13:15 Ascot

Saturday 17 February 2024

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3616:1016:45

Ascot Shop Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 43.13s

Inthewaterside²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 128| D

13/8

Imposing sort who was unbeaten in 2 bumper runs and maintained 100% record sent hurdling in a race not run to suit at Aintree (20f) on return in October. Shade disappointing here next time but resumed progress/winning ways back up in trip on handicap bow at Lingfield last time. Can go on improving.

Form: 11-141

Bucksy Des Epeires²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 124| D

11/1

French recruit who made a winning return/yard debut at Lingfield in November prior to chasing home another improving sort on handicap debut at Sandown (2m) in December. Excuses next time and fell first back at Lingfield in race won by Inthewaterside 27 days ago. Probably still capable of better.

Form: 2F-124F

Theyseekhimthere⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 117| D

100/1

Had a breathing op prior to defying huge odds on hurdles debut at Lingfield (19.5f) in November. However, failed to repeat that effort at Chepstow and made mistakes when only fourth of 5 at Wincanton on most recent outing.

Form: 7-184

Casual Observer⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham

28/1

Points runner-up who looked a stayer sole outing in bumpers and showed plenty of aptitude for hurdling when second of 5 in a Wincanton novice (21.4f) 6 weeks ago. Should improve but this is a much deeper race.

Form: 2-42

Juventus De Brion⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

18/1

Well backed and shaped encouragingly when third of 16 in a maiden hurdle at Exeter on debut in December, not unduly punished. Open to improvement.

Form: 3

Officer Of State²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: G & J Moore

80/1

Useful on the Flat (stays 15f) for Andre Fabre. Sold for 65,000 gns in October and has run to only a modest level both outings over hurdles.

Form: 58

Phantomofthepoints⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe

9/2

Failed to complete in 2 points but showed plenty when placed in a pair of bumpers and again shaped well when going down only narrowly to a useful prospect on Ayr hurdle debut (2m) back in December. Longer trip shouldn't pose any issues and he has to enter the reckoning.

Form: UUP322

Pic Roc³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling

11/2

Placed twice in bumpers last spring. Stepped up on Newbury hurdle debut when second of 9 in a 19f Catterick novice 37 days ago. May do better still as he brushes up his jumping.

Form: 532-52

Vincenzo³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| OR: 127

10/3

Placed on the second of 2 starts in bumpers and built on a promising hurdling debut after 11 weeks off when second to an above-average prospect at Warwick (19f) last month, sticking to task. Likely to progress further.

Form: 42-32

Non-Runners

Idy Wood²⁶

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: Jamie Snowden J: J J Burke

Noble Don³⁶

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: D J Jeffreys J: Lily Pinchin

Forecasts

Inthewaterside (13/8), Vincenzo (10/3), Phantomofthepoints (9/2), Pic Roc (11/2), Idy Wood (6/1), Bucksy Des Epeires (11/1), Juventus De Brion (18/1), Casual Observer (28/1), Noble Don (50/1), Officer Of State (80/1), Theyseekhimthere (100/1)

INTHEWATERSIDE is undoubtedly a chaser of the future, but he resumed his progress in determined fashion on his handicap debut at Lingfield last month and can go on improving for a while yet over hurdles, so could well be up to defying a double penalty. Bucksy des Epeires got no further than the first in the race won by the selection at Lingfield and still likely has a bigger performance in him, while Vincenzo stuck to his task admirably at Warwick and is also feared in an intriguing novice.