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: 13:50  |   Winning time: 4m 46.73s
The word Sky in blue and Bet in white with a red background.
The word Betfair in black.
The words Paddy Power in green.
Cloth number
Odds
Star rating
Horse A-Z
Show odds
1
Horse silk
El Barra56
Age: 9|  Weight: 12-0| J: Charlie O'Dwyer(5)| T: C O'Dwyer| OR:  148
33/1
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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Timeform
2
Horse silk
Shan Bluep114
Age: 9|  Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR:  142| D
11/1
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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Timeform
3
Horse silk
Black Gerry35
Age: 8|  Weight: 11-6| J: N F Houlihan(3)| T: G & J Moore| OR:  140| C| D
11/2
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.
|
Timeform
4
Horse silk
Triple Trade28
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR:  135| D
9/4
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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Timeform
5
Horse silk
Harper's Brookp,t35
Age: 7|  Weight: 10-13| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR:  133
9/2
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.
|
Timeform
6
Horse silk
Cap Du Mathant49
Age: 8|  Weight: 10-13| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR:  133| D
5/2
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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Timeform
7
Horse silk
Eden Du Houxp,t273
Age: 9|  Weight: 10-12| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR:  132| C| DWS
18/1
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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Timeform

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)

Verdict

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.

  1. Cap Du Mathan5/2
  2. Triple Trade9/4
  3. 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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