15:20 Ascot

Saturday 16 February 2019

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

Betfair Hurdle (Grade 3 Handicap)

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 3m 45.3s

Lisp⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 145| D

8/1

Won twice as a novice last season and after winning first time out this term he has finished second in valuable handicaps at Newbury and over C&D. Handicapper keeps up the pressure but clearly progressive and respected.

Form: 13F-122

Mont Des Avaloirs⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142| BF| D

10/1

Seemingly progressive second season hurdler but well below par latest over C&D when 14th of 21 as favourite here. Just behind Lisp the time before who was second there so clearly didn't give true running, Capable if bouncing back.

Form: 414-230

Getaway Trump⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142

3/1

Built on back-to-back successes at Plumpton and Exeter to take form to new heights latest when second in a Grade One at Newbury. That form is certainly among the best on offer and rates a leading player.

Form: 46-4112

Al Dancer^h⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 141| D

11/4

Took record to three from three over hurdles latest when a highly impressive winner of a Cheltenham handicap. 12lb higher here but novices have an excellent record in this as does his trainer so rated a leading contender.

Form: 314-111

Blu Cavalier⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁵⁾| T: A Stronge| OR: 140| BF| D

33/1

Won three times as a novice for Paul Nicholls last season but beaten at 2/11 in his most recent start for the Ditcheat handler in a seller. Starts out for new yard now but not obviously well treated so others preferred.

Form: 111-232

Didtheyleaveuoutto⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: W T Kennedy| T: N J Gifford| OR: 139| CD

13/2

Listed bumper winner here won his first two over hurdles including when beating the smart Thomas Darby before shade disappointing at Kempton albeit under a double penalty. Opening mark looks reasonable and should make a bold bid.

Form: 110-115

Equus Amadeus²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 137

20/1

Won twice this season at Wincanton and Doncaster suggesting he remains on the up. Revised career high mark latest saw him tailed off at Cheltenham and for all he's better than that he must prove worth off such a rating.

Form: 461018

Distingo^p³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 135| D

25/1

Dual winner last season but after two placed efforts to start the campaign he was a shade disappointing next at Kempton. Ran ok on flat since and handicap mark reasonable but others appeal more.

Form: 21P-230

Zanza⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 135| D

14/1

Highly unexposed novice but won two of four to date with most recent a 1L success at Taunton over 2m3f. Jumps well and could be suited by a stronger gallop but this a big step up in class.

Form: 6181

William H Bonney⁶⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 133| D

16/1

Finished 11th and eighth in this the last two years. Wins at Hereford and Huntingdon the last twice show he's in good order but just 1lb lower than a year ago now and suggest handicapper has measure again.

Form: 680-011

Nordic Combined^v1³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: D Pipe| OR: 133| BF

16/1

Three-time flat winner yet to win over hurdles but finished second in three straight novice contests so surely a matter of time. This very tall order for a novice but handles big fields and visor could help

Form: 5222

Ar Mest³¹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 121| D

16/1

Comes here on a hat-trick after wins at Leicester and Newbury. Latest was a class 4 so marked step up in class here and 6lb higher. Looks a tall order as well as he's running.

Form: F0-9311

Magic Dancer^p,t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 125| D

25/1

Three-time hurdles winner but yet to score this season. 20L behind Al Dancer penultimately at Cheltenham before better effort when second at Kempton. Others more compelling.

Form: 1-26572

Nelson's Touch²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: J McGrath| T: J W Mullins| OR: 125| D

25/1

Dual hurdles scorer finished second in two handicaps at Sandown to start this season before shade disappointing next at Cheltenham. Handicap mark just about within range but needs very best form to be competitive.

Form: 13-1226

Forecasts

Al Dancer (11/4), Getaway Trump (3/1), Didtheyleaveuoutto (13/2), Lisp (8/1), Mont Des Avaloirs (10/1), Zanza (14/1), Ar Mest (16/1), William H Bonney (16/1), Nordic Combined (16/1), Equus Amadeus (20/1), Magic Dancer (25/1), Distingo (25/1), Nelson's Touch (25/1), Blu Cavalier (33/1)

Novices have a great recent record in this as does Nigel Twiston-Davies and he can land the prize for a third time in five years with the potentially top-class AL DANCER who has done nothing wrong so far over hurdles and he was deeply impressive at Cheltenham most recently. Fellow novice Getaway Trump may be the best of three live contenders for Paul Nicholls based on his Grade One second to Champ last time out. If novices don't hold sway this time around Lisp could gain a deserved big-race success after two good seconds in similar contests.