13:50 Ascot
Saturday 23 December 2023
All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35
Howden Handicap Chase (GBB Race)
- 4YO plus  |  Class 2  |  2m 2f 175y  |  Good (Good to Soft in places)  |  7 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 13:50Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 4m 46.73s
Cloth number
Odds
Star rating
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Pretty useful hurdler/chaser for Willie Mullins but he's hard to warm to on the back of a dismal effort on return/debut for new yard over hurdles at Galway in October.
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One-time smart chaser who has only been seen out 3 times since April 2022, pulled up on each occasion. Down to a potentially handy mark as a consequence and he'd be a huge player if the first-time cheekpieces were to spark a revival.
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Won all 4 of his starts when completing last season, seeing off five rivals with another polished display in Plumpton handicap in April. However, never in the hunt on return in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and while this is a less taxing assignment, others make more appeal.
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Got his act together over fences during the spring, winning twice, and has continued on the up this season, building on good reappearance second at Cheltenham when going one better there in November. Solid third in a valuable handicap here (16.8f, good to soft) latest and he's a big player.
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Good start over fences last term, winning Bangor novice handicap in the mud and runner-up at Sandown on final start of that campaign (threw the race away by hanging badly on the run-in). No show on return in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, though, and it's not hard to have reservations.
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Dual-winning hurdler who opened his account over fences in a Taunton handicap in January. Followed up in an Exeter novice a month later and, having performed with credit when fourth on return here (16.8f, good to soft) and he's a must the shortlist.
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Doubled his tally in this sphere at Ffos Las last November but he's not the most consistent and is opposable on balance. Has undergone another wind op since his latest start in March.
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Forecasts
Triple Trade (9/4), Cap Du Mathan (5/2), Harper's Brook (9/2), Black Gerry (11/2), Shan Blue (11/1), Eden Du Houx (18/1), El Barra (33/1)
It was a strong handicap in which CAP DU MATHAN was an encouraging fourth to Boothill on his reappearance at this course last month and, with that run under his belt and reunited with Harry Cobden, he is appealing off this 2 lb lower mark. Triple Trade also performed well behind Boothill in a similarly valuable handicap here last time and looks a big threat, while Shan Blue is dangerous to discount having slipped to a potentially handy mark, for all that he has a fair bit to prove at present.
- Triple Trade9/4
- Shan Blue11/1
Prize Money
1st: £18,210.002nd: £8,372.003rd: £4,186.004th: £2,093.005th: £1,046.006th: £522.00
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