15:40 Ascot

Friday 22 December 2023

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Thames Materials Open NH Flat Race (Listed) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 3m 36.64s

Brechin Castle³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Quinlan| T: B Brookhouse| D

9/4

Ready point winner who looked an excellent prospect when bolting up in a bumper at Sedgefield on Rules debut, then supplemented it in a listed contest at Cheltenham, having something in hand. Looks the one to beat despite the penalty.

Form: 1-11

Captain Bellamy⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| D

5/2

Very easy winner of sole start in Irish points in April and completed successful Rules debut in similar fashion in bumper at Chepstow. Has plenty of potential and should be involved.

Form: 1-1

Celtic Dino⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| CD

9/2

Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler/useful chaser Saint Segal and Celtic Girl. Well positioned when making a successful start over C&D but improvement can't be ruled out.

Form: 1

Dunskay³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling

11/1

Related to a couple of useful types and looked above average when landing an Exeter bumper first time out, impressing with how he went through the race. More to come.

Form: 1

I'm A Lumberjack⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King

22/1

Shaped well amidst inexperience on debut and bettered that when second at Newbury last time. Still likely to come up short at this level, however.

Form: 2-2

I Wont Back Down²⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| D

17/2

Confirmed encouragement from debut when readily off the mark at Ballinrobe 8 months ago. Has left Sam Curling and joined an in-form yard since, so no forlorn hope.

Form: 61-

Marvellous Mick³⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Miss Olive Nicholls| T: P F Nicholls| D

14/1

Cost six figures as a store and gave a clear indication as to why when justifying short-priced favouritism at Chepstow a year ago. Concern that he's not been seen since but obviously has plenty of potential.

Form: 1-

Minella Miracle²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr J Reddington| T: T Gallagher

250/1

Runner-up on last of 3 starts in Irish points but just modest form at best under Rules and looks out of his depth in this company.

Form: 7/P-2305

Mr Zippi¹⁸²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: Sara Ender| D

80/1

Closely related to a winner and half-brother to 4 winners on Flat, including smart 7f/1m winner Prince Eiji. Two from two so far and wasn't fully extended at Market Rasen 6 months ago, so deserves this step up in class.

Form: 11

U Cant Be Serious⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Freddie Gingell| T: J Tizzard

150/1

Doesn't have an appealing pedigree and, while he showed a bit over C&D last time, this looks a very stiff task.

Form: 6-4

Willoughby Cleeve

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore

100/1

£31,000 3-y-o, Motivator gelding. Brother to a winner and half-brother to 2 winners on Flat, including 6f winner in France Minuty. Tricky assignment on debut.

Form:

Future Fortune⁵⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| D

33/1

Out of a winning chaser but showed enough know-how to make a successful bumper debut at Hereford 59 days ago. More to come, so not out of her place in this company.

Form: 1

Let It Rain⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| D

8/1

Is from a good family and, having been well supported first time out, she scored in authoritative fashion at Warwick. Could be anything and she deserves plenty of respect up in grade.

Form: 1

Non-Runners

Ami Bondhu³⁹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 4

T: N J Gifford J: James Davies

Horaces Pearl⁴¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: F O'Brien J: C Brace

Forecasts

Brechin Castle (9/4), Captain Bellamy (5/2), Celtic Dino (9/2), Let It Rain (8/1), Horaces Pearl (8/1), I Wont Back Down (17/2), Dunskay (11/1), Marvellous Mick (14/1), Ami Bondhu (20/1), I'm A Lumberjack (22/1), Future Fortune (33/1), Mr Zippi (80/1), Willoughby Cleeve (100/1), U Cant Be Serious (150/1), Minella Miracle (250/1)

BRECHIN CASTLE is unbeaten in three (including a point) and he could have pulled out more if required at Cheltenham last time, so he's fancied to add to his burgeoning reputation here. Impressive debut winners Let It Rain and Captain Bellamy are feared most.