13:50 Ascot

Saturday 21 December 2019

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Plymouth Gin Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 4m 56.10s

Kobrouk³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145| D

10/1

Lightly-raced sort for this yard having won three times in France; pulled up at Aintree last year on his stable debut. Shaped much better on his return (after a wind op); easy to back, travelled well (not unduly punished); could be capable of better.

Form: 1F16/P-3

Garde La Victoire⁴³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 144| BF| D

16/1

Well backed after seven months off he showed enough to think that he may at some point take advantage of a falling mark. Jumped better than usual last time but not certain to do so here in a large field; needs other to falter to play a part.

Form: 18240/4-

Militarian²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: J Martin⁽⁷⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 144| C

12/1

Shock 50-1 winner over 3m here last time under an enterprising ride from today's pilot, seen to best advantage (jumped well). That form far in advance of anything he'd shown before; now has to back that up over a shorter trip off a 6lb higher mark.

Form: 1P634-1

First Flow⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 140

2/1

Completed a simple task to open his account over fences at Hereford last time although his jumping could have been a little sharper. Ran to a good level in two previous chase starts (has course experience); should make an impact off this mark.

Form: 1P/5-221

Delire D'Estruval^b²⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: James Bowen| T: B Pauling| OR: 138

14/1

Fair record over fences in GB winning twice and ending last season by winning at Sandown off a 4lb lower mark. Returns in a deep contest although his yard are just starting to show some spark (debut winner here yesterday); needs to improve again.

Form: 4/14921-

Mr Medic²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 137| CD

28/1

Winner of this in 2017 off an 11lb lower mark he has one other course win to his name over 2m5f that being his last winning form. Disappointing since then with his return here last time suggesting that he's not anywhere near his last winning form.

Form: 1/166P-4

War Sound^p1,t1⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 136| D

25/1

Not really found his form since producing a decent performance rather losing his way in the interim. Just about did enough last time to think that he was still capable of a fair performance; back down to last winning mark; headgear now introduced.

Form: 1080-P7

Got Away^b,t⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 135

25/1

Produced her best form when winning a small-field mares' handicap at Leicester in February after which she gave some good performances in defeat. Below form on her return after an absence, looked laboured, blinkers now reintroduced.

Form: 2323-P8

Espoir De Guye¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 130| D

11/4

Strong in the market at Exeter last time confirming the form of his initial run this season (second at Chepstow; form very strong). Jumped well in testing conditions (won well) and despite a 9lb rise in the weights comes here with a major chance.

Form: 5172-21

Golden Whisky²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 126| D

12/1

One of five who were next time out winners from a race at Chepstow which included Espoir De Guye (second); showed a lot more than on his chasing debut. Landed the odds at Ffos Las (jumped soundly); open to more progress for a yard starting to fire.

Form: 210-P31

My Way^p1,t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 126

8/1

Ex-French chaser who has yet to win a race (has had two wind ops); sent hurdling for the most part for this yard his season was rather underwhelming. Fell on his GB chase debut at Plumpton; ran with credit last time but this is more competitive.

Form: 2328-F4

Cap Du Nord²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁷⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 123

25/1

Well placed when rattling off a quick chasing hat-trick at the end of last season his mark in the handicap also rose leaving him vulnerable. Acquitted himself well enough last time in this grade (helped by a well-run race); stable rather quiet.

Form: 11-6395

Non-Runners

On The Slopes²⁶

Weight: 10-11| Age: 5

T: C Gordon J: Tom Cannon

Forecasts

First Flow (2/1), Espoir De Guye (11/4), My Way (8/1), Kobrouk (10/1), Militarian (12/1), Golden Whisky (12/1), Delire D'Estruval (14/1), On The Slopes (14/1), Garde La Victoire (16/1), Cap Du Nord (25/1), War Sound (25/1), Got Away (25/1), Mr Medic (28/1)

One or two in this looks weighted to the hilt now including the winner of this two seasons ago Mr Medic who doesn’t look anywhere near the same form and it may be best to concentrate on the up and coming types. Heading that list is ESPOIR DE GUYE whose trainer couldn’t be in better form and comes from a race where five of the field including himself and Golden Whisky were next time out winners both of them proving they could handle testing conditions. First Flow should also be mentioned within that group although he’ll find this a lot harder than when landing odds of 1-9 at Hereford last weekend. Kobrouk and Delire D’Estruval are two others worthy of a mention at slightly bigger prices.