16:25 Ascot

Saturday 29 October 2022

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:03

Grundon Waste Management Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 4m 50.51s

Sophosc¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: Daire James McConville⁽⁸⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 121

7/2

Fairly useful Flat winner who made it 3-3 in this sphere when easily landing a 6-runner Fakenham handicap (2½m, good) last time. Up 9 lb and ground slower than good would pose a question but he remains open to improvement as a hurdler and is very much the one to beat.

Form: 111

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Dream In The Park²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J R Wildman⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 112| D

6/4

Runner-up both starts in bumpers and off the mark at the third attempt over hurdles at Stratford (18.7f, good) on his seasonal reappearance/handicap debut. 4 lb rise fair enough and he has to enter calculations.

Form: 22223-1

Alto Alto¹⁸⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Fergus Gillard| T: C Gordon| OR: 110

4/1

Found some improvement when readily accounting for 4 rivals in a Plumpton maiden in April. Performed to a similar level when third on handicap debut at Sandown (2m, good) later that month and he promises to be suited by this step up in trip.

Form: 5/5U313-

Harry D'alene³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Archie Bellamy⁽⁶⁾| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 103

9/1

Has found just one too good on each of his 3 starts in maiden/novice hurdles, albeit two of those races were small-field events in which he was readily brushed aside by the winner. Improvement needed now handicapping.

Form: 222

Camulus¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Ellis Collier⁽⁸⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 101

11/2

Stepped up on his hurdles debut effort when recently chasing home a pretty useful type in a Fontwell maiden (19.2f, good). Handed a fair-looking opening mark and he's not discounted.

Form: 24-42

Universal Secret³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Charlie Price| T: Mrs H R J Nelmes| OR: 96

40/1

Proved that his Exeter third in January was no fluke when runner-up in a Wincanton novice the following month. However, nothing like in the same form the last twice and he's readily passed over for this handicap debut.

Form: 60325-P

Non-Runners

Hardy Boy²

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: B Pauling J: Non Runner

Rare Clouds²³

Weight: 10-10| Age: 8

T: Simon Earle J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Dream In The Park (6/4), Sophosc (7/2), Alto Alto (4/1), Camulus (11/2), Hardy Boy (6/1), Harry D'alene (9/1), Rare Clouds (14/1), Universal Secret (40/1)

SOPHOSC has taken notably well to hurdling and the way he went about his business at Fakenham recently suggests that this 9 lb higher mark should be within reach. The 6-y-o is taken to maintain his unbeaten record in this sphere, perhaps at the chief expense of Stratford-winner Dream In The Park. Camulus needs to improve now moving into handicap company but that is entirely possible and he is third choice ahead of Alto Alto.