15:00 Ascot

Sunday 2 April 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Royal Ascot Racing Club Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 3m 42.35s

Blueking D'oroux⁹³

50/1

Showed fairly useful over hurdles in France. Folded tamely in 2 outings for Paul Nicholls at the end of 2022 but it's possible he'll prove a different proposition now handicapping after wind surgery. Interesting to see how he goes in the betting.

Form: 12-4P9

Bad¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 124

7/1

Winner in France. Attracted strong market support in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival on recent British debut and he shaped a lot better than thirteenth of 21 might suggest, travelling powerfully but doing too much too soon. Remains open to improvement.

Form: 2-210

Punta Del Este¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 123| D

10/1

French winner. Promising third in Victor Ludorum at Haydock on British debut. Shaped quite well until getting involved in some scrimmaging after the second last in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham since. Remains capable of better.

Form: 9130

Fils De Roi¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 121| D

10/1

Fairly useful form over hurdles, winning Auteuil claimer on final start in France and easily following up in Huntingdon juvenile on October's stable debut. Respectable mid-field finish in the Fred Winter last month but it underlines he needs more from his mark.

Form: F11F39

Afadil¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 121| D

15/2

French Flat winner who also won first 2 hurdles (latter a listed race). Shaped better than the bare result when eighth of 21 in Fred Winter at Cheltenham, keeping on well from too far back. On the shortlist.

Form: 1168

Mr Freedom^p¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: R T Dunne| T: Miss S West| OR: 121| D

13/2

Is enjoying an excellent season, winning 4 times over hurdles (also successful on AW Flat in January). Had a few of these rivals behind when a very good fifth of 21 in Fred Winter at Cheltenham last month, doing well considering he was bumped repeatedly after 2 out (rider briefly lost iron).

Form: R52135

Arclight⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 119| BF| D

5/1

Fairly useful on the Flat for Sir Mark Prescott. Perfect start over hurdles for new connections with wins in juveniles at Doncaster and Kempton around turn of the year. Creditable second upped to listed level at first-named venue 65 days ago and could be more to come in handicaps.

Form: 112

Despereaux²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 118| D

17/2

Has won a Huntingdon maiden and Taunton novice this term but his opening handicap mark looks tough enough.

Form: R131

Grappa Nonino²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: D K Weld| OR: 115| D

8/1

Fair on Flat and left first 2 hurdle runs behind when landing a big-field maiden at Navan 4 weeks ago and the runner-up has won since. Likely more to come for a stable whose British runners always command respect.

Form: 001

Fourofakind^p,t¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 113| D

10/1

Fairly useful form on the Flat in Ireland and has made a sound start to his hurdle career for new stable, placed twice before landing the odds at Haydock 11 days ago. Potential improver in handicaps for his emerging yard.

Form: 231

Bluegrass^t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 110

10/1

Useful on the Flat for Aidan O'Brien (placed in the 2022 Dante). Has shown promise switched to hurdles in recent months and rates a very interesting recruit to handicaps for last year's winning stable.

Form: 422

Penna Rossa^b¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: C Poulton| OR: 106| D

66/1

Off the mark in Sandown juvenile in December but finished 12 lengths bihind the reopposing Polyphonic on his Fontwell handicap debut 15 days ago.

Form: 41P3

Havaila²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: M F Harris| OR: 106

14/1

Fairly useful form on Flat. Runner-up twice from 5 starts over hurdles, including in a handicap at Sandown last month. Raised 3 lb for that, though, and this looks a much stronger race.

Form: 52862

Non-Runners

Chaos Control⁴⁰

Weight: 11-10| Age: 4

T: S Edmunds J: Non Runner

Polyphonic¹⁵

Weight: 11-0| Age: 4

T: M F Harris J: Harry Reed

Forecasts

Arclight (5/1), Mr Freedom (13/2), Bad (7/1), Afadil (15/2), Grappa Nonino (8/1), Despereaux (17/2), Punta Del Este (10/1), Fourofakind (10/1), Bluegrass (10/1), Fils De Roi (10/1), Chaos Control (12/1), Havaila (14/1), Polyphonic (20/1), Blueking D'oroux (50/1), Penna Rossa (66/1)

A cracking juvenile handicap. An opening mark of 110 could easily underestimate BLUEGRASS based on Flat ability so he's taken to provide Stuart Edmunds with a second successive win in this race, but there are stacks of dangers. Bad was a lot better than his finishing position suggests in the Fred Winter and is second choice. Afadil, Grappa Nonino and Mr Freedom are others with plenty to recommend them.