15:00 Ascot

Saturday 17 February 2024

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

Injured Jockeys Fund Ambassadors Programme Swinley Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 6m 7.23s

Threeunderthrufive^p,t⁶³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 152| D

5/1

Dual Grade 2 winner as a novice and having had a breathing operation in the summer, he has produced solid efforts in defeat in the Badger Beer at Wincanton and a similarly valuable Cheltenham handicap (3¼m, good to soft). Mark doesn't leave much margin for error but he's a big player all the same.

Form: U684-22

Victtorino²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 146| CD

2/1

Ex-French chaser who has upped his game significantly since joining Venetia Williams, landing back-to-back C&D handicaps in November/December. Better than he showed at Cheltenham 3 weeks ago and good chance he'll get back on track now returned to this venue.

Form: 574-117

Shan Blue^p⁵⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 143| D

5/1

Seen out only 4 times since April 2022 but this one-time smart chaser took a step back in the right direction when a close third in this headgear over 19f here last time. Moving back up in trip will be no bad thing and he has to enter calculations.

Form: 62/P-PP3

Revels Hill^p²⁹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| OR: 137| D

5/1

Did little wrong in several valuable handicaps last season, including when third in this race 12 months ago and filling the same spot in the bet365 Gold Cup on his final start of that campaign. Live each-way chance if he's ready to foll following a 9-month absence.

Form: 1/24323-

Ballygrifincottage^p,t⁹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: C J Todd| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| D

25/1

Useful novice hurdler in 2021/22 and made a winning start over fences in novice at Haydock last season. It's all been downhill since, though, and the first-time cheekpieces (retained here) failed to revive his fortunes in the Badge Beer last time.

Form: 4/1PP-3P

Rapper^v³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Stan Sheppard| T: H D Daly| OR: 137

18/1

Has slipped back to the mark off which he scored at Cheltenham on New Year's Day 2023 but, having been pulled up on 3 of his 5 subsequent starts, this 10-y-o comes with risks attached.

Form: 15P-P4P

Do Your Job^p,t⁵³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Lily Pinchin| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 135| D

12/1

Grade 2 winning novice chaser in 2022 and, following a low-key start to this season, he got back on the scoresheet at Wetherby (19.4f, heavy) on Boxing Day. Since switched yards and remains on a handy mark up just 2 lb but whether he'll be able to build on that remains to be seen.

Form: 55-7891

Larry^p,t²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Tom Cannon| T: G & J Moore| OR: 134| CD

14/1

Dual C&D winner who resumed winning ways when landing a 4-runner Plumpton handicap (25.7f, soft) last month. 2 lb rise fair enough but his rather up-and-down profile tempers enthusiasm.

Form: 723-481

Torn And Frayed⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132

11/1

Opened chase account at Cheltenham in January 2022 and proved that ability remains when sixth of 12 in the December Gold Cup at that venue in December. However, his subsequent effort there was uninspiring.

Form: 2P1/F65

Non-Runners

Iron Bridge⁵²

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: J & A O'Neill J: 2nd Preference

Forecasts

Victtorino (2/1), Threeunderthrufive (5/1), Shan Blue (5/1), Iron Bridge (5/1), Revels Hill (5/1), Torn And Frayed (11/1), Do Your Job (12/1), Larry (14/1), Rapper (18/1), Ballygrifincottage (25/1)

French-import VICTTORINO shouldn't be judged too harshly on his latest effort at Cheltenham and he remains of strong interest in view of his back-to-back C&D wins prior to that. Indeed, the 6-y-o may still have more to offer and he gets the nod ahead of Threeunderthrufive, who has resumed with two cracking efforts in top handicaps and looks set for another bold show. Revels Hill will be a threat if fully tuned-up for this belated seasonal reappearance, while Shan Blue is also shortlisted.