14:32 Ascot

Saturday 31 October 2020

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

Fever-Tree Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:33 | Winning time: 3m 46.90s

Fearless²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 122| BF

5/2

Bumper winner who got off the mark over hurdles at Market Rasen in March and returned with a creditable second in a novice at Fontwell recently. Should be thereabouts once again.

Form: 15/3U1-2

Addis Ababa²⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: J Farrelly

13/2

Useful on the Flat for David O'Meara and offered plenty of encouragement when third in a novice at Newbury on his first hurdling outing in February. Should do better if fully tuned up.

Form: 3-

Annual Invictus²⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: C Gordon

12/1

Irish point winner who has offered encouragement on both outings under Rules, making the running when fifth in a novice at Fontwell on hurdling debut 9 months ago. Needs more in this company.

Form: P/125-

Aronius⁸⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D SkeltonWS

22/1

Fairly useful when last ran on Flat in 2018 for C. von der Recke but that was over 2 years, so bit to prove on hurdling bow having been gelded since joining Dan Skelton.

Form:

Captain Morgs³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| BF

7/4

Strong in the betting and looked a good prospect when second in a bumper at Warwick last month, finishing strongly. Potentially above-average recruit to hurdling for top stable.

Form: 2

Frero Banbou⁵⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams

17/2

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser in France, winning over fences on his final couple of outings in 2019. Interesting recruit for new connections but has an 18-month absence to overcome.

Form: 24711/

Grisbi De Berce²⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King

20/1

Showed a bit of ability while looking far from straightforward when seventh in a bumper at Kempton 8 months ago. Likely to have a quiet start to hurdling.

Form: 7-

Protected Guest³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T P Queally| T: G G Margarson

25/1

Useful but temperamental operator on the Flat. Below form at Nottingham a month ago and not an obvious hurdling type.

Form:

Sopran Thor²³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore

33/1

Minor promise only in a brace of bumpers, so up against it returning from 7 months off in strong contest on hurdling debut.

Form: 63-

Striking A Pose²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| BF

33/1

Irish point winner who shaped as if in need of the run when third in a novice at Newton Abbot 20 days ago, so may well do better now race fit.

Form: 1-3

Forecasts

Captain Morgs (7/4), Fearless (5/2), Addis Ababa (13/2), Frero Banbou (17/2), Annual Invictus (12/1), Grisbi De Berce (20/1), Aronius (22/1), Protected Guest (25/1), Striking A Pose (33/1), Sopran Thor (33/1)

CAPTAIN MORGS was a warm order prior to his highly encouraging second in a bumper at Warwick a month ago and he has all the credentials to make a quality hurdler, so he's fancied to make a winning start in what is, admittedly, a competitive novice. Addis Ababa made a pleasing switch from the Flat to hurdling 8 months ago, so he could provide the sternest opposition.