12:40 Ascot

Saturday 19 December 2020

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

Foundation Developments Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:41 | Winning time: 6m 6.25s

Tide Times²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: C J Todd⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 122| CD

11/2

Winner of sole start between the flags and confirmed the promise of his qualifying runs when justifying support on handicap debut over C&D a month ago. 7 lb rise looks fair.

Form: 10/2-531

Huntsmans Jog¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Liam Harrison⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 122| D

6/1

Successful spell pointing earlier in the year and strong at the finish when making second start for Fergal O'Brien a winning one at Exeter a fortnight ago. Up 6 lb in a better race.

Form: 3U11-21

Poppa Poutine¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 122| D

12/1

Runner-up sole start between the flags and made third start under Rules a winning one on handicap debut at Southwell 18 days ago. Limit unlikely to have been reached.

Form: 2-341

Morning Spirit²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 118| BF

9/2

Shaped better than bare result on return at Bangor and a pair of third-place finishes in handicaps since confirm he's in good order. Isn't obviously ahead of his mark, though.

Form: 527-433

Blame The Game⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 115

9/1

Point recruit who made a pleasing start under Rules when third in a novice at Fontwell in October. Built on that when narrowly scoring at Plumpton and he retains up in trip for handicap debut.

Form: 4-31

Echo Du Large³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: T J O'Brien| T: R Stephens| OR: 111

14/1

Signs of promise in maiden/novice hurdles last season and looked well served by step up to 21.7f when runner-up on handicap debut at Hereford last month. Winners have come from that race.

Form: 48633-2

Fawsley Spirit²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 107

8/1

Still a maiden but just about a personal best when finding only a thriving rival too strong at Doncaster 3 weeks ago. Same mark here and good-value conditional retains the ride.

Form: 3/6682-2

Silver Nickel²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Daniel Sansom⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 107

11/1

Improved form in handicaps of late, well served by step up in trip when third to Tide Times over C&D a month ago. More needed given this is a deeper race.

Form: 3/893-43

Reallyradical^v³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: J E Moore| T: C Gordon| OR: 107

40/1

Runner-up 3 times over fences last term and cast aside a moody reappearance over the larger obstacles when runner-up in a first-time visor at Plumpton. Others still more convincing.

Form: 327P-P2

Soyouthinksoagain⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 106

6/1

Improved performer fitted with cheekpieces, runner-up in a big-field contest at Carlisle before cashing in on the same mark at Stratford a week later. Still well treated up in trip despite 11 lb rise.

Form: 5000-21

Freddy Fanatapan²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: R Johnson| T: W S Kittow| OR: 104

14/1

Kept out of trouble and ran out a 13-length winner at Uttoxeter a month ago (21.6f). Up 9 lb in a better race and things unlikely to pan out as well this time.

Form: 156841

Hatchet Jack⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Joshua Moore| T: P Henderson| OR: 103

28/1

Long time off the track and hasn't gone with enough promise in a trio of starts back to seriously consider him.

Form: 332/595

Non-Runners

Hugos Other Horse¹⁶

Weight: 11-9| Age: 6

T: P F Nicholls J: H Cobden

Forecasts

Morning Spirit (9/2), Tide Times (11/2), Soyouthinksoagain (6/1), Huntsmans Jog (6/1), Fawsley Spirit (8/1), Hugos Other Horse (8/1), Blame The Game (9/1), Silver Nickel (11/1), Poppa Poutine (12/1), Echo Du Large (14/1), Freddy Fanatapan (14/1), Hatchet Jack (28/1), Reallyradical (40/1)

SOYOUTHINKSOAGAIN landed the odds without too much fuss when last seen at Stratford in October and with this step up in trip likely to unlock further improvement, he makes plenty of appeal. Tide Times tasted success over this C&D a month ago and may have more to offer, with Poppa Poutine another to make a winning start in handicaps last time.