15:05 Ascot

Saturday 31 October 2020

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

Sodexo Handicap Hurdle (Listed)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 3m 45.1s

Dear Sire^h²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 142| D

12/1

Has raised his game since returning from a break in July, producing his best effort yet when landing a 2m Chepstow handicap 3 weeks ago. 4 lb rise fair, but this looks more demanding.

Form: F4-1321

Caius Marcius^p⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Danny McMenamin⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 141| D

15/2

Consistent and useful type, who has acquitted himself well in handicap hurdles at Market Rasen and Southwell, and over fences at Perth last time, since returning to action in July. Not discounted.

Form: 114-322

Scaramanga¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 141| D

10/3

Cosy winner in this sphere at Wincanton last December and recent spin on the Flat will have blown away the cobwebs. However, improvement is needed off this tough-looking mark. Yard also runs Malaya.

Form: 12/8170-

Hang In There²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 139| D

13/2

Looked good when landing a Grade 2 Cheltenham novice last November, but hasn't matched that form in 3 subsequent starts, including when sixth on return/handicap debut at Fontwell.

Form: U115F-6

Malaya²⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 138| CD

5/1

Won Imperial Cup at Sandown in March 2019. Step back in right direction when second in a 15-runner handicap here (19.3f) on final start of last season and claims off the same mark if fully tuned-up.

Form: 10/3602-

Kid Commando²⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 136| D

11/4

Useful bumper winner who easily landed the odds on his hurdling bow at Plumpton in January. Good third in Kempton Grade 2 the following month and brings potential to the table now handicapping.

Form: 1/12513-

Countister³¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 135| D

15/2

Fine third in County Hurdle at 2019 Cheltenham Festival. Well below par both starts last season, but she resumes on a potentially handy mark and is very much one to note in the betting.

Form: 1530/78-

Byron Flyer^p³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: W T Kennedy| T: Ian Williams| OR: 132| D

18/1

Useful dual-purpose performer who boasts a NH good strike (7-15 over hurdles/fences). Recent efforts on the Flat have not been overly inspiring, though, and others make more appeal.

Form: 556/11-4

Non-Runners

Teqany¹³

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: F O'Brien J: C Brace

Sebastopol²⁷³

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: T Lacey J: R Johnson

Forecasts

Kid Commando (11/4), Scaramanga (10/3), Malaya (5/1), Sebastopol (6/1), Hang In There (13/2), Caius Marcius (15/2), Countister (15/2), Teqany (10/1), Dear Sire (12/1), Byron Flyer (18/1)

None of these can be safely discounted. It may be worth siding with COUNTISTER, who failed to fire in a couple of Grade 3 handicaps last season but is just 2 lb above the mark off which she was third in the 2019 County Hurdle. The unexposed Kid Commando is next best ahead of Malaya, who signed off last season with a decent effort here, while Sebastopol is also firmly in calculations.