15:15 Ascot

Saturday 4 November 2023

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

Seat Unique Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 3m 40.86s

Camprond²⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 142| D

33/1

Smart effort to win a big-field handicap at the Punchestown Festival last spring. Very much back to form when close third of 26 in Coral Cup at Cheltenham (21f) and that effort may have left its marked judged on a lesser effort at Aintree. Drops in class for reappearance.

Form: 4B0830-

Faivoir²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 139| C| D

16/1

Talented hurdler/chaser who was lightly raced last term and capitalised on much-reduced mark when landing the County Hurdle at the Festival back in March. Possibly he needed the run in the Welsh Champion Hurdle on return and should run closer to form here.

Form: 05/4P1-6

Teddy Blue⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 136| D

12/1

Free-goer who landed a 2m Plumpton handicap hurdle in April and recorded a career best when 1¼ lengths second of 17 in the Swinton a month later. Jumping issues remain a concern, unseating rider at Cheltenham last week.

Form: 1361-2U

Altobelli^t1²⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| OR: 131| D

10/3

Promising sort who won his sole start in bumpers and he supplemented his Ffos Las hurdles win under a penalty at Carlisle in February. Jumping failed the test in Grade 1 company but he remains a good prospect in handicaps this season. Tongue tie on.

Form: 1/119-

Carbon King²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 130| D

66/1

Progressive in handicap hurdles for Declan Queally, posting a borderline useful performance when bagging third success at Navan (2m) in March. Below best from much-inflated mark at Ballinrobe final start for that yard and almost certainly needed the run on last month's reappearance.

Form: 13116-8

Knickerbockerglory²⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 130| D

10/1

Steadily progressive 7-y-o who scored 4 times over hurdles last year and having made a bright start over fences this winter, he duly ran another fine race back over hurdles when runner-up in last month's Imperial Cup. Did too much too soon final start at Aintree and likely to be fit for return.

Form: 11/1229-

Our Champ⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 128| D

3/1

Back from a 6-month break with an improved effort to strike at the first time of asking for the Chris Gordon stable at Plumpton in September and he created a fine impression when turning an 18-runner Cheltenham contest into a one-sided affair last week. Up 11 lb but limit unknown.

Form: 2246-11

Thereisnodoubt^h,t⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Conner McCann⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 124| D

16/1

Rising 11 but he was better than ever when returning from 5 months off to win at Perth (2m, heavy) in September, showing a willing attitude. Another excellent effort when third at Carlisle and he's likely to give it his all again.

Form: 4244-13

Bad²¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 122

8/1

Winner in France. Attracted strong market support in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival on British debut and he shaped a lot better than thirteenth of 21 might suggest, travelling powerfully but doing too much too soon. Never on terms at Ascot a month later but he retains potential.

Form: 2/2106-

Greyval²⁰⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 121| D

18/1

Twice a winner over 1½m in France and confirmed the promise of her hurdling debut when landing 9-runner listed event at Doncaster (16.6f, good). Barely came off the bridle when defying a penalty with ease at Huntingdon before finding Grade 1 company too much. Switches to a handicap for return.

Form: 2118-

Rare Middleton²³²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 117| BF| DWS

13/2

Showed fairly useful form in a pair of Flat starts in the autumn before making an impressive hurdles debut at Taunton in January. Good third in the Adonis and also shaped much better than end result would suggest on handicap bow in March. Since had a wind op and he's in top hands.

Form: 134-

Chance A Tune²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: James Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 116| D

12/1

Off 27 months before posting an encouraging third of 11 in handicap hurdle at Market Rasen in September. Confirmed that promise when successful at Chepstow and may have more to offer granted a clear shot at racing.

Form: 1432/31

Forecasts

Our Champ (3/1), Altobelli (10/3), Rare Middleton (13/2), Bad (8/1), Knickerbockerglory (10/1), Chance A Tune (12/1), Teddy Blue (12/1), Thereisnodoubt (16/1), Faivoir (16/1), Greyval (18/1), Camprond (33/1), Carbon King (66/1)

RARE MIDDLETON failed to go on as was perhaps hoped last season but he's had a wind operation since last seen and, given the yard he represents, fitness is no concern on reappearance. Our Champ will doubtless be popular on the back of last week's Cheltenham romp, with Altobelli completing the shortlist.