14:40 Ascot

Saturday 4 November 2023

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:4516:15

GL Events Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 3m 47.34s

Soldierofthestorm¹⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| D

16/1

Promise in bumpers and by no means all out to make a winning start over hurdles in a thin maiden at Warwick (2m) in May, plenty of room for improvement in his jumping. Suspect he'll need more under a penalty in this deeper contest.

Form: 32-1

Highway One O Four⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: C Gordon

150/1

Better effort in bumpers 11 months apart at Plumpton on return, forced wide for effort but holding second for most of straight. Starts out over hurdles in a warm event.

Form: 0-3

Il Va De Soi²⁰⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham

18/1

Promise in bumpers after a layoff earlier this year and should make up into a jumper for up-and-coming trainer.

Form: 33/24-

Jango Baie²⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

6/5

£170,000 buy, runner-up sole start in Irish points (Feb 12). Appealing type on hurdles debut for top yard.

Form: 2-

Pyrotechnic²³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore

20/1

Fair form in just 2 races on Flat in France, winner of minor event last time (stays 10.5f). Yard target this race and he's one to note.

Form:

Quian¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: T Gallagher| D

150/1

Smart performer on Flat (stays 2m) at one time but he's lost his way (well beaten on hurdles debut in March). Hard to fancy.

Form: 6-

Royal Defender²⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| BFWS

40/1

Point winner and modest form completed start in bumpers at Chepstow last season (well backed in tongue tie, would have finished in frame when brought down second start). Has had a wind op. Tricky to fancy on hurdles debut.

Form: 15B-

Royal Thunder²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds

66/1

Fair maiden on the Flat who made a pleasing enough start to his hurdling career behind Brook Bay at Uttoxeter last month. Should do better, especially when handicapping.

Form: 3

Tellherthename²⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling

7/2

£200,000 half-brother to useful hurdler Whatsnotoknow (2m winner, by Mahler), stays 3m, and fairly useful hurdler Pull Together (2m winner, by Curtain Time), stayed 21f. Irish point winner and likely type on hurdles debut.

Form: 1-

Ten Lengths Tom²³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| D

9/2

Appeared to still be learning on the job but showed plenty to be positive about when winning 8-runner bumper at Warwick in March with plenty in hand. Highly respected on hurdles bow.

Form: 21-

Mighty Moth¹⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: R T Dunne| T: Noel Williams

10/1

Fair form in bumpers last season, well backed but no match for good prospect at Cheltenham final start. Good prospect for jumping.

Form: 532-

Near Dark²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: Alexandra Dunn

300/1

Point winner in April 2022. Went with no promise on hurdles debut at Chepstow 3 weeks ago.

Form: FP31/P

Non-Runners

Brook Bay²⁷

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: J & A O'Neill J: 2nd Preference

Forecasts

Jango Baie (6/5), Tellherthename (7/2), Ten Lengths Tom (9/2), Mighty Moth (10/1), Brook Bay (10/1), Soldierofthestorm (16/1), Il Va De Soi (18/1), Pyrotechnic (20/1), Royal Defender (40/1), Royal Thunder (66/1), Quian (150/1), Highway One O Four (150/1), Near Dark (300/1)

A useful-looking novice hurdle and the betting could be interesting, with Nicky Henderson's JANGO BAIE chanced before market clues. Tellherthename, Pyrotechnic, Ten Lengths Tom and Mighty Moth are all interesting also first time up in this sphere. The penalised Soldierofthestorm needs to jump better than he did when winning at Warwick in May but could improve.