13:15 Ascot

Saturday 19 February 2022

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3816:1016:45

Join Kim Bailey Racing Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 5m 4.02s

Hecouldbetheone¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 122

7/1

Placed in Irish points and has landed a pair of novice hurdles at up 20.5f either side of a creditable effort at Sandown. Has a double penalty to concede but should give another good account.

Form: P3121

Unanswered Prayers²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 126

13/2

Maiden/novice hurdle winner at up to 21.3f this season and possible 3m stretched him when fourth in Grade 2 River Don at Doncaster last month. Return to shorter/calmer waters rates a plus.

Form: 5-1D214

Ballyblack¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 123

3/1

Irish point winner who found only a useful sort too good on Taunton hurdle debut. Confirmed that promise when going one better at Exeter (21.6f) and capable of better still.

Form: 5P-P121

Skytastic²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: S Thomas| D

6/5

Showed near useful form when winning a brace of bumpers and maintained his unbeaten record after 11 months off on Doncaster hurdling debut, travelling smoothly and jumping soundly. Sure to progress.

Form: 11-1

Holerday Ridge^t²¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: Claire Hitch

250/1

Bumper winner at the second attempt who bled when well held on hurdling debut at Newton Abbot in July. Can only be watched,

Form: 817

Jeffery's Cross⁹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Lorcan Williams| T: D Skelton

33/1

Flemensfirth gelding who was bought for £45,000 after finishing runner-up in his sole Irish point in November. Has joined a top yard so requires a market check on Rules debut.

Form: 2

Kap Auteuil³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen| T: T Lawes| OR: 127| D

10/1

Has made big strides over fences, winning 5 of his last 7 starts. Didn't offer much in 3 outings over hurdles earlier in career but worth a second look given his progress over the larger obstacles.

Form: 11-1714

Scarface³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard

12/1

Showed ability first 2 starts in bumpers prior to understandably coming up short in listed company at this venue. Encouraging second on Exeter hurdles debut and improvement anticipated up in trip.

Form: 5402

Non-Runners

Mouriyani⁵³³

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: T Ward J: Paul O'Brien

Forecasts

Skytastic (6/5), Ballyblack (3/1), Unanswered Prayers (13/2), Hecouldbetheone (7/1), Kap Auteuil (10/1), Scarface (12/1), Mouriyani (20/1), Jeffery's Cross (33/1), Holerday Ridge (250/1)

It was hard not to be impressed with the way SKYTASTIC jumped and travelled when making a successful start in this sphere at Doncaster 22 days ago, and he looks well up to defying a penalty on that evidence. It's unlikely we've seen the best of both Ballyblack and Scarface yet and they head the dangers in a novice with plenty of depth.