solid race again here.

Form: 3141-43

Exitas⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 122| C

10/1

Busy campaign yielded two wins from 16 starts. Disappointing latest and even before that suggestion was that handicapper has him on a tight leash. Others preferred.

Form: 2123U6

Faithful Mount^p⁵²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Edward Austin⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 117

16/1

Lone hurdle win back in 2015 and that looked unlikely to change anytime soon latest when he was beaten 61L at Fontwell. Complete unknown over this trip but risky to say the least.

Form: 4F26/58

Modern Warfair²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 117| D

8/1

Winner of his first handicap latest over extended 3m at Doncaster where he got on top late on. Up in class now and 5lb higher but plenty of potential for more improvement so certainly one for the shortlist.

Form: 2-421

Jully Les Buxy^t,v⁶³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: David Bass| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 110

12/1

Second although comfortably held in both starts this season. Handicap mark is within range then but this represents a taller order and other appear more compelling.

Form: 531-P22

The Way You Dance^v²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 110

10/1

Not seen over hurdles since 2017 but won twice on the AW last summer. Won last hurdle race and possibly improved in interim so quite difficult to gauge overall. Wouldn't write him off.

Form: 43/P471-

Irish Prince^b⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: D Pipe| OR: 104

16/1

Maiden showed signs of promise in the summer when second but disappointed latest at Warwick under an aggressive ride eventually finishing 10th of 13. Not optimistic here.

Form: 5559-20

Forecasts

Daydream Aulmes (13/2), Trixster (15/2), Worthy Farm (8/1), Modern Warfair (8/1), Lygon Rock (10/1), Another Emotion (10/1), Exitas (10/1), The Way You Dance (10/1), Potters Hedger (12/1), Looks Like Power (12/1), Jully Les Buxy (12/1), Billingsley (12/1), Faithful Mount (16/1), Irish Prince (16/1), Jeannot De Nonant (25/1), Landin (33/1)

DAYRDEAM AULMES goes in search of the four-timer here and it is hoped that he finds enough improvement for the step up to 3m to offset another handicap rise. Trixster is interesting on handicap debut given his fine recent form. Modern Warfair is another worth considering after he won his first handicap last time out at Doncaster.