13:10 Ascot

Saturday 22 January 2022

All12:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:3516:05

SBK Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 6m 25.26s

Cat Tiger^t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 136

9/2

Classy chaser who won Leicester hunter in March and ran his best race yet in Britain when going close in 3m Doncaster handicap over Christmas. Front 2 were clear so a 4 lb rise could be manageable.

Form: P/13-252

Didero Vallis^p³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Miss Lucy Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 135

7/1

Catterick winner last February and back to best when second at Ludlow a month ago. Races off the same mark and much respected for yard which continues in good form.

Form: 1P2-662

Mr Muldoon^b⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 134| C| D

10/1

Started well over fences last season, winning twice, but he's been down the field on all 3 outings this term, blinkers making no difference last time.

Form: 414-857

Port Of Mars^t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: O Murphy| OR: 133| D

12/1

Hereford maiden chsae winner a year ago but pulled up on both outings since, latterly in the Doncaster race Cat Tiger was second in.

Form: 3/321P-P

Le Breuil^b1⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 132

20/1

Smart staying chaser who landed NH Chase at Cheltenham Festival in 2019. However, expensive to follow since and pulled up in Becher at Aintree latest. First-time blinkers will need to make difference.

Form: 334P-6P

Cobolobo^p,t²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 128| D

8/1

Below par on both outrings this term but the fact he was runner-up off 8 lb higher in this race last year means it wouldn't be a shock if he staged a revival.

Form: 125P-8P

Downtown Getaway^t³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 125| C

17/2

Useful winner over hurdles and left first 2 chase runs well behind when taking advantage of his reduced mark at Ffos Las (21f, heavy) in December. Needs to prove he can string good runs together now.

Form: 10/0-3P1

Sussex Ranger^b²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 125

16/1

Three-time hurdle winner who scored over fences at Newbury in February 2020. Has been below par in only 2 outings since, though. Could only consider if backed in refitted blinkers.

Form: 3431/7-5

Defi Sacre^p,t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Lily Pinchin⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 125| C

13/2

Creditable fourth at Fontainebleau in November but well held back in Britain at Newcastle last month. Others are more obvious.

Form: 122-445

Winds Of Fire⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 124

3/1

Useful on Flat and progressive over hurdles last term. Made all at Newcastle in November on what was effectively his chase debut and fair third at Taunton since. Less exposed than lot of these.

Form: 222-F13

Forecasts

Winds Of Fire (3/1), Cat Tiger (9/2), Defi Sacre (13/2), Didero Vallis (7/1), Cobolobo (8/1), Downtown Getaway (17/2), Mr Muldoon (10/1), Port Of Mars (12/1), Sussex Ranger (16/1), Le Breuil (20/1)

CAT TIGER arrives on the back of a very good run at Doncaster and gets a narrow vote ahead of the Venetia Williams-trained Didero Vallis, who was back to form at Ludlow last time. Winds of Fire has a much less exposed profile over fences than most of these and is also on the shortlist.