12:47 Ascot

Saturday 31 October 2020

All12:1512:4713:2013:5514:3215:0515:4016:17

tote.co.uk Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 2)

Off time: 12:49 | Winning time: 4m 52.30s

Known²⁹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Alfie Jordan⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 119

4/1

Caught the eye in novice hurdles last winter and appeals as the type to go on to better things for top yard now handicapping back up in trip.

Form: 4453-

Straw Fan Jack¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 118

10/1

Much improved when taking Hereford novice 18 days ago, staying on well to see off a next-time-out winner. Likely there's more to come now moving into handicaps.

Form: 204P-F1

Riggs²⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: William Marshall⁽⁸⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 116

10/1

Shaped well when second in 20.5f Market Rasen novice in February, coming through to hold every chance when mistake last. This lightly raced sort will surely have more to give now handicapping.

Form: 642-

Scene Not Herd²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Tom Buckley⁽⁶⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 116

3/1

Irish point winner who came good at the third time of asking under Rules in Hexham novice hurdle 3 weeks ago. Handicapper hasn't taken any chances with his mark but he's open to further progress.

Form: FP/13-41

Celtic Joy²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Lee Cosgrove⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 115

18/1

Won a chase off this mark last autumn. Reverts to hurdles after a disappointing reappearance run over fences and suspicion he'll prove vulnerable to progressive types.

Form: 2/2126-7

Sir Canford^p²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Tudor| T: A Stronge| OR: 115

18/1

Fair Flat winner, making a successful return from wind op at Chepstow in August. In the frame on all 3 hurdle starts, including at Sedgefield 24 days ago. Opening handicap mark demands more, though.

Form: 24-3

Fifty Ball²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: N F Houlihan⁽⁶⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 113

11/4

€60,000 buy after winning pair of French bumpers last autumn. Has shaped well when placed in a couple of Fontwell novice hurdles for new yard this autumn and rates a likely improver in handicaps.

Form: 4/511-32

Fazayte²²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: James Nixon| T: T Symonds| OR: 112

20/1

French recruit who showed form last spring, including fourth on 2m Wetherby handicap debut in March. Up in trip. Yet another unexposed sort in this line-up.

Form: 333/434-

Duhallow Lad³²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: C Brace| T: A E Jones| OR: 109

25/1

Dual Plumpton chase winner. Off since a respectable fifth over fences at Aintree last December. Perhaps best watched back hurdling on return unless betting vibes strong.

Form: 254/415-

Silver Nickel²⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Daniel Sansom| T: J W Mullins| OR: 107

33/1

First sign of promise when third of 17 in 2m Wincanton novice hurdle in February. Longer trip should suit now handicapping on his return to action. Open to improvement.

Form: 803/893-

Whoopsey²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 101

14/1

Has room for improvement in her jumping but shaped with a bit of promise when fourth on her qualifying run at Exeter (17f) 23 days ago. Step back up in trip should help now handicapping. More to come.

Form: 40/5-74

Forecasts

Fifty Ball (11/4), Scene Not Herd (3/1), Known (4/1), Straw Fan Jack (10/1), Riggs (10/1), Whoopsey (14/1), Celtic Joy (18/1), Sir Canford (18/1), Fazayte (20/1), Duhallow Lad (25/1), Silver Nickel (33/1)

Plenty of potential improvers here. RIGGS gets the vote after catching the eye at Market Rasen in February but there are lots of possible threats, headed by Known, Fifty Ball and recent Hereford scorer Straw Fan Jack.