12:25 Ascot

Saturday 2 November 2019

All12:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:55

Gardiner & Theobald Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:25 | Winning time: 4m 45.70s

Mason Jar¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Cillin Leonard⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 121

11/4

Has thrived since joining this yard, winning last two (both at odds-on) with something in hand anduseful 10lb claimer takes off the extra weight the handicapper has given him; handles all ground and trip fine, so no reason not to go close.

Form: 237-211

Eclair Des Sablons²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: Katy Price| OR: 120

8/1

Improving novice that almost made it home at Exeter on latest start after making all the running, beaten a neck; that form looks solid and although he's up 5lb for it, clearly going the right way, and has chances here.

Form: 51622-2

Northofthewall^t1¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: William Marshall⁽⁸⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 120

5/1

Unexposed 5yo that has already shown some ability in novice hurdles and a good bumper at Chepstow last year; gets a tongue tie for the first time today and looks to be crying out for a step up in trip, so a potential improver.

Form: 7045-2

Sizing Tara^t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Kimber⁽¹⁰⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 117| D

8/1

Winner of a couple of handicaps in Septmeber, which caused him to take a sizeable hike in the weights; now has ground to make up with Eclair Des Sablons on their latest run and others make slightly more appeal.

Form: 644114

Tegerek¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Edward Austin⁽⁶⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 117| BF

7/1

Consistent over the past twelve months but hard to win with, and you'd be hard pushed to say he's improving; this track may suit better than Carlisle did last time, but chances are something will improve past him again.

Form: 53542-3

Thibault¹⁰²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Chester Williams⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 114

13/2

Good winner at Huntingdon on handicap debut back in May but disappointing he couldn't do better at Southwell off the back of that; given a break, which may help, and yard going well enough, so could bounce back.

Form: 4/347-12

Dorking Boy^t⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 112WS

12/1

Bumper winner last year but improvement over hurdles does seem to have come to a halt this autumn, fading out of it too quickly for comfort at Newton Abbot last time; others look more convincing, although yard going better now.

Form: 18/74-63

Moans Cross¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Mitchell Bastyan| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 110

40/1

Winner of a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter in July but not really gone on from that, and threw in a stinker at Wincanton last time; handicapper slow to relent, and not that hard to look elsewhere for the winner.

Form: 532120

Rebel Leader²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Page Fuller| T: H Whittington| OR: 110

20/1

Only had the two starts over hurdles, running to a similar level both times, and caught late on after trying to make all latest; opening mark far from a gimme, but has scope for improvement and on that alone, cannot be discounted.

Form: 1-32

It's For Alan^h⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Miss J S Davis| OR: 106

20/1

Easy winner at Fontwell in the spring and has run to a similar level on two subsequent starts without actually improving; drop back to this trip may help though, and good jockey booking, so could do better.

Form: 900-125

Megalodon^t²⁰⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Ben Jones| T: P Henderson| OR: 105WS

33/1

Nice looking individual that ran well against the useful Emitom at Lingfield in January, yet to catch fire in handicaps but early days and this mark looks more than workable; not ruled out of fit after summer break.

Form: 092063-

Episode¹⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: N F Houlihan⁽⁸⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 102

25/1

Only had the three starts for the yard and has shown some promise on first two before disappointing at Worcester in the spring; plenty of scope to do better and yard do well here, so is one of the more interesting ones.

Form: 83/43-P

With Pleasure^b1⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: J L Flint| OR: 99

40/1

Three starts back from almost a year's absence this autumn have seen him finish well beaten; looking well handicapped now but really needs to find some of his better form, and at present that looks unlikely.

Form: P288/6-5

Forecasts

Mason Jar (11/4), Northofthewall (5/1), Thibault (13/2), Tegerek (7/1), Eclair Des Sablons (8/1), Sizing Tara (8/1), Dorking Boy (12/1), It's For Alan (20/1), Rebel Leader (20/1), Episode (25/1), Megalodon (33/1), With Pleasure (40/1), Moans Cross (40/1)

A tricky start to what looks a superb card and small stakes are advised here. Mason JarECLAIR DES SABLONS created a good impression when only just giving best at Exeter and with that run under his belt, can go one better here. Episode and Megalodon are less exposed but both are interesting for different reasons. Northofthewall, Rebel Leaderand Thibault are all potential improvers too.