12:35 Ascot

Friday 17 December 2021

All12:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Howden Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:35 | Winning time: 5m 31.50s

Optimise Prime³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Luca Morgan⁽³⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 127

12/1

Bagged pair of 2m4f novice hurdles at Hereford last term prior to a good third at listed level. Out of depth in Gr. 1 final start and again well held on return/handicap debut at Cheltenham last month.

Form: 81137-6

Earth Lord^t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 127

5/1

5-y-o who boasts a progressive profile, impressing in getting off the mark on return in a Wincanton novice (21.3f) last month. Very much the type to go on improving and respected on handicap debut.

Form: 5932-1

Dargiannini²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 125

5/2

Bumper/dual novice hurdle winner who left reappearance/yard debut effort in his wake when second in a Taunton handicap (19f) 3 weeks ago. Big player tackling this longer trip.

Form: 1211-P2

Bard Of Brittany^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Tudor| T: Miss S West| OR: 124

28/1

In good form during the spring, winning 3 times, including over 2½m at Plumpton in March. Hasn't been at top of his game upon returning this winter but the assessor is relinquishing his grip.

Form: 118-167

Dorking Boy^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Thomas Doggrell⁽⁵⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 123

8/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser who returned to action with victory over the larger obstacles at Ayr (20.5f) 7 weeks ago. Not disgraced over hurdles at Newbury since but others preferred for win purposes

Form: 7818-16

Jetaway Joey^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 123

6/1

Bumper winner who ended last term with success over hurdles and made light work of following up on return in a Uttoxeter novice (20f) in October. Another big run not ruled out now handicapping.

Form: 2F331-1

Beaufort West²²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mitchell Bastyan| T: A Irvine| OR: 123

100/1

Dual hurdles winner for Colin Tizzard and positive chase debut for new yard when second at Sandown (15.5f, soft) in February. Not so good in that sphere since though, latterly at Kempton in May.

Form: 1/82P4-F

Nordano^v¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Andrews| T: N B King| OR: 122| C

4/1

Lost his way last season but back on track of late, runner-up in a first-time visor at Leicester (20.5f) 2 weeks ago, comfortably seeing off the other pace-setters. Remains potentially well treated.

Form: PP85-42

Apache Creek⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: K Brogan⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 121

18/1

Highly progressive last term when scoring three times before signing off with excelllent second over 20f at Ffos Las (20f) in May. Likely last month's return was needed and this should reveal more.

Form: 7111-26

The Domino Effect²⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Fergus Gillard| T: C Gordon| OR: 120WS

20/1

Back on track to land a Chepstow maiden (23.6f) in March but found things tougher back in a handicap when eighth at Cheltenham (3m) final start in April. Starts out for new yard on back of wind op.

Form: 3/32618-

Shantou Master⁴⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Cheesman| T: G & J Moore| OR: 117

25/1

Gambled to make winning hurdles debut in a Fontwell novice (19.2f) last summer and progressed to finish second inder a penalty back there in September of last year. Interesting on belated return.

Form: 6CPP/12-

Scarpia²⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: C J Todd| T: N J Henderson| OR: 116

22/1

:Much improved when opening account in good style in 17.7f Fontwell novice hurdle in March, staying on well. Looked a difficult ride at Plumpton a month later and off since. Handicap debut.

Form: 4/74415-

Non-Runners

Broken Quest²

Weight: 11-8| Age: 9

T: David Dennis J: Non Runner

Franco D'Aunou⁴⁶

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: Miss V Williams J: Ned Fox

Forecasts

Dargiannini (5/2), Nordano (4/1), Earth Lord (5/1), Jetaway Joey (6/1), Dorking Boy (8/1), Franco D'Aunou (8/1), Optimise Prime (12/1), Apache Creek (18/1), The Domino Effect (20/1), Broken Quest (20/1), Scarpia (22/1), Shantou Master (25/1), Bard Of Brittany (28/1), Beaufort West (100/1)

DARGIANNINI boasts a positive profile and he left his reappearance/yard debut effort in his wake when runner-up at Taunton (19f) 3 weeks ago. Open to further improvement, not least tackling this longer trip, he's fancied to come out on top. Fellow low-mileage pair Earth Lord and Shantou Master are feared, ahead of Jetaway Joey and Franco d'Aunou.