16:10 Ascot

Saturday 20 February 2021

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Ascot Racecourse Supports Berkshire Vision Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 6m 6.01s

Zhiguli²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: N F Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 126

4/1

Has improved since switching to handicaps, coping well with the step up to 25f when seeing off 7 rivals in Plumpton conditional jockeys' event last month. Should be more to come. Leading claims.

Form: 673121

Flight Deck³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 126

5/2

Won on 20.5f Newton Abbot handicap debut on sole start last term. Fell in chase on return but quickly back on the up returned to hurdles when winning in mud at Bangor last month. Respected up at 3m.

Form: 600/1-F1

Darius Des Bois^p1,t1³⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: C Fryer| OR: 125| D

200/1

Fairly useful hurdler/ chaser earlier for Nicky Henderson earlier in career. Point winner last year but watching brief the percentage call back under Rules.

Form: P/P2212-

Paricolor^b,t³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 125

33/1

Prolific in sellers this winter, winning 4 times. However, was comfortably held back in a handicap on penultimate start and others are preferred again.

Form: 511151

J'Ai Froid^v²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Max Kendrick⁽³⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 124| D

9/2

Strong stayer who has made a positive start for the Laura Morgan stable, winning in a visor at Ayr and Doncaster (both 3m) last month. Likely to give another good account on hat-trick bid.

Form: 471/411

Label Des Obeaux^p⁶³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 122| BF| D

20/1

Smart 3-time chaser winner in 2016/17. Not at that level over hurdles in recent seasons but his latest Haydock (3m) fourth was his best effort of the present campaign.

Form: 6/94-664

Saint Dalina^p1³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: R Johnson| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 122

14/1

Bolted up at Uttoxeter (23f) in December and creditable in-frame efforts on both runs since. Likely to be in the mix again, particularly if first-time cheekpieces have a positive effect.

Form: 61-2124

Fawsley Spirit³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 121

17/2

In front when falling last over C&D in December and gained compensation when finally off the mark at Market Rasen since. Raised another 7 lb but clearly in good form at present.

Form: 682-2F1

Republican⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: O Sherwood| OR: 120| BF

10/1

Fairly useful 19f novice hurdle winner last season. Couple of decent efforts over fences this season ahead of this return to hurdles over the longest trip he's faced.

Form: 3126-42

Young Offender¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 118

28/1

Left hurdling debut form behind when game winner of 2½m novice at Fakenham last winter but has yet to find top form in 3 runs this season. Others are more obvious.

Form: 132-8P8

Revels Hill²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H Fry| OR: 118| D

14/1

Point winner who has shaped with promise on 2 of his 3 qualifying runs over hurdles. Appeals as the sort to go on to better things now handicapping over a longer trip.

Form: U1-604

Shanroe Santos^v¹⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: David Bass| T: L Wadham| OR: 117| D

80/1

Out of sorts over fences since a mildly encouraging reappearance run at Huntingdon. Remains to be seen if a return to hurdles sparks an upturn in this 12yos fortunes.

Form: 93-3P4U

Leostar¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Craig Nichol| T: A C Whillans| OR: 117

22/1

Off the mark in 21f Kelso handicap hurdle in November and posted another good effort when runner-up there in December. Stiff task in novice at Musselburgh latest and likely still in form. Up in trip.

Form: F31524

Ruby Yeats^p³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 117

18/1

Ended last season in rude health and all the better for return when landing 18.5f Exeter handicap (18.5f) last month. Step back up in trip a help. One of 2 solid contenders for her stable.

Form: UP11-51

Oscar Asche^b1⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 113| D

40/1

Winning hurdler who failed to complete all 3 starts over fences during second half of last year. Chepstow hurdles effort last time was disappointing also and he has something to prove. Blinkered.

Form: 42-PUP0

Forecasts

Flight Deck (5/2), Zhiguli (4/1), J'Ai Froid (9/2), Fawsley Spirit (17/2), Republican (10/1), Saint Dalina (14/1), Revels Hill (14/1), Ruby Yeats (18/1), Label Des Obeaux (20/1), Leostar (22/1), Young Offender (28/1), Paricolor (33/1), Oscar Asche (40/1), Shanroe Santos (80/1), Darius Des Bois (200/1)

ZHIGULI is very much going the right way and is taken to defy the handicapper again. Fellow joint top weight Flight Deck is another whose form has taken off in handicaps and he rates an obvious threat. J'ai Froid and the selection's stablemate Ruby Yeats are also on the shortlist in a race which looks every bit as competitive as the numbers might suggest.