15:35 Ascot

Saturday 18 December 2021

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

Betfair Exchange Trophy (Grade 3 Handicap Hurdle) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 3m 46.25s

Goshen²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 153| CD

6/1

Easy win in Kingwell at Wincanton in February shows he is high-class on his day and he likely needed run back from 7 months off when fourth in 19f course Grade 2 4 weeks ago. Handicap debut.

Form: U/0185-4

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Drop The Anchor⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Simon Torrens⁽³⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 146| D

25/1

Developed into a smart handicap hurdler last year, finishing well for 3 lengths seventh of 25 in County at Cheltenham in March. Warmed up for this with a placed effort on the Flat in October.

Form: 1B3170-

Garry Clermont²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 142| D

9/1

Showed improved form to readily land a 19f Warwick handicap in May and stepped up again when runner-up over C&D 4 weeks ago, a late error probably costing him victory. Should go well again.

Form: 5/653-12

Metier^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 142| BF| CD

33/1

Looked good when winning first 3 starts over timber, including Grade 1 Tolworth. However, he flopped in Supreme at Festival in March and dropped out tamely in Sandown race won by Samarrive on return.

Form: 1117-P

Samarrive¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 141| D

12/1

Made it 3 wins from just 4 career starts when readily landing 2m Sandown listed handicap a fortnight ago. Up 11 lb in an even deeper race now but major surprise if there isn't more to come.

Form: 11-71

West Cork^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 141| D

7/2

Made light of a 631-day absence to win Greatwood at Cheltenham on reappearance, finsding extra despite his jockey dropping his whip on the run-in. 7 lb rise won't prevent a bold bid if in same form.

Form: 22112/1

Tritonic³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 141| CD

8/1

Smart on Flat and has quickly reached similar level over hurdles. Creditable fifth of 19 in Greatwood at Cheltenham last month but West Cork and No Ordinary Joe were ahead of him.

Form: 115-25

Llandinabo Lad³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: David Noonan| T: T Symonds| OR: 140| D

18/1

Quickly reached useful level over hurdles last term, winning twice at 2m. Solid reappearance second to Hunters Call over 19.5f at Bangor last month. Fine back at shorter. Another who could go well.

Form: 1125P-2

No Ordinary Joe³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 136| D

11/4

Promising type who readily landed odds in 2 novice hurdles in May. Saw race out very well considering he raced freely in front when third of 19 to West Cork in Greatwood at Cheltenham. More to come.

Form: 14-113

Global Citizen^p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 136| D

50/1

Smart front-running hurdle/chaser at best. Finally showed he retains some ability when second over 19.5f at Doncaster 3 weeks ago, going off too hard in first-time headgear. Drop to 2m may help.

Form: 4/PPP-92

Onemorefortheroad²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: N B King| OR: 136| D

14/1

Made it 5 wins in his last 6 starts when making all over 2m at Newbury 21 days ago. Very likeable type but he'll find it a lot tougher to dominate this field.

Form: 11-4111

Benson^t,v1¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Lee Edwards| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 133| D

12/1

Winner of first 3 starts last term and fourth in this race. Raced lazily when 13½ lengths fourth of 11 to Samarrive at Sandown 2 weeks ago and the visor which is added now may help.

Form: 1114-54

Non-Runners

Luttrell Lad³⁸

Weight: 10-8| Age: 5

T: P Hobbs & J White J: T J O'Brien

Mack The Man³⁸

Weight: 10-3| Age: 7

T: Evan Williams J: Adam Wedge

Forecasts

No Ordinary Joe (11/4), West Cork (7/2), Goshen (6/1), Tritonic (8/1), Garry Clermont (9/1), Benson (12/1), Luttrell Lad (12/1), Samarrive (12/1), Onemorefortheroad (14/1), Llandinabo Lad (18/1), Mack The Man (20/1), Drop The Anchor (25/1), Metier (33/1), Global Citizen (50/1)

Several with a chance in what looks a strong renewal. NO ORDINARY JOE was 2¾ lengths behind West Cork in the Greatwood but he was very keen back from a break and has prospects of turning that form around on 4 lb better terms now if that run has knocked some of the freshness out of him. Luttrell Lad's opening handicap mark looks workable based on his Persian War form so he's also on the shortlist.