15:00 Ascot

Saturday 18 February 2023

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Ascot Racecourse Supports Box4Kids Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 4m 43.85s

Samarrive⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143| BF

12/1

Bagged a couple of strong Sandown handicaps over hurdles last term and bang in contention when falling heavily on return/chase debut here in October. Jumped none too fluently on back of that at Kempton a month later but he may well get back on track returned to timber.

Form: 1P91-F3

Petit Tonnerre³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 141

9/1

Progressive 5-y-o who made a winning start for this yard in handicap company at Market Rasen 12 months ago. Even better form in defeat this term, placed in handicaps at Aintree/Newbury and not seen to anything like best effect in Lanzarote Hurdle latest. Remains type tp do better.

Form: 11P-32P

Homme Public^p,t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Toby Wynne⁽⁵⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 138

17/2

6-y-o who has improved again this campaign, successful on return at Wetherby (2m) prior to a good third at Sandown (strong form). Below par next time but quickly back on the up when scoring at Huntingdon (15.8f) 18 days ago. Thoroughly likeable but career-high mark demands that bit more.

Form: 61-1351

Glynn⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 131| D

18/1

Evidently not easy to train but confirmed he retains all his ability back from another 8 months off when third at Newbury (20.5f) on New Year's Eve, mistake last and keeping on run in. Task now is to build on that.

Form: 2PP/25-3

Djelo⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 130| BF| D

6/1

Made an emphatic start in this country when readily landing a handicap at Exeter in November, barely off the bridle. Back on track when third at Sandown early last month and likelihood is there is more to come, particularly back up in trip. Interesting.

Form: 1-123

Fifty Ball³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 128| CD

7/1

C&D winner who cashed in off reduced mark over extended 21f here on final start last season. 33/1, shaped as if better for the run when pulled up 2 out in last month's Lanzarote Hurdle and better showing anticipated here.

Form: 45021-P

Irish Hill⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 128| D

10/3

Fairly useful on the Flat in Germany and going from strength-to-strength over hurdles, quickening clear in good style to add to his tally at Fakenham (20f, soft) on New Year's Day. Looks worthy of his place in this stronger company on that evidence.

Form: 31-2211

Kaleb⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 127

25/1

Fakenham maiden winner (at 2m) in October who has improved in defeat subsequently, posting best effort yet when second of 7 on handicap debut at Kempton (2m) in January. Blundered/unseated at Huntingdon latest and he's still low-mileage at this trip.

Form: 5-3142U

Too Friendly⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 126

14/1

Won 2 juvenile hurdles last season (also fifth in Fred Winter) and consistent in defeat this term, just unable to get past Sonigino tackling this trip for the first time at Huntingdon last week. Raised 1 lb on back of that and he's a live each-way player in this deeper contest.

Form: 55-4222

Thibault^t¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Ben Ffrench-Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: A West| OR: 124

16/1

Dual-purpose performer who won on the Flat at Chepstow and in this sphere at Plumpton last spring. Mixed bag under both codes subsequently but likelihood is he will prove vulnerable to less exposed sorts in a race of this nature.

Form: 17-1304

Whizz Kid^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Luke Scott⁽⁷⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 123| BF

6/1

Dual hurdles winner who benefited from return to less testing ground when runner-up to Homme Public at Huntingdon (15.8f) 3 weeks ago, held when mistake last. Mark has crept up a little on back of that and he may prove vulnerable to a couple again.

Form: 7-236P2

Zoffany Bay⁷⁰⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 122| D

25/1

9-y-o with plenty of mileage on the clock but resurgent when last seen for David Cottin in France, defying a 2 lb lower mark at Auteuil (19.4f) in March 2021. Makes belated return for another shrewd outfit so certainly not underestimated.

Form: F12F51/

Non-Runners

Supreme Gift²⁴

Weight: 10-10| Age: 6

T: H D Daly J: 2nd Preference

Forecasts

Irish Hill (10/3), Whizz Kid (6/1), Djelo (6/1), Fifty Ball (7/1), Homme Public (17/2), Petit Tonnerre (9/1), Samarrive (12/1), Too Friendly (14/1), Supreme Gift (14/1), Thibault (16/1), Glynn (18/1), Zoffany Bay (25/1), Kaleb (25/1)

Plenty hold claims in a smashing handicap, including DJELO. A facile winner on return/yard debut at Exeter in November, he highlighted his revised mark remains a workable one when rallying well for third at Sandown (2m) last month and this step back up in trip is expected to unlock further improvement. Irish Hill is thriving himself and rates a lead threat in pursuit of the hat-trick. Fifty Ball, back at this venue, Petit Tonnerre and Zoffany Bay, at foot of the weights, are also worth a look.